NEW YORK, New York -- More than 25 years after the bloody contra war in Nicaragua faded from the nightly news broadcasts of network television, this small Central American country is about to make its return to American consciousness.
This week the Emmy award-winning reality TV series Survivor premieres its 21st season (Wednesday, September 15, 2010) filmed near the tourist center of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
For 14 weeks on prime time fall television, an average of 13 million U.S. households will tune into the show. The program, which will also be rebroadcast in 154 countries, is expected to singlehandedly do more to change Nicaragua's international image than any other effort over the past three decades.
Families gathered in their living rooms will see luscious jungle, virgin beaches, and yes, bikinis. And while plenty of natural beauty and elite pockets of privilege do exist in Nicaragua, this glamorized image couldn't be any farther from the reality of struggle and oppression faced there today. Violence against women, attempted murder of U.S. citizens, and even illegal seizure of U.S. owned property has been happening with increasing frequency in the past few years.
This has left me feeling uneasy. Let me explain.
In 2006, while living in Nicaragua, I learned that my ex-girlfriend had been found dead in her clothing boutique in the same San Juan del Sur -- brutally beaten, raped, and strangled. Two days later, I found myself wrongfully accused of her murder, imprisoned, and ultimately sentenced to 30 years. I suffered subhuman conditions, illness, deadly riots, a lynch mob, and torture at the hands of Nicaraguan officials who enjoyed using my case as a political touchstone in backroom negotiations with Washington. It wasn't until a former CIA operative got involved that I was freed in December 2007, after spending more than a year in a maximum-security prison.
I published a memoir on what I experienced, and now lecture on topics of travel safety and arbitrary rule of law. At a recent brown bag, a law student asked how I "felt about Survivor doing Nicaragua". Around the same time I started to receive emails and see posts on my Facebook and Twitter pages expressing "disgust" over Survivor: Nicaragua.
At the time I didn't feel the need to take a position. That is, until the following happened:
Out of the blue, I received an email from the host and executive producer of the show, Jeff Probst. In very few words, he politely, yet directly queried -- "wondering where the rights stand, what kind of exposure your story and book has had". I responded, "to be honest, many people were quite surprised by the announcement that Survivor chose Nicaragua as a production location considering what has gone on there -- not only with my case, but those of several other American citizens under Ortega's administration." I also asked why he was interested in who controlled life rights to my story. "Collaboration" I asked? He never wrote back.
I wondered why one of the biggest television personalities in history would be concerned with how much exposure the story of an American framed for murder in Nicaragua had received? Why no response? Two weeks before CBS announced the new season's location, a show from that same network, Inside Edition suddenly and without explanation canceled a segment they had started to produce on my story and book. Strange, I thought, until I discovered that both shows shared the same distribution company.
CBS also published a "fact sheet" stating that Nicaragua was chosen for "the country's natural beauty and the high level of support from the government." This being the government of Daniel Ortega -- current president and former communist leader of the 1980's, who continues to flagrantly violate his own constitution in order to remain in power.
I believe it also might be appropriate to ask the creator of the Survivor franchise, Mark Burnett, for a response to the annual terrorism report just released by the State Department accusing Nicaragua, under Daniel Ortega, of having "a corrupt and highly politicized judiciary that could be taken advantage of by terrorist", as well as "expanded ties with Iran." The same Iran that currently holds hostage the American hikers, Sarah, Josh, and Shane.
Even Oliver Stone's recent film South of the Border has received heavy criticism for the way he misrepresented some of Latin America's leftist leaders in a sympathetic light and glossed over crimes committed under their rule. Although I agree with most of the film's critics, at least Stone can point out that all he did was interview his subjects. Survivor, on the other hand, has partnered with the government of one of the most outspoken anti-American leaders in the world today.
It seems that pop culture critics, turned off by the Stone film, would logically hold Survivor accountable in the same way. Or will it take some future season to be shot on location in the "Killing Fields" of Cambodia, at the gates of Auschwitz, or on the beach in Aruba where Natalie Holloway vanished in the night for people to take on this reality giant?
The Nicaraguan Tourism Ministry and the show's producers are skillfully claiming that the show will propel a tourism surge that will help Nicaragua. Even the ailing real estate market has suddenly coined the phrase "The Survivor Factor" and is boasting that it has suddenly become an investor's paradise.
Undoubtedly, there will be short term benefits. The production claims they will have created 200 jobs for the duration of six weeks. Nicaragua needs long-term sustained investment, not just one season of Survivor.
Although primetime TV has never claimed to be responsible and the discussion on power of media is nothing new to the blogosphere, CBS's choice is none the less a cynical ploy that will generate misinformation about how people are living in Nicaragua and more importantly will allow the perpetrators violating human rights in Nicaragua to further avoid notice. For many of us Americans the realities of terror, oppression, abuse, and injustice are kept far from their door. With primetime TV failing to reveal the full story, maybe Americans aren't fully to blame for our reputation abroad of ignorance when it comes to the global neighborhood.
Of course it's not all bad, the host has visited an orphanage and brightened some faces.
Link to online video: http://ow.ly/2KHZA
You still have yet to address the fact that you are profiting from your experience in Nicaragua and paying taxes to a government that uses that money to operate Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and the School of Americas (Dictator Training School) - all things that Fox news supports! You have not addressed the Constitutional Law professor's decisions to eliminate habeas corpus and to target American citizens for assassination. You have not addressed the prison industry in the US or the number of innocent people who have been released from death row in the United States or the numbers of those who may have been innocent and still put to death.
The whole point of your rant was that Survivor should not have filmed here because of human rights abuses. Perhaps your should advocate a boycott of the United States instead.
How many Americans have had their throats slit in Nicaragua in the last 10 years? If they did you would be hearing about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/nyregion/24diplomat.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
This hypocritical discussion is a non-issue. Its about Eric trying to sell more books.
Aram Terry
http://www.maderassostenibles.com
And I agree entirely with what you posted.
Where have I stated the contrary? I have tremendous affection for Nicaraguan people and fond memories of my life there before Doris’s murder. I even mention in this article that “plenty of natural beauty and elite pockets of privilege exist in Nicaragua.”
I also still have strong friendships with many Nicaraguans. In fact, I have repeatedly stated in interviews, lectures, that what happened to me is not the fault of Nicaragua people, but rather the doing of a small circle of powerful and corrupt power actors in the Nica government. The Nicaraguan government and its people are two VERY different things.
Furthermore, if you are worried about Nicaragua having a negative image- I should be the least of your concerns. You might be more concerned with international news desks reporting on deteriorating safety and democracy in Nica under Ortega. Also you will need to consider the US Embassy in Managua's travel warnings:
LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nicaragua-caudillo-20100921,0,6312192.story
NPR from Yesterday: Nicaraguan President Simply Changes The Rules
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130048871&sc=emaf
Herald Tribune - U.S.Gov Issues Travel Warning for Nicaragua:
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=320780&CategoryId=12394
You keep creating this fake propaganda that Nicaragua is targeting American citizens… that is simply not true. You say in the lines that I quoted above from you “attempted murder of US citizens” as if it was something that normally happens.
What you are doing is the same as if I assumed that the United States is targeting Nicaraguan citizens because a Nicaraguan diplomat was killed this week in NYC. That is not right... It would be a bad assumption to make a rule off an isolated case, when it is an exception.
(By the way, I did not make that up http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/23/nicaraguan-diplomatic-official-dead-new-york-city/ )
I do not blame the fact that you have negative feelings about Nicaragua after the awful experience that you went through; yet, you are over generalizing your judgment based solely on your personal experience.
So yes, SERIOUSLY.
There is a question that keeps coming back to my head after all the comments that you have posted…. What did you see in Nicaragua that led you to leave everything in the US and move there? Don’t you think CBS selected that location for those same reasons??
You lived in Nicaragua for a number of years, invested in Nicaragua and today you continue to make profits off Nicaragua from your book’s sales… You are a self image that a foreigner can make a living in Nicaragua; while being there you invested in Real State and created a magazine call “El Puente”, which leads me to believe that you did see something in the country that was valuable to you. As a result, I think you are being very unfair in your accusations; you are over generalizing and radicalizing your judgment.
By the way.. I have not read you book and probably won’t. I will not contribute to the sales of a book that is being marketed in what I consider an unethical and double standard strategy.
You're trying to tarnish the image of Nicaragua with your ONE experience. What more proof do you want than the many Americans posting on this article?
I know of no other case in the western hemisphere where a country is so misrepresented in the mainstream as Nicaragua. The disconnect between the reality on the ground with regard to the current political chaos and human rights violations and the glamorized image being presented / sold in the pop media almost a marvel in and of itself.
While guide books, mens magazines, Prime Time TV, and travel blogs are branding the “New Nicaragua” or the “Next Costa Rica”, Nicaragua is the most unstable it has been in 15 years and Americans ARE being targeted.
Don’t bee fooled by the delicate bubbles of luxury and paradise. They can be popped in the blink of an eye. If you are interested in more on this, I suggest you research the recent case of Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, being ousted for violating his constitution in the same way Ortega is doing today. Americans had to flee the country and investors lost hundreds of millions over night. Nicaragua is much less stable now than Honduras was when this happened last year.
I wish everyone the best and thank you for taking the time to read this.
Eric Volz
info@friendsofericvolz.com
I heard about your ordeal while it was ongoing, supported your stance, read a lot of literature about it, and bought your book. Today, reading this comment and the article, I am disappointed to find you so unfair in your assessment. You bemoan the image of Nicaragua in the media and in the business of tourism, but yet, you benefited greatly from both the image of Nicaragua and the tourism industry of the country while living there. You made money off the people who lived there, and it suited you fine. As soon as it does not benefit you, you turn on the country and the people there, and you base it all on just your personal incident (a horrible incident, for sure, but still a personal incident). In essence you have said that ANY country that mistreats someone should not be filmed....that rules out ALL countries of the world!
Shame on you for attacking the country and its people by discouraging tourism, just because of an incident that was personal to you. Sure, what happened to you was tragic and awful, but to slam the country that before that incident was a place where you made money, lived, loved, had friends and enjoyed yourself shows a narcissistic view of the world.
I am sad to read that you have such a self-centered stance on the country itself, instead of focusing more on helping others.
In fact, and with all due respect, it seems as if you didn't even read these comments I posted this afternoon. Most importantly, you fail to notice the title and main premise of the article. Why did Survivor Nicaragua contact me?
The next day the NY Times wrote: “Get out! Get out!” thousands of demonstrators shouted on Thursday outside the United States diplomatic mission. According to witnesses, some protesters used handmade mortar launchers to fire explosives at the embassy. Despite efforts by the riot police to disperse the protesters, many were able to smash lights and security cameras and mar the building with scratches and “Yankees go home” graffiti.
Here is a link if you are interested in reading more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/world/americas/30WebNicaragua.html
It's interesting that during the anti-war protests in the US, the US reported "thousands" of protesters versus the hundreds of thousands who could be seen in the photographs. The NY Times may have great writers, but it is biased in favor of the US Establishment. Remember the New York Times withholding information on the illegal wiretapping of Americans, claiming to have held the story so as to not have influenced the elections? According to the New York Times, no American has the right to determine whether their president's activities are legitimate if it would interfere with his election and the big fake war on terror.
You know as much as I do that there are "bad people" everywhere, including Nicaragua, but for the most part Nicaraguans are extremely passive and non-violent. I think it's funny that everyone who knows you personally and lives or has lived in Nicaragua who have commented on your article say the same thing, while people who have no experience whatsoever in Nicaragua are blindly believing your every word. This is not an attack on anyone, much less you- it is a general comment.
I also find it interesting that you use your book as factual evidence to back your opinions, "you obviously haven't read my book if you say _______" or "you obviously missed this or that if____". Your book is your account of what happened, and whether true or not, it is not a factual piece of evidence with which you can prove anything.
It would be easier to believe you had you not been so arrogant while living here...
2) “Eric is guilty and has explaining to do”
– The facts surrounding Doris’s murder and the case surrounding it, have been the topic of heated debate since the day the crime was made public. I published 100,000 words (in the form of a book) detailing the facts, while also serving as an investigation report of this unsolved murder. Many of those who show dislike for me have not read it- possibly because they are threatened by facing an ugly truth. This includes people that I once considered friends who continue to live in Nicaragua. It seems they prefer “not to know”.
Here is a short video investigation produced by A&E network to start your research: http://gringonightmare.com/exhibit_hall/exhibit_4/
3) “Comparing Nicaragua to Cambodia or Auschwitz is absolutely absurd and insulting.”
Allow me to clarify. I am challenging critics of the Oliver Stone film and the public in general by asking, “will it take some future season to be shot on location in the "Killing Fields" of Cambodia, at the gates of Auschwitz, or on the beach in Aruba where Natalie Holloway vanished in the night for people to take on this reality giant?” I am clearly and simply suggesting that those tragedies would be the next extreme in terms of places inappropriate to film Survivor. (not comparing as equal)
I cant possibly respond to all the claims/comments/questions- however let me address a few:
1) “Why don’t you just move on with you life and leave Nicaragua alone?”
This article is titled “Why did Jeff Probst, of Survivor Nicaragua, email me?
It was given this title so there would no confusion as to why I wrote it. I clearly state how “ At first, I didn't feel a need to take a position [ on Survivor Nicaragua]” until I was directly contacted by the executive producer of the show asking about how much exposure my story had received. That is the whole point of the article. The story of Doris’s murder and the case surrounding it was identified as a potential can of worms for the Survivor marketing campaign. Those commenting fail to see this. This article is a response from a gesture that came out of Nicaragua from a group that felt potentially threatened by the truth of my personal experience there.
more in next comment post...
It's part of the bigger picture. There may be no love lost between Obama and Chavez in Venezuela, but that isn't to say Hugo doesn't have his admirers among the American left and even in the Obama administration. The same goes with Castro's Cuba. If you asked Hillary to name the biggest threat to democracy down there she wouldn't even blink as she said "Honduras."
Nicaragua is not making its way back into anybody's consciousness. Survivor is so utterly superficial the only people who really care are those with memories that have not faded. Trying to turn this into an anti-socialist anti-Ortega campaign is a waste of time, as much as vice versa. None of it will bring back thousands of tortured and murdered people.
All it will be is a pretty tropical background for a program that elevates people's deceit.
I am a young Canadian residing in Nicaragua. I grew up here, went to a local high school and have lived with Nicaraguans. I understand the poverty first-hand and have witnessed certain corrupt practices during the elections.
I have also witnessed the same poverty and corruption around the world also--of course. Call me biased all you want because of my love for this country but, anybody has lived in Nicaragua as an expat or has even visited while vacationing will tell you that such comparisons like the ones you stated in your article are absolutely absurd, insulting and downright repugnant.
I had my tush grabbed whilst walking down a street in Paris (in broad daylight),of course I was irate but my bad experience will NEVER give me the right to label France as a country full of potential rapists.
I read your book, and agree that you were falsely imprisoned considering the lack of evidence. But, you have no right to trash a whole country over what only a handful of people did to you.
Your argument about how Survivor:Nicaragua does not depict any the country's political situation would be valid if the show were called "How to survive the political situation in Nicaragua".
Step off the pity pedestal and stop looking for loose threads to pull. It's starting to get old and frankly, nobody here cares about you or what you did or didn't do anymore.
First, that Nicaragua is a warm, beautiful country with many honest, hard-working citizens who love it when foreigners visit and will open their doors for you, no matter where you come from. Nicaragua, however, is a real country (as opposed to, say, Disneyland) and as such, it will undoubtedly host undesireable elements (crime, etc.). Hundreds, if not thousands, of people from all over the world travel there every year and have nothing but niceties to say about their stay. Do SOME have bad experiences? Of course. Does that mean that every danger lurks after every corner? Of course not. So let survivor (and discussions such as this one) spike people's interest and help an impoverished nation get back on its feet through tourism! Boycotting the industry will not harm president Ortega one bit; which brings me to the second truth...
Daniel Ortega's government is corrupt, inefficient, authoritarian, and, yes, the constitution is violated daily for the sake of his maintaining power and, yes, justice, judges´ and jurys´s rulings all have a price. It's true. So help get the word out! The Nicaraguan people's hands are pretty much tied, since there is no such thing as rule of law, if the righ people are interested in your case. However, despite all of this, it´s still a) safe and b) enjoyable to visit. So do!