Page "Sandinista National Liberation Front" Paragraph 29

The FSLN also created neighborhood groups similar to the Cuban Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, called Sandinista Defense Committees ( or CDS ).

Especially in the early days following the overthrow of Somoza, the CDS's served as de facto units of local governance.

Their obligations included political education, the organization of Sandinista rallies, the distribution of food rations, organization of neighborhood / regional cleanup and recreational activities, and policing to control looting, and the apprehension of counter-revolutionaries.

The CDS's organized civilian defense efforts against Contra activities and a network of intelligence systems in order to apprehend their supporters.

These activities led critics of the Sandinistas to argue that the CDS was a system of local spy networks for the government used to stifle political dissent, and it is true that the CDS did hold limited powers — such as the ability to suspend privileges such as driver licenses and passports — if locals refused to cooperate with the new government.

After the initiation of full-scale U. S. military involvement in the Nicaraguan conflict the CDS was empowered to enforce wartime bans on political assembly and association with other political parties ( i. e. parties associated with the " Contras ").