European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 1987 the stars and stripes Page 3 sandinista officer reportedly defects by the Massih Iam pro a senior sandinista military officer who was chief personal assistant to Nicaragua s defense minister has defected to the United is Atco according to published reports. Maj. Roger Miranda Bengoechea 34, abruptly left Nicaragua on oct. 25, the new York times said in its tuesday Edi Tio quoting diplomats politicians and a Nicaragua government communique. The Washington times quoted a Well placed source As saying he was spying for the United Stales for a Long time before he defected. A foreign military officer who studies the nicaraguan army described Miranda As a Gold mine for the Cia inc new York times said. The newspaper quoted unnamed Asso dates As saving Miranda supervised the staff of defense minister Humber to or Toga the brother of Nivar Nguan i Resi Dent Daniel Ortega. Miranda also directed the military s Public relations Effort look the olt Kial notes at meetings of the military general staff and was at private meetings when Humber la Ortega disc used Tii tics. Strat egy and intelligence the newspaper said. The stale Depan Mcnol refused com ment. A . Embassy spokesman in Nicara Gua told the new York times he knew nothing about he major s background or whereabouts although sources said Miranda apparently had made his Way to the uni cd Stales Miranda was Cine of about mi5 Mem Bers of the Sandini Stii Assembly the Rul ing parly s top consultative body inc newspaper said. A defense ministry comm unique said Miranda had Cut wit i at least $15,000 in government funds As he was being investigated for various  maj. Rosa Pasas the defense ministry spokeswoman told the new York times that Miranda was a member Oft lie secretariat in inc minister s office but she had no other information. Three sources quoted by the washing ton times said he was being debriefed by . Intelligence. Miranda apparently went to Mexico on a regular basis for medical treatment the Washington times said. Lam week he took his wife along and stayed Irre. The sandinista Ihen closed his office and dispersed his staff across tic govern ment said inc newspaper. Miranda joined the sandinista tront in the 1970s add fought As a guerrilla in crucial Battles in Masaya Nicaragua. He has been a close aide to Humberto Ortega since soon after the 1979 sandinista takeover the new York times said. The highest ranking sandinista 1o quit the movement which has had few High level defections was Eden Pastora Gomez who was Deputy defense min ister and chief of the militia when he resigned in 1981. Miranda s defection came As sandinista leaders were preparing to comply with the new Central american peace Accord due 10 Lake effect thursday demo Rivas agree on need of hike minimum wage new Oil talks Iai cum Coralic presidential candidates generally agreeing during a debate on so Cial policy that Federal programs arc needed to help people escape poverty endorsed monday increasing the Federal minimum wage to at least s4.25 an hour. The Rev. Jesse Jackson White agreeing with his five rivals for the nomination that a boost from the current $3.35 Federal minimum wage was needed added that it would not help the poorest people who have no jobs. Those that have no wage can t have a minimum he said. Jackson former Iov. Bruce Babbitt of Arizona gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts Sens. Paul Simon of Illinois and Albert Gore or. Of Tennessee and rep. Richard tie Hurdt of Missouri debated for 90 minutes. In addition in an increase in inc minimum wage. Dukakis Gore Gephardt and Jackson endorsed pro Grams to provide health care coverage to americans. The sharpest Exchange of the debate was Over Duka Kis statement thai the Federal government could col Lect an additional 135 billion in Revenue by gelling More people to pay what they owe in income taxes. If we raise compliance from 81 to 86 percent in this country pc could add $35 billion in new reve nue said Dukakis if the next president of the uni cd slates can t increase tax compliance by 5 percentage Points he does t deserve to be  tax compliance and amnesty is hokum when it comes to doing something about this budget said Gephardt. I m for lax compliance and amnesty. Everybody s for it. We re talking about real answers to real  after the debate Simon said he wished Dukakis were Correct. Bui he s not said the senator. I think he just does t understand the Federal government yet Dukakis and Gore advocated incentives to private Industry to provide better he ally care programs for their workers and Gephardt advocated using tax incentives. Gephardt tried to Widen the Agenda to include Dis Cussion of the Trade deficit but was Cut off by Modera Tor Hodding Carter 111, who told him in arc would be time to discuss that Issue in another  when he debate was concluded Gephardt said he thought Carter should have allowed the candidates to discuss the Economy. None of this is going to help unless the Economy moves Forward he said. How arc we going to persuade the american people thai we can pay for these programs asked Babbitt. My question to Dick Gephardt is How arc you democrats competing fur the presidential nomination meet in new Orleans to debate social issues. From left Micheri Dukakis a wafd Gephardt of be Jackson Bruce Babbitt Albert Core or. And Paul Strood. Going to pay for those tax credits for health care said Babbitt. My question to Paul Simon How Are you going to pay for that Public works program it s Alt words unless somehow we have the Cour age to stand up and say of Here s what we re going to Tut out of the  Dukakis cited inc Success in his stale moving people off welfare and into paying jobs and said. If we can do that in one stale we do it in 50." but Simon questioned whether the example of Mas Sachs Scols where the unemployment Rale is 2.5 per a Cal was valid for Stales with much higher jobless rates. Gore disagreed with Dukakis statement  there is no underclass that cannot be helped by government programs. I think the problem is a Loi More difficult and intractable Ihan you describe it Mike said the ten Nessee senator. Gephardt saying that the Busl economic program is a paycheck made a Pilch for his Trade legislation which would authorize the president to punish some countries with Large Trade imbalances with the uni cd slates. During the forum in Mcalister auditorium at to Tanc University Carter and Michael Lomax chairman t f the Fullon county go commission questioned the candidates on social policy including i hair views on welfare helping the working poor education and Urban policy. Bui Wilh the Stock Market on a roller coaster and concern growing Ghoul the future of the Economy the candidates wanted to expand the Agenda to economic issues. As the debate opened however. Carter warned inc six that he would press them to Slick to the original Agenda the debate was the second in As Many Days for the candidates. Allih j in morals cd Cpl Gephardt participated in a  afternoon forum on the Environ Meni in Bedford n h. Mecham recall group files petition with state Phoenix Ariz