Nora Astorga Nicaraguan revolutionary, member of the FSLN Date of Birth: 10.12.1942 Country: Nicaragua

1. Early Life and Family
2. Conversion to the Revolution
3. Joining the Sandinista Movement
4. Assassination of General Perez Vega
5. Guerrilla Warfare and Post-Revolution
6. Ambassadorial Appointment and International Recognition
7. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Family

Nora Astorga Gadea was born in 1949 into a wealthy and devout Catholic family in Managua, Nicaragua. Her father, Segundo Astorga, was a timber exporter and rancher with ties to the ruling Somoza family.

Conversion to the Revolution

Despite her privileged upbringing, Astorga's heart turned toward the plight of the poor and marginalized. In 1967, she publicly supported presidential candidate Fernando Aguero over Anastasio Somoza, which forced her family to send her to the United States for safety. In the US, she studied medicine but quickly realized it didn't ignite her passion. She switched to sociology but soon dropped out.

Joining the Sandinista Movement

Returning to Nicaragua, Astorga enrolled in law at the Central American University in Managua and began working for the clandestine Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). She was responsible for securing safe houses and transportation for FSLN leaders, while maintaining a facade as a corporate lawyer and human resources manager.

Assassination of General Perez Vega

In 1978, Astorga became known for her involvement in the assassination of General Reynaldo Perez Vega, a brutal deputy commander of the National Guard. She lured the general to her apartment, but the plan to capture him went awry. She later described the incident as "political justice" against a man responsible for the torture and deaths of many.

Guerrilla Warfare and Post-Revolution

Astorga became a target of government persecution and joined the guerrilla forces in the Southern Front. After the Sandinistas came to power in 1979, she served as Deputy Minister of Justice, overseeing the trials of thousands of National Guard members. She held the rank of Comandante and played a role in the diplomatic arena.

Ambassadorial Appointment and International Recognition

In 1984, Astorga was named Nicaragua's ambassador to the United States, but the Reagan administration denied her agrément due to her involvement in Perez Vega's assassination. She became Deputy Foreign Minister and later Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Death and Legacy

Nora Astorga Gadea died in Managua on February 14, 1988, at the age of 39, from breast cancer. She was posthumously declared a "Heroine of the Homeland and the Revolution" and awarded the highest honor, the Carlos Fonseca Medal. Astorga's legacy lives on as a symbol of courage, resilience, and social justice.