Following the 1990 general election, the majority of contras demobilized and settled into civilian life.  Some contras claimed that the Nicaraguan government did not properly distribute aid intended for the former rebels.  Some small groups of re-formed contras have demonstrated limited activity since 1990.

Cooperative of Hand-Made Fire & Related Items

Informal Anarchist Federation -- Umbrella Organization

The Cooperative of Hand-Made Fire and Related Items ('Cooperativa Artigiana Fuoco e Affini' in Italian) is one of a number of anarchist terrorist organizations operating in Italy. Although the group threatened to detonate "explosive mail and exploding pans all over the place in Italy and Spain" in order to protest the G8 summit being held in Genoa, they only carried out three such attacks. In the letter sent to the Benetton factory, the group claimed to support "freedom for the Mapuche people oppressed by Benetton." The Mapuche are the indigenous people of the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile, where Benetton had recently purchased massive amounts of land, forcing many Mapuche off their traditional lands.  <P><br />In their statements of responsibility, the group proclaimed that it would act in the future with its "comrades" in International Solidarity, Black Star, Revolutionary Action and the Revolutionary Cores. International Solidarity and Black Star are prominent anarchist groups in Italy and Greece, respectively. Experts view this as an ominous statement, the Cooperative's intent to link with a wider international anarchist movement. This analysis is furthered by the group's claim to be fighting for prisoners in both Spain and Turkey.

The Cooperative of Hand-Made Fire and Related Items has not claimed an attack since 2001, however its 'comrades' in fellow anarchist groups remain active. <br /><p><br />Recent analysis suggests that the Cooperative is now acting as a faction of the Informal Anarchist Federation, a conglomeration of Italian anarchist terrorist groups.