Tomás Borge Martínez (born August 13, 1930) (in American newspapers often spelt as Thomas Borge) - the last living co-founder of the Sandinista movement in Nicaragua, he was an Interior Minister of Nicaragua under the rule of Daniel Ortega. Considered a hardliner, he led the "prolonged people's war" tendency within the FSLN, but later supported the policy of national reconciliation in Nicaragua, as well as reforms in the Sandinista party.
Borge was imprisoned from 1956 - 1959 for knowledge of the plot by Rigoberto López to assassinate Anastasio Somoza García. Part of that time was spent in held in El Hormiguero prison in Managua. In 1959 he escaped to Honduras, where he was captured by the Honduran border patrol. Otto Castro arranged for Borge's release using his friendship with Honduran President Ramón Villeda. Borge then travelled to El Salvador using a false passport, and then went to Costa Rica[1].
He faced his alleged torturers in a court of law after his release, and the court entitled him to name his punishment. Borge's reply was, "My punishment is to forgive you."[2].
Borge is also an author, who has written poetry, essays, and autobiography.
