Nicaragua Network

1. World Court issues ruling on two cases between Nicaragua and Costa Rica
2. Violence of colonizers against Miskitos continues
3. National Assembly ends legislative session
4. Three volcanoes currently active in Nicaragua
5. Petrocaribe under discussion
6. Economic briefs: Best retirement havens; report on growth; more air travelers
7. Accused in October violence are released to house arrest for the holidays
 

1. World Court issues ruling on two cases between Nicaragua and Costa Rica

On Dec. 16, the International Court of Justice at The Hague (World Court) ruled on the two disputes between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in a manner which, while it in general favored Costa Rica, also favored Nicaragua on several points. The Court said that Isla Portillos, the 2.5 kilometers of wetlands in dispute, belonged to Costa Rica and that Nicaragua had to pay damages for dredging a small channel of the San Juan River in what it ruled was Costa Rican territory. But the Court also reaffirmed Nicaragua’s sovereignty over the Laguna Harbour Head, over a sand bar facing the ocean, and over the mouth of the San Juan as well as Nicaragua’s right to dredge the river. The Court also ruled that Costa Rica had violated its obligation to carry out an environmental study before building a controversial road along the southern bank of the river. However, in the second case before it, the Court did not find that the sedimentation entering the river from that construction had caused grave damage to the river. The two rulings can be read here: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/18848.pdf.

On the same day, the Nicaraguan government released a statement read by Communications Coordinator Rosario Murillo which said, “The government of Nicaragua recognizes and will comply with the decision of the high international tribunal and notes that in this ruling can be found the sense of equilibrium and balance that always has characterized the decisions of the Court.” The statement went on to say that the Court “made clear that the situation generated by territorial dispute could not be catalogued as a military invasion as Costa Rica had described it and rejected at the same time accusations that Nicaragua had used force or engaged in hostilities.” Finally, the statement said, “Nicaragua and Costa Rica must ready ourselves to reestablish mechanisms for dialogue and coexistence that permit the securing of respect, tranquility, and peace in the relations that should exist between the peoples of Central America.”

Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said, “This judgement must establish a new horizon in our relationship with Nicaragua.” He said that now Costa Rica and Nicaragua must find a diplomatic space in which to negotiate the indemnification that Nicaragua must pay for the damage caused to the ecosystem of the wetlands in question.

Members of the Nicaraguan opposition responded to the ruling. Eduardo Montealegre, president of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) and a former foreign minister, said, “As a Nicaraguan this unfavorable judicial decision that never should have happened pains me. However, although it pains us, we Nicaraguans are respectful of the decisions of the Court at The Hague, and so we must comply with the ruling and we will do so.” He used the opportunity “to call on Colombia to, in the same manner [as Nicaragua], fully comply with the Court’s [2012] ruling in its dispute with Nicaragua.” Ana Margarita Vijil, president of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) said, “Why should Nicaraguans pay for the vulgarities of Eden Pastora who invaded and caused damage [by dredging] to Costa Rican territory, supported by [President Daniel] Ortega? Let them pay the compensation that the Court ordered.”

Legal experts highlighted a point that may have importance in the future. Mauricio Herdocia said that, because the Court recognized that Laguna Harbour Head belongs to Nicaragua and that the border with Costa Rica is at Punta Castilla, Costa Rica cannot clam any improvement in the projections of its maritime territory into the Caribbean Sea. Herdocia also said he supported bringing back an international commission established in the 1990’s to resolve disputes between Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Both the Pope in Rome and the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York expressed hope that Nicaragua and Costa Rica would improve their relations. Pope Francis said he supported the “efforts of collaboration to which Costa Rica and Nicaragua are called,” and added, “I hope that a new spirit of brotherhood will reinforce dialogue and reciprocal cooperation.” Ban Ki Moon expressed the hope that Nicaragua and Costa Rica would continue working to improve their relations as neighboring countries and noted that both countries had committed themselves to comply with the Court’s decision. (Informe Pastran, Dec. 16, 17, 18; El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 16, 17, 20; Radio La Primerisima, Dec. 16)

2. Violence of colonizers against Miskitos continues

Violence continued last week in the North Caribbean Autonomous Region where armed colonizers attacked Miskito communities on Dec. 17 resulting in two deaths, three wounded and three kidnapped. La Prensa reported that those killed were Rey Müller and Den Silwa although El Nuevo Diario said that the name of the second man was James Kisman. La Prensa said that one of the wounded was taken to the hospital in Bilwi while El Nuevo Diario said two. Then on Dec. 19, there was another attack in which the colonizers left a macabre message: the body of one of the kidnapped Miskitos. The colonizers have sent several threatening letters to the members of the Miskito communities who are living on their traditional lands to which they have been given communal titles by the government, one of which said, “We are going to kill with valor; we are Spaniards and you are flies.”

Lottie Cunningham of the Center for Justice and Human Rights on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (CEJUDHCAN) said, “The situation is alarming; there are injuries and deaths in both groups. According to information from representatives who visited the communities, there is no police presence; the indigenous are alone and the colonizers are armed.” Waspam Mayor Alex Fernandez told El Nuevo Diario that, “We are carrying out coordination with the Police and Army to get to the sector and see what is happening because they took the radio that the community uses for communications.” Norwin Goff of the Miskito group Masta in Honduras said that more than 1,200 Nicaraguan Miskito Indians had fled to Honduras in recent days. (La Prensa, Dec. 19, 21; El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 20)

3. National Assembly ends legislative session

National Assembly President Rene Nuñez presided over the closing ceremonies of the 31st legislative period of the National Assembly at which he summarized the laws and resolutions passed by the body during 2015. (The National Assembly replaced the revolutionary Council of State as Nicaragua’s legislative body after the elections of 1984.) Nuñez said that 17 laws and 249 resolutions were approved. Among them were bilateral friendship agreements between the legislatures of Nicaragua and Russia, Honduras and other countries, and three permissions for foreign military troops to enter Nicaragua on humanitarian missions. Nuñez said that the Assembly was visited by 9,743 people, 53 student groups, and numerous civil society groups that come to the legislature to meet with their deputies to express their views. He said that the Assembly had an approval rating of 49.4% according to a September M&R Consultores poll and added that, “We have to continue working and improving.”

Walmaro Gutierrez, chair of the Committee on the Economy, Production, and the Budget, said that the Assembly approved 16 international financing agreements for a total of US$611.5 million, of which US$17 million was donations and US$594.5 was loans. He said that the US$17 million donation was for health care as was a loan of US$93.8 million. Of the other loans, US$217.7 million was for infrastructure; US$80 million was for budgetary support; US$102 million for water and sewer projects; US$91.2 for expansion of electricity coverage; and US$8.7 million for agricultural production.

Gutierrez said that an accord between the executive branch and more than 1,000 former cane workers was approved by the Assembly which included US$13.6 million in compensation for kidney disease acquired working in the cane fields. Also in health care, Nuñez said that new hospitals were built in Chinandega and Bilwi and remodeling was done and new services were added at the Bertha Calderon Hospital in Managua. He added that sewage is being treated at new plants in Managua and Juigalpa. Other bills passed were on human trafficking, energy stability, coastal development, free trade zones, and national security.

The president of the Superior Council on Private Enterprise (COSEP), Jose Adan Aguerri said that in recent years the business community has had an important role in providing technical information on pending legislation. Over the last three years, he said, COSEP has contributed to a total of 40 laws out of 96 passed by the Assembly. Noting this, La Prensa said in an editorial on Dec. 21 that “While all that COSEP can do to keep [President Daniel] Ortega on the path of cooperation with the entrepreneurial class and the path of respect for a market economy is very important for business interests and for the national economy, there should also be government coordination with political parties and civil society.” (El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 16; Informe Pastran, Dec. 21; La Prensa, Dec. 21)

4. Three volcanoes currently active in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has three volcanoes in activity at the present moment but none presents a danger to the public, according to government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo. Last week, Momotombo again increased its activity while Masaya continued to produce sounds of movement and visible lava within its crater accompanied by releases of ash. Telica showed movement of rocks and lava within the volcano. Wired Magazine has listed both Momotombo and Telica in its annual on-line vote for the greatest volcanic event of the year. You can vote here: http://www.wired.com/2015/12/cast-your-vote-for-the-greatest-volcanic-event-of-2015/?mbid=social_twitter

Meanwhile, Guillermo Gonzalez, director of the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation, and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED), said that on Dec. 22, some 2,000 at risk communities will participate in another in a series of disaster drills. The drill will focus on best practices in the cases of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions in Pacific coastal region, floods and landslides in the central highlands and hurricanes and floods on the Caribbean side of the country. SINAPRED estimated that 1.6 million people participated in the drill in September. (El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 17, 18, 19, 21)

5. Petrocaribe under discussion

The political opposition in Venezuela, which will take control of the country’s legislature in January, is divided about the future of PETROCARIBE, the program of the Bolivarian revolution which sells Venezuelan oil to member countries under a favorable repayment regime. The so-called Unity Roundtable leans toward prudence and is only asking for the accords to be reviewed and made transparent but not suspended. But the more radical opposition of former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is demanding that the new legislature “put a padlock” on the program so that the government of President Nicolas Maduro can no longer “give away the resources of the state to buy international loyalty.”

The political opposition in Nicaragua has congratulated the opposition in Venezuela for its electoral victory but neither the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) nor the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) has taken a position on the future of the PETROCARIBE program, only saying that the accords with Venezuela should be reviewed. Under PETROCARIBE, countries pay for half of their oil purchases in cash with the rest to be paid back on favorable terms over 20 years. This makes those funds available for development and social projects and allowed Nicaragua to resolve its energy crisis of 2006-7 and to invest in agricultural cooperatives and in programs such as Zero Hunger, Zero Usury, and Plan Roof.

Presidential economic adviser Bayardo Arce said last week that Nicaragua was “prepared to confront any cutoff of Venezuelan petroleum assistance.” He noted, “Supposing that that would happen, obviously we would lose the financing that comes from that petroleum arrangement, but remember that we have an accumulation of financing that we will pay back over 20 years. I can assure you that in 2016 everyone can be tranquil even if the National Assembly of Venezuela cuts off everything.” Venezuela reduced its oil assistance by 26.9% in the first half of 2015 in comparison with the same period in 2014, according to the Nicaraguan Central Bank. Petroleum loans dropped from US$236.4 million in the first half 2014 to US$172.8 million in the first half of 2015. Meanwhile, exports to Venezuela continue to be important according to the Central Bank which reported that through October of this year, Nicaragua had exported to Venezuela a total value of US$259.8 million principally in meat, sugar, coffee, and cattle on the hoof. (Informe Pastran, Dec. 15, 21; El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 19)

6. Economic briefs: Best retirement havens; report on growth; more air travelers

Forbes Magazine listed Nicaragua as among the best 20 “foreign retirement havens” for 2015. To compile the list, the magazine looked at “such issues as cost of living, cultural attractions and scenery, safety, tax matters (especially breaks for retirees), local hospitality, weather, availability of adequate healthcare and prevalence of English.” In Latin America, besides Nicaragua, the list included Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay. (Informe Pastran, Dec. 21; http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2015/02/11/the-best-foreign-retirement-havens-for-2015/)

The Nicaraguan Foundation for Social and Economic Development (FUNIDES) said in a recent report that economic growth in Nicaragua has been a result of increased private investment and private consumption. Growth has been constrained by a decrease of 4.6% in the value of exports this year but consumption has grown by 3.8%, employment by 2.7% while the National Social Security Institute reports that salaries grew by 1.7% in the formal sector. Remittances sent to Nicaragua by family members working abroad grew by 5.4%. (Informe Pastran, Dec. 21)

According to the agency that administers Nicaragua’s airports, some 72,000 more passengers have arrived in Nicaragua by air this year than last, a total of 591,753 so far, an increase of almost 14%. To serve the additional travelers expected for the holiday season more inspectors and airport personnel will be working, according to Orlando Castillo, manager of the Airport Administration Agency. (El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 21)

7. Accused in October violence are released to house arrest for the holidays

Twenty-two people awaiting trial for violent actions in October in Chichigalpa and Mina El Limon were released to house arrest on Dec. 20 and will be able to spend the Christmas holidays with their families. In Chichigalpa, 16 people were arrested on Oct. 7 for looting a gas station and destroying a number of municipal offices after protesting with former sugar cane workers in front of the plant where Flor de Caña rum is made because their leader had been arrested by police with 40 Molotov cocktails. The six detained in the incidents at the El Limon gold mine were charged with the death of a police officer and the injuring of 31 people (including 8 civilians and 23 police). The police station was also burned and several vehicles belonging to the police and the B2Gold mining company were damaged. (El Nuevo Diario, Dec. 19, 20)