Nicaragua Network

1. At one-year anniversary, Colombia still refuses to recognize World Court ruling
2. Hopes of oil wells dashed and revived in one week
3. State Department official says growth of Chinese investment in Latin America is “positive”
4. Government to improve teacher education
5. Thirty Nicaraguan Miskito Indians killed this year on Honduran border in land conflicts
6. Panama’s Supreme Court reverses Aleman’s 2002 money laundering conviction
7. 350 sea turtles liberated in Jiquilillo
8. Ambassador Francisco Campbell interviewed on PBS show
9. Nicaraguan documentary a triumph at the Smithsonian
__________________________________________________________

1. At one-year anniversary, Colombia still refuses to recognize World Court ruling

On Nov. 19, 2012, the International Court of Justice (World Court) ruled that while the islands of the San Andres Archipelago belonged to Colombia (as the Court had ruled in 2007), the waters surrounding that area--90,000 square kilometers by Nicaragua’s calculations, 75,000 by those of Colombia--formed part of Nicaragua’s exclusive economic zone. The case had dragged on for eleven years, one of the longest in the Court’s history. Since last November, Colombia has refused to recognize the decision and pulled out of the 1948 Pact of Bogota in which the countries forming the Organization of American States recognized the World Court’s jurisdiction. 

Last week, members of the Colombian senate, expressing concern about recent news of Nicaraguan-Russian collaboration, prepared a questionnaire for Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon about whether Colombia was prepared for a military confrontation with Nicaragua.  Included in the leaked document were such questions as, “Does our navy have the capacity to defeat a Russian military fleet in Latin American waters?”  Nicaragua’s Vice-President Omar Hallesleven (who is a former head of the Nicaraguan Army) immediately said that Nicaragua seeks no military confrontation with Colombia and has absolutely respected the maritime boundaries set out by the World Court last year.  The Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement which said that Russia would not take sides in a hypothetical conflict over territory in the Caribbean, clarifying a general statement of support by the captain of one of the Russian naval vessels during its recent visit to Nicaragua. The statement reiterated Russia’s commitment to support Colombia and all the countries of Latin America and said Russia would not alter the political and military equilibrium in the region.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Nicaragua Phyllis Powers confirmed that United States vessels were accompanying Nicaraguan naval vessels in anti-drug patrols in the waters granted to Nicaragua by the World Court decision. When asked about Colombia’s refusal to recognize Nicaraguan sovereignty over the area, she said that she was not competent to speak about where Colombia stands on the issue. A few days before her statement, Nicaraguan Gen. Adolfo Zepeda had said that the Nicaraguan navy, in separate operations, was carrying out joint patrols with both Russian and United States ships in those waters. He explained, “We have a cooperation accord to prevent illegal traffic in the Caribbean with the United States and the Russian Federation’s Drug Control Service also cooperates with us.”

When asked about the effects of the World Court’s ruling on the ground, legal expert Mauricio Herdocia said that much is working normally—while the Nicaraguan naval forces patrol the region, foreign fishing vessels receive their permits from the Nicaraguan Fisheries Institute (INPESCA).  “This shows,” he said, that apart from the politicized language used by Colombia, it has been possible to advance with the actual execution [of the ruling].” (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 14, 18; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 14; Informe Pastran, Nov. 13, 14; La Prensa, Nov. 15)

2. Hopes of oil wells dashed and revived in one week

While the report at first seemed to reflect failure, further analysis inspired continued hope on the part of some Nicaraguans that the country’s territorial waters might cover petroleum deposits.  The US company Noble Energy on Nov. 13 released a report saying that its first exploratory well in the Caribbean was drilled to a depth of 10,415 feet in 1,220 feet of water but “found no accumulation of hydrocarbons.” All the media outlets headlined the failure.  For example, La Prensa headlined “First perforation for petroleum in Nicaragua’s Caribbean Sea fails!”  Radio La Primerisima said “Noble Energy did not find oil off Bluefields.”

Two days later with the confirmation from Noble Energy that it would continue its search for oil in its two contracted areas, the media discovered that the report had also said, “The results obtained with the perforation will be studied in greater detail since they indicate rock of good quality, capable of storing hydrocarbons.” David Nook, Noble Energy manager in Nicaragua, explained further, “There were several positive observations during the perforation which included signs of hydrocarbons and deposits of high quality.”  The Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines had expressed the hope that oil could be found in the area that would produce in a 25-year period some US$17.5 billion in tax revenue for the country.  (La Prensa, Nov. 13, 15; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 13, 15; Informe Pastran, Nov. 14; El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 14)

3. State Department official says growth of Chinese investment in Latin America is “positive”

Nicaraguans supporting construction of a shipping canal across their country were breathing a sigh of relief last week upon hearing US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson say that the growing involvement of China in trade relationships as well as investments in Latin America is something that is extremely positive, for the region and for the US.  Jacobson was participating in an annual US-China dialogue on Latin America in Beijing.  She added that as long as the investment is carried out in accord with international and national norms and standards, it is “absolutely good.” Chinese trade and investment with Latin America has grown from US$10 million in 2000 to US$260 billion in 2012.  That amount is still dwarfed by trade and investment with the US which totals US$800 billion annually.

Not everyone was convinced.  Former Nicaraguan Ambassador to Washington Arturo Cruz said that he believes that two factions will develop within the US policy-making establishment, one favoring the canal and another opposing it.  He explained, “I am convinced that China, independently of its multiple conflicts and tendencies in different directions, is not going to put at risk its strategic relationship with the United States and if the coalition against the canal defeats the coalition in favor of the canal, I think it will be very difficult for them [the Chinese] to go in that direction.” (Informe Pastran, Nov. 13, 14)

4. Government to improve teacher education

Communications coordinator Rosario Murillo announced last week that the government was set to begin a program to improve the training of primary and secondary teachers around the country.  She said that during the next school year, from February to December, 4,000 secondary teachers will participate in university classes in order to obtain their degrees.  Meanwhile, over 6,000 other high school teachers will study in continuing education programs on-line or on television.  And 10,500 teachers of first through third grade will be trained in new techniques for teaching reading, writing and mathematics.  More than 1,000 teachers will be trained to teach English and finally 3,846 principals and vice-principals will receive training.  Murillo said, “All of this training program will be financed out of the regular government budget and it will include money for transportation and food for the teachers who will be taking the courses.” 

Murillo also announced the installation of 300 computer labs in the nation’s public high schools.  She said that programs will be instituted for 50,000 adolescents and young people to take agricultural courses at 1,000 rural primary schools and that 2,500 rural young people will be able to study technical courses at 14 high schools next year.  She said that school texts and programs are being changed to promote pride in farming and a love of the earth. (Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 12)

5. Thirty Nicaraguan Miskito Indians killed this year on Honduran border in land conflicts

Since January, thirty Nicaraguan Miskito Indians have been killed along the banks of the Coco River, which forms the border with Honduras, including five killed on Nov. 5.  Many of the Indians have been pushed off their land by Honduran farmers, which Informe Pastran and El Nuevo Diario describe as hacienda owners and La Prensa calls colonizers.  Alex Fernandez, mayor of the municipality of Waspam, asked the Nicaraguan government to send an investigative commission to the zone to find a solution to the problem.

Honduran and Nicaraguan Miskito people who do not have conflicts over land among themselves share the area.  But two issues have complicated the situation.  First, the course of the Coco River has changed due to natural phenomena such as hurricanes which means that some land that Nicaraguan Miskitos cultivated in the past now lies in Honduras. And second, according to local authorities, the Miskito people on the Honduras side are being displaced by force by cattle ranchers who have moved in from the Honduran Department of Olancho.

Stedman Fagoth, Miskito leader and head of the Nicaraguan Fisheries Institute, said it is urgent that the government of Honduras recognize the territory of the Miskitos and he said that the subject is in the hands of the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry.  Local radio stations are asking Nicaraguans not to cross the river because the other side is militarized by the Honduran Army.  (Informe Pastran, Nov. 12; La Prensa, Nov. 13; El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 12)

6. Panama’s Supreme Court reverses Aleman’s 2002 money laundering conviction

The Criminal Panel of Panama’s Supreme Court said on Nov. 16 that former President of Nicaragua Arnoldo Aleman and his Internal Revenue Director Byron Jerez were innocent of the crime of money laundering of which they had been convicted in 2002.  The ruling also benefits the wives of the two men and Aleman’s father-in-law who had also been convicted eleven years ago. The Court ordered that the frozen bank accounts involved in the case should be returned to them.  The Nicaraguans were convicted by a Panamanian criminal court of laundering in Panama money stolen from the Nicaraguan state but, in 2010, the verdict was reversed by a higher court and that ruling was then challenged by Nicaraguan prosecutors.  However, the Panamanian Supreme Court said that the accused could not be judged twice for the same crime and they had already been tried, convicted, and had that verdict overturned on appeal in Nicaragua.

Informe Pastran said that with the Panamanian ruling, the Nicaraguan government would hve to pay Jerez the value of a number of pickup trucks taken from him and held by the government pending the resolution of the Panamanian case in spite of an order from Nicaraguan Judge Juana Mendez that they should be returned to him.  Aleman would be able to recover close to US$5 million held in Panama unless the Nicaraguan government wants to make a further claim for that money against Aleman’s wife and her father who were the signatories for the foundation through which the money was removed from Nicaragua in the first place.  They were not tried in Nicaragua for fraud and therefore would not be subject to double jeopardy. (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 16; Informe Pastran, Nov. 15; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 15)

7. Sea turtles liberated in Jiquilillo

The Pacific coast beach at Jiquilillo on Nov. 15 was the site of the release of 350 Olive ridley sea turtles, part of efforts to protect this endangered species. These small turtles were born in nests at Semillas Acuáticas under the care of workers, students, and other community members. There they have been protected from human and animal predators, mainly people who sell their eggs. In seven years, 22,320 turtles have been released as part of a project that includes the government’s Environmental Ministry (MARENA) and activist groups. This year, 1,920 have been returned to their habitat. The official in charge of the project, Juan Carlos Altamirano, said that they foresee releasing 5,500 turtles in the remaining months of 2013. This is less than the projected number, since sea water has been uncharacteristically warm due to climate change.

"We need to reflect, along with our families, so that we might preserve species that live on the beaches of Padre Ramos, Los Zorros, and Jiquilillo, so they do not disappear," said one of the student participants. One official involved in these efforts noted that Nicaragua is a leader in turtle nesting projects. A MARENA official said that Nicaragua had signed the Treaty of Marine Turtle Conservation and the International Convention for the Protection of Endangered Species, including the various turtle species. (El Nuevo Diario, November 16)

8. Ambassador Francisco Campbell interviewed on PBS show

Nicaraguan Ambassador to the United States Francisco Campbell was interviewed on a recent “This is America” program by host Dennis Wholey.  The program is distributed by PBS.  Campbell said the ideological prejudices of the past had been dropped and the US and Nicaragua were working together on some fundamental issues, including combating drug trafficking.  He said that the United States should reduce drug demand and attack other problems such as the sale of guns and that Nicaragua’s role is to work to stop use of the Central American region as a corridor for drugs.  Campbell emphasized that Nicaragua had taken up the fight to end poverty seriously and had united workers, business people, and the government in that struggle. In answer to Wholey’s questions, Campbell said growing world trade meant a need for a shipping canal with more capacity and that by the end of next year Nicaragua expected to have the studies completed and be able to start construction.  You can watch the entire interview in English at http://www.thisisamerica.net/videoarchive_2013-2014.html.  (Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 12; Informe Pastran, Nov. 12)

9. Nicaraguan documentary a triumph at the Smithsonian

On Nov. 14, in Washington, DC, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian Latino Center, and the Embassy of Nicaragua held a showing of the Garífuna film "Lubaraun (Encountering)." Filmed on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Honduras, the documentary tells the story of the Garífuna people through a journey the characters undertake to search for their roots and to encounter their ancestors. It recounts a family history of resistance, united by the same sea. María José Álvarez and Martha Clarissa Hernández, directors and co-producers of Lubaraun, said they felt proud to present a little bit of the multicultural richness of Nicaragua at the Smithsonian Institution.

Ranald Woodaman, director of the Smithsonian Latino Center's Exhibitions and Public Programs, stated that the Nicaraguan filmmakers offered “a surprise: a powerful film that reflects the history of a cultured people with great spiritual wealth. The Garífuna people speak three languages, are culturally diverse, and have a strong spirit of liberty." The film was introduced by Nicaraguan Ambassador to the US Francisco Campbell. (Informe Pastran, Nov. 15)