Nicaragua Network

1. Rainy season begins in Nicaragua
2. Costa Rica and Nicaragua finish arguments before World Court
3. Russia and US in cooperation with Nicaragua
4. Freedom House report hard on Latin America
5. Nicaraguan workers celebrate May Day
6. Violence affects Nicaraguan women
7. Economic briefs: farmers in South Caribbean, new FTZ jobs, Social Security growth
8. Nicaragua expresses solidarity with Nepal; reinforces preparedness for quakes

1. Rainy season begins in Nicaragua

Heavy rains began to fall in Nicaragua last week in what Nicaraguan farmers hope is the beginning of a successful rainy season. However, as always, the first heavy rains damage fragile houses in areas susceptible to flooding. A neighborhood near the Managua airport received three inches of rain on April 30, damaging 21 homes. Fifteen municipalities around the country have felt the effects of the rainstorms. One person from Tipitapa died when he was hit by lightning while fishing in Lake Xolotlan (Lake Managua).  

The mayor’s office of Managua reported that 6,000 tons of garbage had been removed from the city’s vast system of open storm sewers in preparation for the beginning of the rains but in many cases the public had thrown more garbage into them since they were cleaned. Fidel Moreno, general secretary of the municipality said that the expansion of new storm sewers in the South Highway sector of the city is advancing with the principal channels expected to be finished by the end of May and the secondary tubing to be finished in June. Managua lies between the Sierras de Managua (a 3,300 foot mountain range) and Lake Xolotlan, making it extremely difficult if not impossible for any storm sewer system to handle all the water that flows from the hills to the lake in a severe storm.

Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo thanked God for the rain but said that 215 families had been affected by the first rainstorms with their strong winds. She said that 123 houses were damaged, 90 severely damaged and two destroyed. She added, “We are taking care of the families and replacing the houses when necessary with solidarity homes” and noted that the departments most affected were Madriz, Nueva Segovia, Leon, Chinandega, Managua, and Jinotega. On May 4, the National System of Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED) sent to Nueva Segovia a team with aid that included roofing material and other necessities. In Telpaneca, Madriz, 453 galvanized roofing sheets were distributed to 56 families. In total, 1,075 people have been affected. In related news, SINAPRED issued an alert asking people who live on the Pacific Coast to be ready to “self-evacuate” if necessary and for bathers to stay out of the water because of high waves predicted for the entire Eastern Pacific until May 6. (Radio La Primerisima, May 1; Informe Pastran, Apr 30, May 4; La Prensa, May 1)

2. Costa Rica and Nicaragua finish arguments before World Court

Arguments finished up last week at the International Court of Justice at The Hague (World Court) in the dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Costa Rica presented arguments on Apr. 28; Nicaragua presented arguments on Apr. 29^th and 30^th and Costa Rica closed the debate on May 1^st. The Court then began its deliberations which will take from four to six months with a ruling expected before the end of this year. Costa Rica accuses Nicaragua of opening channels by dredging in sensitive wetlands in Costa Rican territory that they call Isla Portillo. Nicaragua calls the small triangle of land Harbour Head and says it is Nicaraguan territory as established by 19^th century treaty. Nicaragua in turn accuses Costa Rica of damage to the San Juan River with the careless building of a road parallel to the southern bank of the river where landslides of sediment are falling into the river.

In arguments on Apr. 28, Costa Rican representative Samuel Wordsworth said that Nicaragua “has interpreted the Alexander [arbitration ruling of 1897] in its own favor” but has recognized the possibility of changes in the channels of the river and that this could mean modifications in the border between the two countries. He said that the point of land that Nicaragua refers to in its arguments “has disappeared under the sea” but that there remain points at the mouth of the river that could serve for reference but the Nicaraguan team has ignored them.

On Apr. 29, Nicaraguan representative Carlos Argüello said that “the area in dispute presents numerous geographical difficulties” and that images and maps are not a substitute for viewing the area on the ground. He noted that British Prof. Colin Thorne, one of the experts whose testimony was part of Costa Rica’s documentation, had recommended an onsite visit. He said that Nicaragua had worked in the area for decades and that it was never in dispute until 2010. Paul Reichler, lawyer for Nicaragua, added that, “Costa Rica was aware of Nicaragua’s plans to clean out the mouth of the river where navigation had been impeded.” On Apr. 30, Argüello said that the Cañas –Jerez Treaty of 1858 should be respected and that Costa Rica “should not violate those borders.” With reference the road built by Costa Rica, he said, “Costa Rica’s own experts recognize that as a consequence of the erosion caused by the disorderly and irresponsible building of the highway so close to the river bank, at least 75,000 tons of sediment annually has gone into the river since construction began in 2011.” He added that Nicaraguan experts put the figure at 240,000 tons and that this sediment moves down the river “where it accumulates … and constitutes the principal impediment to navigation.” (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28, 29, 30; La Prensa, May 1)

3. Russia and US in cooperation with Nicaragua

On April 28, the National Assembly approved a cooperation agreement with Russia related to space science. Under the agreement, Nicaragua will permit land-based installations on its territory to be used by satellites in space for peaceful ends. The agreement will allow Nicaragua to obtain rapid and precise information about volcanic eruptions, earthquake damage, etc. The vote in the Assembly was 65 to 23, with the Sandinista Party supporting approval of the agreement and the opposition deputies opposed. Edwin Castro, head of the Sandinista bench, said that Nicaragua will receive more information from satellites that will help with agriculture and advance science in the universities especially in the area of climate change.

At the same time a United States Coast Guard delegation visited Nicaragua with the announced intention of strengthening cooperation on port security issues and sharing international best practices information. The U.S. delegation met with authorities of the Nicaragua Government and visited the ports of Corinto on the Pacific and Rama and El Bluff in the Southern Caribbean Autonomous Region (RACS). Also three members of the Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy visited Nicaragua to train government officials in localization, identification, transportation, and security of radioactive materials that could be used to disburse radiation in the form of “dirty bombs.” The US team works with more than 100 countries around the world in the protection of nuclear materials. Twenty Nicaraguans from the National Commission on Atomic Energy, the Health Ministry, the customs office, the National Police, and others participated in the training. The US team donated to Nicaragua US$100,000 in equipment to detect radiation.

Writing in the Latin American edition of the Russian media outlet Regnum, Tatiana Poloskovanotedthat Nicaragua is increasing its cooperation with both Russia and the United States including the space agreement with Russia and the donation by US Ambassador Phyllis Powers to Nicaraguan Naval Forces of two modern vessels for fighting drug trafficking. The outlet noted that, if the shipping canal across Nicaragua becomes a reality, US merchant ships would be its principal users, although the canal would also benefit Russia. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28, May 4; Nicaragua News, Apr. 28)

4. Freedom House report hard on Latin America

Freedom House, a US-based non-governmental organization that receives major funding from the governments of the United States, Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands, along with the MacArthur and Ford Foundations, released its “2015 Map of Press Freedom” and its “2015 Freedom in the World” on Apr. 29. The Nicaraguan media only reported on the press freedom report which was substantially harder on Latin America than the “Freedom in the World” report. The only countries in the Western Hemisphere that were classified as having a free press were Uruguay, Belize, Costa Rica, Guyana, French Guiana, Canada, and the United States. Classified as “not free” were Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, Venezuela, and Ecuador. All the rest, including Nicaragua, were classified as “partly free.” Sometimes the difference was small. Mexico, with a score of 63, was classified as “not free” while Guatemala with a score of 60 was classified as “partly free.” Uruguay with a score of 24 was classified as “free” while Chile with a score of 31 was called “partly free.” Nicaragua’s score was 52.

Opposition journalist Sofia Montenegro said, “We are en route to a system of official propaganda, composed of official media or supporters or those who are self-censoring, or who are at the service of the regime.” Meanwhile, Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador, denounced the report saying, “Freedom House is a foundation without moral solvency, with no legitimacy, of the North American extreme right, that makes even Republicans blush.” (Informe Pastran, Apr. 29; La Prensa, May 1; El Nuevo Diario, May 4; https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/freedom-press-2015#.VUkPN_lVhBd; https://freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-world#.VUkKJPlVhBc)

5. Nicaraguan workers celebrate May Day

Nicaraguans marked International Workers Day on May 1 with rallies, marches and a day off work. Trade unionists affiliated with the Sandinista Workers Central (CST) rallied at the Plaza of the Revolution in Managua. General Secretary of the CST Roberto Gonzalez said, “The CST is celebrating this new victory, governability, investment, and FSLN social programs.”  The National Union of Older Adults marched on the Bolivar Avenue, renamed Bolivar to Chavez Avenue, to the Plaza. In July of 2013, President Daniel Ortega issued a decree ordering that the National Social Security Institute begin issuing small pensions to those retirees who had not paid into the system for the required 14 years but who had contributed for at least five years. And last month, National Assembly Deputy Edwin Castro introduced a bill that would convert the decree into law, mandating a small pension for 30,000 retired workers. Porfirio Garcia, president of the seniors’ organization, stated that he was confident that the bill would pass in the Assembly and “that under this government we are going to achieve the results we have demanded.” At the rally in the Plaza, Garcia was awarded the Jose Benito Escobar medal of the CST “in recognition of his trajectory of struggle in defense of the rights of the retired workers of Nicaragua.”

Members of the National Democratic Union, composed of opposition civil society organizations, also marched in Managua on May 1. Leaders said that they were protesting against abuses of the labor rights of public sector workers by the government and the requirement that they participate in government sponsored activities under threat of losing their jobs. (Radio La Primerisima, May 1; La Prensa, May 1)

6. Violence affects Nicaraguan women

The representative of the United Nations Development Plan (UNDP), Silvia Rucks, presented a report to the Nicaraguan National Assembly last week that indicated that 67% of Nicaraguan women had suffered some type of violence and that 23% of girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 19 are already mothers. She said that Nicaragua was one of the nations with the highest rates of pregnancy among young women and girls. On the issue of domestic violence, she stated that 37% of women have suffered verbal aggression from their partners while 20% have been subject to physical mistreatment and 10% to sexual violence, according to the Survey of Demography and Health (ENDESA) carried out in 2011 and 2012. Rucks said, “Gender violence cuts short possibilities of life and development of girls and women.” She praised the gender equity policies implemented by the government of Nicaragua which she said were “a reference point in the [Central American] region and in the world.” (Informe Pastran, Apr. 30)

7. Economic briefs: farmers in South Caribbean, new FTZ jobs, Social Security growth

Ruben Lopez, executive director of the Autonomous Regional Government of the South Caribbean Autonomous Region (GRACS), announced the expenditure of US$78 million this year in an effort to increase food production throughout the region. “These programs are directed at the poor mestizo, Afro-descendent, and Indigenous peasant farmer,” Lopez explained. He said that regional authorities would seek to increase production of rice, corn, plantains and bananas, root crops, cacao, coconuts, coffee and others. He added, “One thing is important: this is not just about production but we want people to transform the product, to add value to the products, process them and sell them at a better price.” Lopez said that the funding, which took four years to obtain, comes from the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, and other international agencies.(La Prensa, May 1)

President Daniel Ortega announced that a Canadian investor is ready to increase his investments in Nicaragua and increase the number of employees in his Free Trade Zone factories from 6,000 to 16,000. Ortega said he met with the investor on Apr. 29 and it was at that meeting that the Canadian told him that because of the social and labor stability in the country he was going to increase his investment and employ another 10,000 workers. Ortega said that if this investment takes place, the Canadian company will become the principal employer in the garment assembly sector in the country. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 30)

The Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUNIDES) last week made its first predictions of the year, projecting a growth rate of 4.5% for 2015. The Foundation said that economic activity accelerated in the last quarter of last year based partly on the reduction in oil prices and the growth in the US economy. FUNIDES also reported that the number of workers paying into the National Social Security Institute grew by 5.4% in 2014, to a total of 725,014 formal sector workers. That figure rose to 732,885 by the end of January of this year, a growth rate which, if maintained, could reach 6.1% for 2015. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 29)

8. Nicaragua expresses solidarity with Nepal; reinforces preparedness for quakes

On April 28, the Nicaraguan government sent expressions of condolence and solidarity to the people and government of Nepal, which on Apr. 25 suffered a massive 7.9 earthquake with deaths in the thousands. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said that “all of our solidarity goes to the people of Nepal” and that Nicaragua lamented the loss of human life caused by the quake. She noted that in the previous 24 hours, Nicaragua had felt five tremblers and said that Nicaraguans “have to continue in our small country in the middle of the Americas working to strengthen knowledge, capacity and training… so that we can react in a responsible manner to save lives.” Nicaragua Civil Defense Chief, Colonel Rogelio Flores, announced that capabilities to deal with search and rescue operations have been strengthened. He added that 1,800 radio transmitters; 39 communication stations; and three liaison posts in 17 high risk municipalities have been established. In addition 1,130 light vehicles, 678 heavy trucks, 857 motorcycles, 42 cisterns and 1,033 boats will be fitted out and equipped this year for emergency use. Meanwhile, Nicaraguan authorities reported four more tremblers on May 1, all of which were mild. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28; Radio La Primerisima, May 1; Nicaragua News, Apr. 28)