www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I saw an interview on the news yesterday with Eden Pastora, leader of the Nicaraguan operation. He accused the finca of being a drug shipment point, talked about fast boats, lots of fuel, cellphones. Nice way to muddy the waters, save face while backing off.
Next watch the Ticos have the immigration police sweep all the Nicaraguans onto buses and back across the border. Tit for Tat.

I believe I made reference to that earlier in this thread. Take note it was not as you previously stated "Nicaruagua won a decision the other day concerning the river that has been fought about for quite some time between the two countries." but rather a 2009 decision which basically agreed with the position Costa Rica presented to the court .

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I don't think Nicaraguan army is worried about CR police or US forces. US leadership, not troops, doesn't have the resolve to WIN a war anymore..

Youre right ID. Tico Times is wrong.

It was not correct what they printed. It is not what we are reading. It is correct what you say. Thanks to you ID we now have all the correct facts on the whole situation. I feel so much better now. Thanks.

fifthy

I know you well versed ID and have all the facts to back up what you say as well.

What Treaty?

fiddy?

Here's an Amazon.com listing for Brother DiegoC's excellent mention on a book about Theodore Roosevelt's Manifest Destiny ambitions:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=16&y=14

Funnily enough, New Jersey and Delaware are engaged in a similar struggle for control of a river and what can be done with/to it, specifically dredging. Delaware since Colonial times has controlled this river (their state line extends to the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River) and have won numerous court decisions including the US Supreme Court saying so. NJ and Pennsylvania want to dredge so their port facilities can handle larger ships--Delaware says "No!" and have the law on their side. No word on armed engagements between, say, National Guardsmen or State Police Harbor "troops", but stay tuned.
This CR-Nica thing could get weird real fast--anybody making book on the outcome?

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Isn't that PATHETIC!!! Where is Ronald Reagan when you need him......

Cañas-Jerez Treaty of 1858

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

River situation defused as Nicaragua moves pipe

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
updated at 2 p.m. Saturday


The situation along the Río San Juan that had the potential for armed conflict between Costa Rica and Nicaragua appears to have been defused.

Nicaragua has removed the dredge pipe that violated Costa Rican sovereignty. Eden Pastora, the man in charge of the operation, was overheard Friday afternoon on the marine radio band instructing dredge workers to move the pipe. Friday night José María Tijerino confirmed that the 12-inch pipe had been removed.

Pastora, a former guerrilla leader, had contended on Nicaragua television that the disputed land, an island on the south side of the Río San Juan belonged to no one.

Pastora is well-known in northern Costa Rica because his rebel headquarters used to be near Barra del Colorado. A fishing guide with Río Colorado Lodge, based there, reported he heard Pastora Friday afternoon telling workers on the dredge to move the outlet pipe to the Nicaraguan side of the river. The guide said he knows Pastora personally. Speculation in the area is that Pastora is staying at a hotel or fishing lodge somewhere north of the river.

Shortly after 1 p.m. A.M. Costa Rica learned that Pastora had been ordered back to Managua, the capital, by President Daniel Ortega, who was described as being angry at what happened on the river. The dredging was shut down.

Costa Rica officials surveyed the island and claimed there was environmental damage. A photo released by the security ministry Friday showed where a line of trees had been cut. Tijerino confirmed in the evening press conference that there was environmental damage. He said the river bottom sucked up by the dredging vessel destroyed a mangrove along the river.

The dredge is located in Laguna Los Portillos opposite the mouth of the Caño Sucio, which flows into the San Juan from Nicaragua. The river is Nicaraguan territory. The international border is the south bank.

Terjino said that all had returned to normality along the river and that Costa Rican police did not find any Nicaraguans when they visited the area by air and surveyed the damage. The initial report that came Oct. 8 said that Nicaraguan soldiers have threatened a Costa Rican farmer working government land there. The complaint said that the soldiers killed farm animals for food.

Eventually court cases for the intrusion and the environmental damage are certain to follow.

Despite his assurances of normality, Terjino has issued no orders to pull out heavily armed police officers and others who went to the area early Friday. They have taken over the local school as living quarters, and Barra del Colorado school Ch*ldren hope they stay because Monday and Tuesday are days designated for examinations.

The students hope for days off instead. Police are using the school kitchen to produce meals.

Involved in the deployment were the security ministry's Unidad Especial de Intervención, other Fuerza Pública officers, air units, the Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas and agents from the Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad.

There was a report that the Barra del Colorado airport would be reopened for limited civilian aircraft Saturday afternoon. Officials closed and now guard the strip where troops are moved in and out.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Didn't Costa Rica, maybe 40 years ago or so, go to war over a Soccer game with one of their Central American neighbors? And didn't it last like 3 days or something?

Some good posts of a historia breve de Costa Rica. I spend a few days every so often on la fronteria where the Saripiqui joins the San Juan. I'll chime in with a few more facts and opinion:

With the annexation of Guanacaste, Nicaragua received sovergnty over the San Juan. They extended it some years ago to charge Costa Ricans and tourists $25.00 visa/tourist cards, harassed Costa Ricans traveling the river. Once my friend was threatened for fishing from the southern bank by a Nicaraguan patrol.

The World Court interpreted the existing treaties and offered a clarifying decision. Nicaragua retains sovernty over the river (including the southern bank) while Costa Rica has commercial rights to the river, substance fishing, travel for commerce purposes, etc. As transport of tourists is commerce, the Nicaraguans cannot charge Visa/tourist fees. The decision seems to have held in place, and the tensions defused. Of course, limiting the ability for poorly paid and opportunistic authorities in a culture were propinas and bribes are customary, helps.

Eden Pastora has a complecated history, being left of center but rebelling against the Sandinistas when he believed that they took the revolution too far left. He was one of the first revolutionaries to fight against the Sandinistas.

Another good book written on this conflict is called, "Our Man in Panama" by John Dinges. Although it doesn't focus on the Contra War, it does give background and details Panamas and Costa Ricas involvement.

This current fracas is only that, Orategas son attend private school in the Central Valley.

Now that is a reason to go to war. The area around Rio San Juan is pretty desolate... not an easy area to position an army or mobilize national police.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Anything new about this situation as of tonight?

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Go Dolphins!!!

Costa Rica is in GREAT hands and no need for anyone to worry. Just go to www.dongordo.com on the homepage and scroll down about 2/3 of the page on left side and there's a picture of the Costa Rica National Guard. If I were a Nico soldier I would be......TREMBLING.....

They announced on TV that Google is to blame.
Google Earth showed the border in the wrong place, and Nicaraguan troops occupied the new frontier.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.