The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently rejected the requests of Costa Rica and Nicaragua of a change in the verdict of 2011. The decree prevented them from sending staff to the San Juan River border, a territory that both countries have long since disputed.
Costa Rica has expressed its concerns with large number of Nicaragua representatives they have sent into the disputed territory territory.
The CJI concluded that after examining the claims of both countries, the nature of current circumstances does not merit modifications in the decree of March 8, 2011.
On that date the court ordered both countries not to send, set or keep staff in the disputed area.
The ICJ addressed two demands in a single case: one from Costa Rica against Nicaragua for invasion of territory and environmental damage in an area that both claim as their own, and another demand in which Nicaragua accused Costa Rica of causing environmental damage to the San Juan River.
Today the court unanimously confirmed the measures outlined in its decree of 2011, including the order for the parties to “refrain from any action which might aggravate their differences”.
In its request to the international court, Costa Rica had first expressed its disagreement with the large number of people that Nicaragua sent and kept in the territory; and secondly, with the activities carried out by these people, which damaged the ecosystem.
On the other hand, Nicaragua pointed out that there had been a change in the legal issue due to the construction of a 160 km street along the San Juan River bank made by Costa Rica. As a result, Nicaragua asked the court to allow them to send civil agents to the territory in dispute in order to protect the environment.
In April of 2011 a Nicaraguan flag was found in Calero island, Pococi, as well as Nicaraguan military presence and more environmental damage. Thus, in 2011 the court granted Costa Rica´s request and prohibited Nicaragua´s military presence in the area near the San Juan River.
Managua, on the other hand, claimed to be dredging its territory, which as under its sovereignty based on the Cañas-Jerez Treaty, the Cleveland and Alexander Awards, as well as the judgment of La Haya court on July 13, 2009. In addition, they claimed that their military forces were doing anti-drug work.
In July of 2009 the ICJ acknowledged Nicaragua´s sovereignty over the San Juan River, but it also acknowledged the perpetual navigation rights of Costa Rica in a distance of 140 kilometers with some restrictions defined by the Nicaraguan authorities. LN
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose, Costa Rica
