The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – A delegation of Nicaraguans who oppose the construction of the canal are looking to Costa Rican social organizations to join in their fight.
Representatives of the National Council for the Defense of the Earth, Lake and Sovereignty, arrived in Costa Rica this week to ask for solidarity and support from social organizations and to expose the repression they have experienced from the government of Nicaragua.
“We are fighting and asking for help from civil society since the canal will displace about 120,000 families. The law has declared compensation of approximately 5,000 cordobas per hectare, equivalent to about $190, which is significantly below market value,” said the vice-coordinator of the Council, Francisca Ramirez.
She added that they are also seeking support from Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica to collect one million signatures and stop the oppression of their people.
According to Ramirez, their government has responded with “authoritarian and repressive” responses to their protests and several people have been beaten by the Army and National Police.
The Nicaraguans currently have the cooperation of the Costa Rican Workers Party, who gave their full support and expressed their willingness to help in all actions that can strengthen the movement.
On December 22 the Nicaraguan government and the Chinese firm HKND Group, licensee of the Grand Canal project in Nicaragua, inaugurated the Canal. (ACAN-EFE)
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose, Costa Rica