Nicaragua Sends Protest
to Colombia Over Dispute
Nicaragua has sent a
formal protest note to
Colombia, saying a
Colombian navy ship
intimidated Nicaraguan
fishermen in disputed
waters. Nicaragua's
action is the latest
twist in a long-running
row between the two
nations over several
islets and a maritime
border in the Caribbean
Sea.
The UN's top court ruled
in December that a
treaty awarding three
islands to Colombia was
still valid.
The court said it could
still rule on the border
and island claims.
The Nicaraguan
authorities handed a
letter to Colombia's
ambassador, accusing a
Colombian frigate of
confronting Nicaraguan
fishermen on Sunday in
what it said were
Nicaraguan waters.
"This act and the
location it happened can
only be considered as a
violation of Nicaraguan
sovereignty," the letter
said.
The Nicaraguan Foreign
Minister, Samuel Santos,
was planning to complain
to UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon about
Colombia's alleged
actions later on
Wednesday.
The latest developments
comes days after
Nicaraguan President
Daniel Ortega accused
Colombia of stepping up
military operations in
the area, a claim
swiftly rejected by
Bogota.
The issue of the
maritime border between
the two nations and
claims over several
islands were considered
by the International
Court of Justice last
December.
In its ruling, the ICJ
said that Colombian
sovereignty over three
islands in the area, San
Andres, Providencia and
Santa Catalina islands,
had been legitimately
settled in a 1928 treaty
signed by both
countries.
However, the court said
it could rule on their
maritime border and
claims over other islets
in the rich fishing
waters.
The ICJ is seeking new
submissions from
Colombia and Nicaragua,
although it could be
months before the case
comes before the court
again.
The ICJ's rulings are
binding.
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