Nicaragua Charges Costa Rica On Human Rights
The war of words between Costa Rica and Nicaragua continues, with the announced yesterday that Nicaragua has charged Costa Rica before the Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (Interamerican Human Rights Commission) for violating the rights of Nicaraguan citizens in Costa Rica.

The charge was made as a result of Costa Rica's failure to provide guarantees of protection for Nicaraguans under the Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos and other international agreements.

The Nicaraguan case is based on the death of Natividad Canda Mairena, who was attacked by two Rottweilers and Ariel Urbina Silva who was stabbed to death in La Guacima. Nicaraguan officials say that it has been 85 days since the first death and no arrests have been made by Costa Rican officials and nothing has been done to minimize the risk and danger to Nicaraguans living or visiting Costa Rica.

"Nobody has been brought before a court and no progress had been made in the investigations", said Normal Caldera, Nicaragua's foreign minister.

The charge by Nicaragua is to protect the rights of all Nicaraguans.

Costa Rica's foreign ministry would not comment on the charge, saying they will do so when they formally receive notice by the Commission.

Last year Costa Rica charged Nicaragua before the International Court in Hague over navigational rights of the San Juan river that divides the two countries. Costa Rica does not make claim to the river which clearly belongs to Nicaragua, buts wants Nicaragua to respect an agreement between the two countries that gives Costa Rica the right to patrol the river.