Nicaragua Blames Costa Rica For Environmental Damage to the San Juan River
Yesterday, the leading Nicaraguan newspaper, Diario La Prensa, published on its front page the news that Costa Rica is polluting the San Juan river and the centre of dispute between the two countries.

The San Juan river which divides the two countries is firmly in Nicaraguan territory and Costa Rica does not dispute that, however, it is taking its neighbour to the international court for violation of navigation rights granted by an agreement dating back to the 1800's.

In the report, the Nicaraguan army and a group of environmentalists charge that the Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía (Minae) in Costa Rica has brought in machinery into the neighbouring territory to dregde the river, causing environmental pollution.

The newspaper said that the charges stem from the failure by the Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y de Ambiente de Nicaragua to give permission to the Costa Rica to carry out the activity near the Cabeza de León and some 30 metres into the Nicaraguan area known as Guacalito, which flows into the Cocibolca lake. The permission was requested by Roberto Sequeira, acting for the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Las Camelias.

The publication affirms that the dredging was carried out a month ago and as a result Nicaraguan authorities have noticed "aguas negras" (contaminated water) flow into Guacalito. In addition, the dirty water is stagnate and filled with sediment on both sides of the river.

"The residents of the area condemn the Ticos for dredging without permission and now have to support the filth" said the report. The report also said that the Nicaraguan army had to remove the invading machinery, though it did not confiscate it.

The Costa Ricans defend the action saying it was an urgent operation that had to be carried out with the approaching rainy season and the possible flooding due to erosions at the Miravalles volcano.

Both ecologists and the Nicaraguan army maintain that is indispensable to carry out an environmental study before giving out dredging permits, for they feel the water drained contain oxidation and toxic materials. Nicaraguan authorities further blame the Costa Ricans for erecting dykes and altering the course of the water that is needed for farmers of the areas.