If you’re reading this, I am sure by now you have heard something about the border skirmish between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. A little explaining is in order, for our friends north of the Rio Grande.
Make no mistake about it, my dear friends. This is not your usual, run-of-the-mill dispute between countries whose border is ill defined. This is a blatant incursion by the armed forces of one country into the territory of a second, unarmed country. In other words, what we are seeing here is an invasion. And the excuses given by the invading country are plain cynical.
The border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was established by the Cañas-Jerez Treaty of 1858. Due to subsequent disputes, the treaty was subjected to arbitration by mutual agreement of the governments of both countries. President Grover Cleveland of the United States was chosen as the arbiter, and his ruling in 1888 ratified and validated the Cañas-Jerez accord. There is no doubt about where lies the line separating both countries.
Nicaragua has now, 132 years later, resorted to an erroneous map published by Google Oops, I mean, Maps, to claim property of Calero Island, which even official Nicaraguan maps depict at the northeastern corner of Costa Rica. Troops and artillery have occupied what Nicaragua’s leaders call a mosquito-infested swamp – known to more enlightened individuals as a protected wetland – and have begun felling trees and digging what appears to be a canal designed either to drain the marsh or alter the course of the San Juan River, which marks the border between the two countries (follow this link and watch the pictures if you can’t read Spanish). Google has since corrected its mistake, but the Nicaraguan troops have not withdrawn accordingly.
All along, Costa Rica has called upon the international community to exert pressure and influence over Nicaragua’s authorities in order to get them to withdraw from Calero Island and thus restore peace to the region. The Organization of American States is a failed institution, and after almost two weeks of going back and forth, has not even agreed to issue a statement condemning the invasion. Now, since this diatribe is aimed at my friends in the US, I have to say your government has gone AWOL, and we haven’t heard a single word of public support from it.
Yes, your government, which seems so concerned about Israelis building homes in Israel’s capital city, has not uttered a single word about this clear and blatant invasion of Costa Rica. We all want a peaceful solution to the conflict, and I believe the right words pronounced by the right people – say, the President of the most powerful country in the world - could help persuade the Nicaraguan’s of the foolishness of their deed.
This is Central America, folks, where magical realism hits the wall of a sad reality that has nothing magical about it, and yes much of insanity. This is the land that went to war over a football match. With a little help from our friends we may sort this out peacefully. It is up to you – and I dare say no one else – to prevent this skirmish from becoming what history may come to know as the Google War.
Make no mistake about it, my dear friends. This is not your usual, run-of-the-mill dispute between countries whose border is ill defined. This is a blatant incursion by the armed forces of one country into the territory of a second, unarmed country. In other words, what we are seeing here is an invasion. And the excuses given by the invading country are plain cynical.
The border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was established by the Cañas-Jerez Treaty of 1858. Due to subsequent disputes, the treaty was subjected to arbitration by mutual agreement of the governments of both countries. President Grover Cleveland of the United States was chosen as the arbiter, and his ruling in 1888 ratified and validated the Cañas-Jerez accord. There is no doubt about where lies the line separating both countries.
Nicaragua has now, 132 years later, resorted to an erroneous map published by Google Oops, I mean, Maps, to claim property of Calero Island, which even official Nicaraguan maps depict at the northeastern corner of Costa Rica. Troops and artillery have occupied what Nicaragua’s leaders call a mosquito-infested swamp – known to more enlightened individuals as a protected wetland – and have begun felling trees and digging what appears to be a canal designed either to drain the marsh or alter the course of the San Juan River, which marks the border between the two countries (follow this link and watch the pictures if you can’t read Spanish). Google has since corrected its mistake, but the Nicaraguan troops have not withdrawn accordingly.
All along, Costa Rica has called upon the international community to exert pressure and influence over Nicaragua’s authorities in order to get them to withdraw from Calero Island and thus restore peace to the region. The Organization of American States is a failed institution, and after almost two weeks of going back and forth, has not even agreed to issue a statement condemning the invasion. Now, since this diatribe is aimed at my friends in the US, I have to say your government has gone AWOL, and we haven’t heard a single word of public support from it.
Yes, your government, which seems so concerned about Israelis building homes in Israel’s capital city, has not uttered a single word about this clear and blatant invasion of Costa Rica. We all want a peaceful solution to the conflict, and I believe the right words pronounced by the right people – say, the President of the most powerful country in the world - could help persuade the Nicaraguan’s of the foolishness of their deed.
This is Central America, folks, where magical realism hits the wall of a sad reality that has nothing magical about it, and yes much of insanity. This is the land that went to war over a football match. With a little help from our friends we may sort this out peacefully. It is up to you – and I dare say no one else – to prevent this skirmish from becoming what history may come to know as the Google War.
Dean, si los angloparlantes quieren un resumen escrito por un observador neutral, le recomiendo este artículo, creo que está bastante completo.
ResponderBorrarYo no creo que Estados Unidos quiera tocar el asunto "ni con un palo de 3 metros" como dicen ellos (ten foot pole). Es difícil además que Ortega haga caso a las palabras del "imperio". En cambio, es decepcionante la actitud de otros países latinoamericanos, México, Brasil, Argentina... los grandes... ¿cómo diablos pueden hacerse los majes?
jeje esta muy tuanis...
ResponderBorrarpero creo que los gringos no se pronuncian para hacer parecer que no tienen mucho interés en el asunto, cuando la realidad es que talvez los nicas quieran hacer un canal por donde pueden pasar cosas no amistosas con los Estados.
Tema intereesante!
Terox, muy bueno el link. Con respecto a los demás países latinoamericanos, justo ese es el punto: son una bola de pendejos. Por eso digo que una advertencia bien clarita de Uncle Sam debería de ser la solución...
ResponderBorrarH3dicho, creo que los gringos deberían de estar muy interesados, sobre todo por lo que pusiste en tu blog acerca de los intereses de Irán en la región...
"llegar a conocer como la Guerra de Google" que cierre tan origiginal, pero creo que a los gringuitos les dà igual, si ellos no se han pronunciando al respecto es por razones obvias, proteger sus intereses evitando darle a Ortega o al simio de Hugo Chavez excusas para alzar la voz en contra del verdadero IMPERIO. En cuanto a los otros paises como Mexico, Argentina y otros, bueno, es comprensible tambièn su actitud, nosotros no tenemos casi nada que sea de su interèz o que valga la pena como para involucrarse, o sea, segùn parece somos muy "poca cosa para ellos"...
ResponderBorrarPero sin temor a equivocarme, con el apoyo que hemos recibido de los otros paises hasta el momento es màs que suficiente para detener esta locura nicaraguense.
La resoluciòn de la OEA està a nuestro favor, ahora solo es cuestiòn de tiempo para que Nicaragua retire a sus soldados del suelo costarricense.
Salu2 de WOLVERINE
Lo del canal suena un poco descabellado... y a fin de cuentas, pueden hacer la entrada más al norte, donde la salida al mar les pertenece completamente... es absurdo crear un incidente internacional apenas arrancando el "proyecto" (si es que este existe realmente).
ResponderBorrarUna intervención más agresiva de USA puede ser la excusa perfecta para la oposición a ultranza de los mismos de siempre, y para no acatar las resoluciones (promovidas por "el imperio").
Mas bien, si se meten los gringos, le estaran echando mas lenna al fuego y le daran ahi si el impulso que necesita el tipejo ese de Ortega para darse legitimidad.
ResponderBorrarPero no todo esta perdido. De entre todo este reguero de mentiras y manipulaciones estan saliendo a la luz muchas verdades, revultas y empanadas, pero ahi quedan.
Si, Ortega y Co. son una manada de epndejos, si a que estan elaborando una linda cortina de humo. Pero tambien que los nicas, la mayoria, no tienen espiritu para hacerle pleito ni a semejante barrabasada porque ya no les queda fuerzas ni animo. Otrso se dejan llevar porque les conviene, pero la mayoria es hambre o ignoirancia. No olvidemos eso.
CR no esta impune en este asunto, y no debe llamar a otros a cuidar lo que le corresponde. Si la cocina estuviera limpia no habria cucarachas. Que hemos abandonado la zona norte, que hay mucho narcotrafico metido en politica, que nuestra frontera y legalidades conexas estan escritas con saliva y pegadas con mocos, que a CR si le falta socarse los pantalones.
Desde la inmdependencia estamos en pleitos con los nicas. Que no nos pase las de Israel, dos mil annos y siguen dandose mazazos.
TicoExpat, estás cayendo en la trampa. Por muchos problemas que haya, no se justifica una acción así, menos sin anunciar nada. Vea, en el sur (Golfito, por ej.) hay mucho problema de droga. ¿Justificaría una invasión panameña?
ResponderBorrarEsa gente ya lleva como un mes ahí metida... ¿qué narcos están combatiendo?
¿O hay que hacer una autopista de 4 carriles que siga el curso de la frontera para poder vigilar la zona?
Otra cosa... no han notado como los argumentos van cambiando todos los días... ahora resulta que dice el embajador ante la OEA que las BANANERAS ticas contaminan el río San Juan, y hasta el lago de Nicaragua... cuando las bananeras quedan más al sur... si acaso las piñeras, que son además más contaminantes... se ve que campea la improvisación en el bando norteño...
ResponderBorrar