Stop The Environmental Damage!

Pastora Says Canal Is Finished

While Costa Rica continues its diplomatic process of pressuring Nicaragua into removing its troops from the Isla Calero and stop the environmental damage, Edén Pastora, told Nicaragua's La Prensa that the canal is finished and small boats can now travel through the area.

Photo courtesy OAS

According to Pastora, the canal was built on the basis of the 1898 Alexander awards, a document that only "la Chinchilla", referring to Costa Rica's presidenta, Laura Chinchilla, has not seen it.

Costa Rica's vice-chancellor, Carlos Roverssi, said on Wednesday that although the canal work is advanced, he does not believe that is ready for use.

If you will recall, Pastora is the main character in the Nicaragua - Costa Rica dispute that began last October 21 and despite two OAS orders, Nicaragua continues to occupy the area with military troops.

The Pastora maneuver included the claim of using "Google Maps" to define the border between the two countries, although he did not directly admit it, he inferred it as a mistake.

However, since those early days, the former Sandinistra guerilla leader has been faithful to his boss, Nicaragua's president,  Daniel Ortega, in maintaining that there was no mistake and that the disputed area is in Nicaragua and so is the canal work.

A hearing to determine the environmental damage caused by the actions of Nicaragua is slated for January 11, 2011, at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, where Costa Rica seeks an injunction up to the time the court hears the lawsuit, that could be a couple of more years away.