Human Rights Commission Calls for Another Hearing

The Inter-American Human Rights Commission is calling for a second hearing to address complaints of xenophobia and discrimination filed by Nicaragua against Costa Rica, according to a Sept. 28 statement from the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry.

The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18 at the commission’s headquarters in WashingtonD.C. The first hearing on this case was held July 18 in Guatemala (TT, July 21).

Nicaragua’s complaints of discrimination and xenophobia involve incidents with two Nicaraguans, Natividad Canda and José Ariel Silva. Canda was attacked by dogs in Costa Rica in November 2005 while attempting to enter a warehouse. He later died from his wounds (TT, Nov. 18, 2005).

Nicaragua has complained that eight police officers and firefighters saw the attack and could have prevented Canda’s death by shooting the dog.

The complaints also concern the case of José Ariel Silva, who was killed by a group of Costa Ricans last December.

Plans to settle the complaint through a “friendly agreement” fell through when Costa Rica rejected this offer (TT, Aug. 11).