No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeLatin AmericaCentral AmericaCosta Rica, Nicaragua tensions flare over death near border

Costa Rica, Nicaragua tensions flare over death near border

The governments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua are engaged in a diplomatic spat following the Aug. 12 death of Henry Ruiz López in northern Costa Rica.

The Nicaraguan government accused Costa Rican authorities of “excessive force and improper use of firearms” when confronting a group of six Nicaraguans in Upala, Alajuela, approximately 2 km from the countries’ shared border. Ruiz López, 45, died in the incident.

The use of force by Costa Rican police “was not justified” because neither López nor the detainees carried firearms or posed a threat, a letter from Nicaragua’s Foreign Ministry said. The government called for “investigations and sanctions.”

The Government of Nicaragua presented its complaint before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Aug. 15.

Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry retaliated with a Monday statement that said Nicaragua is engaged in a “crude and hypocritical campaign” of “false information and unfounded complaints.”

The Costa Rican Foreign Ministry says its authorities had been responding to an alert of smuggling activities on the Niño River when Ruiz López was hurt “in the context of the operation” as he fled after disobeying orders to halt.

“The Costa Rican police immediately called the Red Cross, whose representatives arrived at the site as soon as possible, but in doing so they found that the Nicaraguan national, Henry Ruiz López, had already passed away,” the statement reads.

Nicaragua’s government had alleged Costa Rican authorities had not taken “immediate measures to provide medical care when needed.”

The five other Nicaraguans were transferred to Immigration Police due to their irregular immigration status and have since been returned to Nicaragua, the Foreign Ministry said.

The incident is being investigated by the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) of Costa Rica.

“[Costa Rica] calls on the international community to redouble efforts to ensure that the Government of Nicaragua ceases its systematic violations of the human rights of its entire population,” the Foreign Ministry statement reads, “so that eventually the country can resume a democratic path.”

Trending Now

In Costa Rica, Rare White-Lipped Peccaries Still Survive

Today we meet the white-lipped peccary, a large animal that travels in large groups that has disappeared from a large part of its historical...

Costa Rica’s Role in US Deportation Drama with Salvadoran Migrant

A Salvadoran man at the center of a heated US immigration battle could end up in Costa Rica if he accepts a guilty plea,...

Costa Rica Replaces One-Lane Bridges as Traffic and Population Grow

As the infrastructure of Costa Rica advances, with new four-lane highways and a series of bypasses around San José that avoid the narrow, congested...

Former Zoo to Become Costa Rica’s First Urban Natural Park

Simón Bolívar Park, in San José, will be the first space in the country to become an Urban Natural Park. The project, led by...

Costa Rica’s Sibö Chocolate Wins Bronze at Int’l Awards

Chocolate Sibö once again stood out at the International Chocolate Awards, the largest fine chocolate competition based in New York. The Costa Rican brand...

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica