No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeLatin AmericaCentral AmericaExperts accuse Nicaragua of 'cover-up' after military incursion into Costa Rica

Experts accuse Nicaragua of ‘cover-up’ after military incursion into Costa Rica

The Tico Times partners with La Prensa to translate their stories and amplify them to our English-speaking readers who want to stay informed. 

***

Critics are accusing Daniel Ortega’s regime of a “cover-up” after the Nicaraguan government responded with a police note to Costa Rica’s complaint about a military incursion into its territory. 

Although the Nicaraguan Army is apparently the main culprit in this case, as of Wednesday it had not responded to the Costa Rican complaint. Rather the Orteguista Police (PO) did it through a press release.

The note indicates that a Nicaraguan “offender” dead, but his death is not explained and it does not mention the Army.

“The government is covering up the Army. Notice that they do not say who killed the alleged criminal. Although they recognize that there is a dead man, they only say that the police are investigating,” said the former ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Nations, Julio Icaza Gallard.

On Monday, Aug. 26, Costa Rican authorities began investigating the incursion of Nicaraguan military into their territory. Witnesses said six uniformed military members had entered Costa Rica and killed a Nicaraguan.

These facts were confirmed Tuesday by the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) of Costa Rica, and the government of that country expressed “its most energetic and resounding protest” against the regime of Daniel Ortega.

Icaza said that in this case, Nicaragua cannot claim that it was an incursión en caliente — similar to that which allows entrance into private property or domicile when a criminal is prosecuted in Nicaragua — because international law is different from domestic law.

The former ambassador of Nicaragua in Germany, José Dávila, said that the event denounced by Costa Rica is no stranger to the reality that Nicaragua lives.

“Everything that usually happens in Nicaragua is a consequence of a country that represses its people and citizens who are fleeing to a safer country, such as Costa Rica. So, that narrative of the facts is imaginable. People are fleeing from here and there they are finding refuge,” Dávila said.

The former diplomat said that Costa Rica could elevate its complain via formal measures, such as the Organization of American States (OAS) or the United Nations, to request the formation of an investigative commission.

This commission would have to arrive at the scene to collect data and prepare an opinion that demarcates responsibilities and indicates the veracity of what happened. According to Dávila, the Army would have to collaborate in that investigation.

The former diplomat also said that this incident is an indication that the crisis in Nicaragua not only persists, but continues to deepen.

 

Read the original story in Spanish at La Prensa, first published on August 28, 2019.

This story was translated into English and republished in The Tico Times as part of a partnership with La Prensa to help bring their coverage of the Nicaraguan crisis to an English-speaking audience.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Cutris Mining Bill Threatens Massive Environmental Damage

Costa Rica’s government is pushing a controversial bill that could open the entire Cutris district in San Carlos—848 square kilometers—to open-pit gold mining. The...

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an...

Prisma Dental in Costa Rica Keeps Customers Happy and Smiling

I am 81 years old and have had teeth removed, bridges, and cavities fixed several times to sustain my ability to eat and function....

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
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