Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Leon (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, has appealed to the government of Nicaragua so that it dialogues with farmer communities who have been protesting for two months against the planned construction of the Interoceanic Canal which threatens to evict them from their land. According to the note sent to Agenzia Fides, thousands of farmers live along the path traced by the Chinese company HKND where a canal of 278 km will be built between the Pacific and the Atlantic (Caribbean). Since September they have been protesting against the agreements of the government and the foreign company, which aim to expropriate their property.
"Many of those who are protesting have not been heard, and have not had the opportunity to express their concerns, I feel it is very important to listen to them", said Cardinal Brenes on Saturday 15 November.
According to the local press, on Saturday there were more than 2,000 people demonstrating against the mega project on the island of Ometepe of Lake Cocibolca, the largest fresh water source in Central America, which according to the project will be crossed by the canal.
The Bishops have long raised the issue (see Fides 22/05/2014) and in the meeting with the President on 21 May 2014, had exposed all the consequences in this regard. In n. 27 of the Bishops’ document, delivered to the President, says among other things: the design of the Interoceanic Canal "will influence the culture, lifestyle and work of our people and future generations". "It is important and urgent that the project is discussed in more detail, considering the opinion of scientific experts in the field, to harmonize the constitutional, geological, technical and environmental aspects, and calmly assess the risks of such a mega project in order to safeguard our environment and natural resources". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 17/11/2014)
