President Laura Chinchilla has received both criticism and accolades for her decision to charge forward with the construction of a new highway that runs parallel to the San Juan river in Nicaragua. The highway, which is named after former head of state and national hero Juan Rafael Mora Porras, has been the subject of intense debate between public officials of both Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Many Ticos view the highway as a strong exercise of sovereignty after the strange invasion undertaken by former guerrilla leader Eden Pastora and a Nicaraguan Army squad back in 2010. On that incident, which took place in Costa Rica’s Calero Island on the northeastern tip of our country, Pastora was conducting river dredging operations while consulting Google Maps. Bolstered by Google Maps, Pastora proceeded to invade the island, only to be told by the International Court of Justice at The Hague to retreat.

In the months that followed that bizarre invasion, Nicaraguan security forces once again invaded Costa Rica, this time taunting Fuerza Publica officers who are permanently detached in the area. That’s when construction of the Juan Rafael Mora Porras highway started. The project is currently under review by the Central American Court of Justice, and the following two matters will be brought before the court in the days to come:

Environmental Impact

According to the Nicaragua State News Service, 30 members of that country’s diplomatic corps were recently invited to tour and review the road construction area. The road comes dangerously close to the river’s edge at many point, something that Nicaraguan officials claim will eventually cause environmental damage to the river.

Some Ticos have criticized the project on the basis that any type of road construction is bound to have environmental impact, and not everyone sees the economic value that the road could bring to that remote region.

An Indigenous Complaint

Members of the Maleku-Guatuso indigenous community in our northern region are preparing a formal complaint against President Laura Chinchilla’s administration. The Malekus claim that the highway construction has caused irreparable damage to archaeological treasures on their land.

The complaint is being led by Yeffri Lacayo before the Central American Court of Justice, and it seeks to represent the interests of 700 indigenous people who depend on the San Juan river and its tributaries for sustenance. Lacayo’s complaint will also allege that erosion is causing schools of fish to swim away from the shores in search of other feeding spots. This has disrupted the Malekus’ fishing patterns.