Below is a link to photographs contributed by international volunteers who camped out with the community on Playa Sardina at different times during January and February of 2009. The community have camped out here many times over the past four years to protect this piece of beachfront property that La Flor de Mayo has been trying to claim ownership of. They re-established this camp on 22nd of December 2008 in response to renewed efforts by La Flor de Mayo to sell lots from the community’s property. Prior to this, they had been forced to abandon the camp after individuals from the community were threatened at gunpoint by Philip Christopher (La Flor frontman) and his employees, and the local police proved unable and/or unwilling to protect them.
The community and its representatives remain committed to fighting for their land rights and protecting their heritage, and they are determined to do so peacefully, by working through the legal system. This camp is simply one part of a non-violent response to what has been a sustained, aggressive campaign of intimidation against them by La Flor de Mayo. Please read previous posts on this blog for more background information on the situation.
The photographs are presented here as evidence that it is the community who are camped out here, the families and individuals affected by the attempted theft of their property, and not a land mafia as La Flor de Mayo continually claim. They are also presented to give some kind of recognition to the individuals involved in this campaign who have shown real dedication and determination by giving up their free time to keep a permanent presence on the land.
The community and its representatives remain committed to fighting for their land rights and protecting their heritage, and they are determined to do so peacefully, by working through the legal system. This camp is simply one part of a non-violent response to what has been a sustained, aggressive campaign of intimidation against them by La Flor de Mayo. Please read previous posts on this blog for more background information on the situation.
The photographs are presented here as evidence that it is the community who are camped out here, the families and individuals affected by the attempted theft of their property, and not a land mafia as La Flor de Mayo continually claim. They are also presented to give some kind of recognition to the individuals involved in this campaign who have shown real dedication and determination by giving up their free time to keep a permanent presence on the land.
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2 comments:
I’m well informed about this problem, but isn’t the view of the article.
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In Nicaragua is well know the existence of lands scam mafia linked to the strongest parties of the country (liberal and FSLN Ortega’s).
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One of the main interest of this mafia for creating disputes of lands in this area is the value of the properties,
Must of this lands were obtained from people who received from the PIÑATA , land reform , and from the lately corruption Aleman government, who himself own a vast properties in this area. IN the beginning this properties were sold by a amount that has been increased after the buyer star to develop big residential and beach tourist projects, so the price has hiked very high , maybe thousands times, and naturally for this mafia is a temptation. They used a local people who are close to the properties or they have link to the originals or fraudulent titles , and after the scams is solved by whatever meant , they are pay or make deals with the mafia.
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This particular case star in 2002 when the TOLA local government , interfere in the national laws, recognizing a Title of the land dating from the 19 century and changing the property lines. Has been well know of public officers from this local government participating of this kind of scams.
Is a Mr. Denis Prado involved in this matter, that had been accuse to the Parliamentary Commission of Justice of the National Assembly , for the owners of this properties . The owners claims that this Mr , tried to blackmail them asking for $2000 for each of the member of the supposed Indians whose claims the property.
But later this Mr. Prado, gave declarations , that his hasn’t nothing to see or related to the case , and threaten to sue for perjuries.
But year later this same Mr. Denis Prado sue the owners of the property for a land dispute , the same property that is subject of the problem.
Recently is one of the main vocals of this dispute.
Is well know that Mr Prado , who lived in a town 30 miles away from the property , his business is Realtor.
One particularly point in this case , is that the original title from 19 century , don’t support the claim.
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Is other case well know in the same area , where a FSLN member who was Consul in Liberia Costa Rica , was accused of blackmail for a foreigner investor , the scams was for mediating in a dispute of land this investor has with a local people.
The proofs for this accusation were a audio tape when the blackmail is taking place , a journalist and a deputy to the National Assembly where the witnesses.
After a judiciary comedian, the consul was acquitted , an later the Deputy was removed from his electoral position , under charges of lacking to inform that is was born in US, this was do it with the consent of both parties. But the retaliation don’t finished there,
The investor was sue for the Consul for perjury and founded guilty , a fine was imposed for a FSLN judge. A prosecution and harassment against the journalist Pedro Joaquin Chamorro was under way, that finish with the accusation of the office of the public prosecutor with charges for money laundry , conspiracy , and others, all of them dropped later with out any explanations.
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This is the real history involved this kind of claims.
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Mr. Sandino,
The original title dates back to 1877 and the findings of the court in 2002 that support the legitimacy of the title are available to view on the facebook group if you would like to see them. The community representatives with whom we have been speaking expressly desired that these documents be made public and be shown on forums and blogs so that anyone who wishes to discuss the dispute can be aware of the legality of their claims. Community land is one of five types of land recognised under the Nicaraguan constitution, for a local court to support their claim was not an interference with national law.
The other case that you are talking about I have not investigated, and I am unsure of what significance it has to the present situation on Playa Sardina and the reality of things on the ground there.
The purpose of this blog and the posting on the Nicaliving forum was to draw attention to the land dispute taking place between La Flor de Mayo (as represented by Mr. Philip Christopher) and the indigenous community of Las Salinas de Nahualapa. This is the case that we have been researching and the information posted on the blog by us and by those who started the blog is what we wanted to share with other people in Nicaragua. To this effect, we would like to inform people that there is no land mafia attacking a US investor on Playa Sardina. The people camped out on the disputed land are members of the indigenous community of Las Salinas and are there to protect their community’s land rights, not the land rights of any other group or individual. They are also engaged in legal campaign against the actions of La Flor and its attempted theft of their property.
If you truly are concerned about corruption and harassment that could potentially hamper legal proceedings in Nicaragua well then you too should be interested in what the indigenous community are trying to do there. The actions of La Flor de Mayo against the community should be denounced as unacceptable and disrespectful, and the non-violent response of the community who have vowed to resolve this dispute through the legal system should be praised (and supported). Please take the time to read all of the information posted on the blog. This is a unique case and should not be confused or dismissed as similar to others that have taken place in the area.
Regards,
Karen.
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