Tsokos denies culpability, claiming he was approached with the offer to buy the cays by representatives of the community. He has not rescinded his claim in light of the recent controversy, however. Quite the contrary he is constructing housing, forcibly removing indigenous from the land and looking at plans to have the islands serve as a port for a dry canal across Nicaragua. Meanwhile in the indigenous communities in the south of Nicaragua, fishing rights are being debated with foreign investors who claim their private property rights supercede the traditional indigenous use of the land and sea resources. Natives of the region continually report human rights violations, and complain that their traditional way of life is being destroyed.
Armed soldiers block their use of paths that they have used for generations.
We wish the military would concern itself as much with protecting trees and rivers as it does with protecting private property. Throughout southern Nicaragua, in Arena Blanca, Majahualt, Jocotal, and San Juan del Sur, similar clashes are taking place. IMF pressures cuts in Cultural spending The International Monetary Fund has succeeded where William Walker and Admiral Nelson could not. The international bank has sent orders to the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, outlining in detail the spending cuts that will slash cultural programs for Nicaraguan youth. In a test of patriotic pride, some are waiting to see if certain government bureaucrats will be willing to sacrifice some of their so-called megasalaries to defend these historical sites.