Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Granada (Agenzia Fides) - Concern is growing for the start of the construction of the Interoceanic Canal, between the Pacific and the Atlantic, set for December 22, which will expel thousands of farmers from their land, causing serious damage to the environment (see Fides 17/11/2014). The leaders of the different communities of the department of Rivas met with the Bishop of Granada and Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua, His Exc. Mgr. Jorge Solórzano Pérez, while almost the entire population came together to address the issue in Masaya.
"We want to clarify the situation, some manipulate saying that we want a better price: it is not true, none of us want to sell our property", said Roger Guido from Santo Domingo Piche, one of the participants in the meeting with Mgr. Solorzano. Alberto Lopez, who came from Esquipulas, Moyogalpa (Ometepe Island) described the situation to the Bishop: "Many people are coming to health centers and hospitals because of nervous breakdowns, high blood pressure and heart problems when they saw the officials of the Chinese company in charge of the work take measurements of their properties. It is worrying that people start to think about how to defend their land, even with their lives. This is why it is important that the Church's expresses itself in favor of the abandoned and give us hope", said Lopez.
In his speech Mgr. Solórzano assured: "we are with you and we will not leave you alone". Then said he will prepare a statement after the meeting with all the priests and parish priests of his diocese. The meeting with the community held in Masaya, according to the note sent to Fides by a local source, showed that the government does not inform people about the real situation for fear of their reactions, and that the work of the canal will not give some work to local populations, since it is managed by the Chinese. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2014)
