Border dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Since a few days the old conflict between Costa Rica and Nicaragua over their common border has turned up again. In several occasions both countries disputed the border formed by the San Juan River. Last time a case over the Costa Rican rights of navigation on the river appeared to the international court of The Hague.

However this time tensions seem to be even higher. It started when the Nicaraguan government decided to dredge the river for navigation, without any previous mediation with its neighbor country. Above that the mud was launched to the Costa Rican riverbank and also other environmental consequences where not taken into account.

The direct cause of the actual incident however is the movement of Nicaraguan military troops into Isla Calero, which has always been recognized as part of Costa Rica. However suddenly Nicaraguan authorities claim this island as theirs. Strangely enough if you search a bit on the net, you will find hundreds of maps, including some issued by official Nicaraguan authorities (for example the Nicaraguan institute of Territorial studies), showing this little part as part of Costa Rica.

Somehow it seems that President Ortega wants the press, and with them the public opinion ,to focus all attention on this conflict and forget about all the other serious problems the country faces. Like that he hopes to favor his re-election. An old trick taken over from his predecessor (however unsuccessful last time)?