The Nicaraguan opposition warned about China’s maneuvers to obtain the concession of the interoceanic canal

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Nicaraguan opponents warned of a new rapprochement with China: the Ortega regime seeks to give it the concession of the interoceanic canal (REUTERS)

A group of Nicaraguan opponents warned from exile of a possible new rapprochement with China, which involves the interoceanic canal project and would seek to pave the way for Xi Jinping in the Central American nation.

This Wednesday, the ruling Parliament of Nicaragua gave the green light to a reform of the Law of the Legal Regime of the Grand Interoceanic Canal of Nicaragua and the Creation of the Authority of the Grand Interoceanic Canal of Nicaragua, unanimously, urgently and under special request by Daniel Ortega. In this way, legislators withdrew the project concession to the Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Group (HKND), owned by Chinese investor Wan Jing, one of the richest men in the world.

The agreement reached in 2012 granted management of the channel for 50 years with a possibility of extension for the same period in exchange for a payment of ten million dollars each year during the first decade. Likewise, the right to 1% of the assets of the subprojects was provided, which would rise to 99% at the end of the concession.

However, under Ortega’s orders, the important project was now left without an investor and would be the ideal destination for the People’s Republic of China’s money, the dissidents claimed.

“Now comes the new stage: the endorsement of all concessions to the Chinese Government. Delivering Nicaragua at the price of wet guate (corn): the Ortega Murillos’ homeland-selling operation,” denounced the legendary Sandinista guerrilla Dora María Tellez while she lamented that the previous pact was left “dead.”

For his part, the denationalized Juan Sebastián Chamorro assured that the Executive’s maneuver responds to the fact that “surely it already has someone to get another slice from,” indirectly pointing to the Asian giant.

Meanwhile, Félix Maradiaga also saw the move as suspicious and maintained that “the regime is going to continue looking for other partners” to move forward with the “vendepatria” project given that it has hidden incentives such as the “appropriation of privately owned lands in the hypothetical zone channel”.

“The canal megaproject was simply the spear of that land theft depredation scheme” and this has not changed, he added, so the threats are more latent than ever.

The recent announcement also did not bring calm to the peasant sector, which already foresees the incorporation of corrupt actors in the project. “It will be difficult for anyone serious to want to associate with an illegitimate, criminal and mafia regime” and, therefore, he promised to continue with his claims until the plan is repealed in its entirety.

The canal in question will seek to link the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean, crossing the south of the country from east to west, passing through the Great Lake. In total, it will cover an area of ​​278 kilometers, 230 to 520 meters wide and about 30 meters deep.

Due to its nature, it is believed that Ortega would be interested in transferring it to his Asian ally, with whom he maintains a “strategic partnership.” Even on December 20, he described as “the best Christmas gift” and “great news” the countries’ decision to elevate their diplomatic relations, reestablished almost two years earlier, on December 10, 2021.

(With information from EFE)