NICARAGUA: GON RESOLVES ANOTHER U.S. PROPERTY CLAIM: LIGIA

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000917 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN, EB/IFD/OIA, AND L/CID STATE ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EINV NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: GON RESOLVES ANOTHER U.S. PROPERTY CLAIM: LIGIA ROJAS REFS: A) MANAGUA 882 B) MANAGUA 883 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Since our last report (ref A),the Government of Nicaragua (GON) has resolved one additional property claim during the current waiver year -- a case registered by U.S. claimant Ligia Rojas, who was a U.S. citizen at the time of the confiscation of her property. As of July 17, 2008, the GON has resolved 39 U.S. citizen claims belonging to 22 U.S. citizens registered with the Embassy. There remain 300 U.S. citizens who await the resolution of 629 Embassy-registered claims. GON RESOLVES CLAIM FOR LIGIA ROJAS -------------- ¶2. (U) On July 17, Attorney General Hernan Estrada provided the Embassy a copy of the final settlement document or "finiquito" signed on July 8, 2008, by U.S. citizen Ligia Rojas. Mrs. Rojas received indemnification bonds (BPIs) with a face value of $1,545, 523 for a 346 acre farm in the department of Esteli. The farm was confiscated by the GON in December 1979. Mrs. Rojas was a U.S. citizen at the time of confiscation. Type of No. of Type of Claimant Claim Claims Resolution -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Ligia Rojas Land 1 bonds GON RESOLVES 39 CLAIMS DURING 2007-08 WAIVER YEAR -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) With the inclusion of Mrs. Rojas' resolved case, the GON has resolved 39 U.S. citizen claims during this current waiver year belonging to 22 U.S. citizens registered with the Embassy as of July 17, 2008. Between August 1, 2007, and July 17, 2008, the GON compensated 37 claims belonging to 20 U.S. citizens via BPIs issued with a face value of $6,755,238. The courts ruled during this waiver year that property be returned to two U.S. claimants. In addition, four U.S. claimants withdrew 11 claims registered with the Embassy during this waiver year because they believed that they could not provide sufficient evidence to support their cases. There remain 300 U.S. citizens who await the resolution of 629 Embassy-registered claims. TRIVELLI