Bianca Jagger joins peasant march against Nicaraguan canal

About 100 peasant farmers marched against the construction of the controversial Interoceanic Grand Canal in a remote part of Nicaragua on Tuesday (August 15).

The demonstrators called for the repeal of a 2013 law which granted a 50-year concession to Chinese company HKND Group to design, build and manage the shipping channel across the Central American nation that would compete with the Panama Canal.

The group managed to march through the La Fonseca portion of the far-flung Nueva Guinea municipality despite attempts by the national police force to block the demonstration which was delayed for several hours.

Former actress, EU Goodwill Ambassador and human rights activist Bianca Jagger joined the group criticizing President Daniel Ortega and calling the "Grand Canal an insane project."

Farmers and local residents say the construction of the $50 billion dollar shipping canal will force residents from their home and submerge communities.

The Nicaraguan government defends the canal's construction on an economic basis, saying it could boost the country's gross domestic product by up to 15 percent. — Reuters