Costa Rica is
Latest Defection From Trade Group
Costa Rica has become the latest Latin American country to pull out of a new trade alliance featuring Brazil, India and China, which was formed to confront rich states over farm subsidies, diplomats said on Thursday.
The Central American country had informed other members of the so-called
"G22" of its decision to withdraw following a re-examination of its trade policies, they said, adding that other Latin American states could follow.
Colombia, Peru and El Salvador had already dropped out of the group whose membership has slipped to 19.
"Looking at the pattern, I would expect more," said one Latin American envoy.
The new alliance emerged with force at a traumatic World Trade
Organization (WTO) meeting in Cancun, Mexico, last month where deep differences between developed and developing states over farm reform and other issues exploded into an open rift.
The United States and the European Union put part of the blame for the failure of the WTO ministerial meeting on the new alliance, saying that Brazil and India had set out to turn the gathering into a confrontation between rich and poor states.
U.S. political leaders had warned Latin American countries, several of which are involved or are hoping to be involved in negotiating free trade pacts with Washington, that membership of the group could hurt their chances of a deal.
Costa Rica is in
free trade negotiations with the US, and both Peru
and Colombia are eager to follow. Colombian trade
officials said that while they shared the objective
of pressing advanced countries to reduce farm
subsidies, they did not want to be part of a group
that politicized trade disputes along north-south
lines.
The defections come
in advance of a ministerial meeting today in Buenos
Aires, in which G21 members will consider their next
moves.
The group may be able
to shake off the defections, particularly because
countries such as Argentina, Mexico and Chile remain
committed.
Costa Ricans Split
Over US Demands
A majority of Costa Ricans (87 percent) agrees that telecommunications in this country are in need of improvement and that private investment is the best way to achieve the necessary changes (53 percent).
However, Ticos do not agree on how Costa Rica should react to US demands of opening the sector, which is now a state monopoly.
Of the people who are aware of the negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Central America and the United States, 51 percent think that the US demand of opening the telecommunications sector to private investment as a condition for the FTA has to be rejected.
Conversely, 46 percent believe it should be accepted. These data surfaced in a recent Unimer-daily La Nación survey of public opinion regarding the FTA
"Most
Important Pimp in Costa Rica", Arrested
A woman identified as Sinai Monge Muñoz, 41 years
of age, was arrested yesterday in Hatillo 3, San
José, for the prostitution of minors.
The woman was arrested in her home in a
neighbourhood minutes south of downtown San José,
where police found a minor and another adult woman
on the premises where Monge conducted business.
The arrest was made by officials of the Sección de
Delitos Sexuales y Contra La Vida, a branch of the (OIJ),
after 6 months of investigation, which police found
that the woman would negotiate with foreigners and
national alike for the sexual favours of minors.
Customers would pay up to $300 to purchase the
sexual favours of girls as young a 15 years of age.
Monge was featured as the most famous
"pimp" in a television program produced by
a Spanish company 3 years ago, calling Monge the
"most important pimp" in the country.
The arrest comes only days following the signing of
President Pacheco that stiffens laws against crimes
that involve minors.
Accused American Child Abuser set to face Extradition to Costa Rica
An extradition hearing has been set for November 24th, 2003 for American citizen Arthur Kanev, who is accused of sexually abusing poverty stricken children in the Quepos district of Costa Rica.
Kanev, a 57-year-old dentist from Boston, was arrested at his mother's home in Pompona Beach, Florida on July 24th of this year after a tip off from a viewer of the FOX-TV program, "America's Most Wanted". In 2001, Kanev fled Costa Rica to evade trial for offences including corruption of minors, and administering drugs to minors. His bail had been set at a measly US$ 1,000.
The US Embassy in Costa Rica informed Casa Alianza that Kanev will remain in jail in the United States until further notice and confirmed the date set for the Kanev´s hearing. This will be the first ever case of an American being extradited to Costa Rica.
"It is crucial that Kanev be brought to face Justice in Costa Rica. This trial would send a clear message to all of the sex tourists who think that they can come to this country, abuse the children and go back home without ever being held accountable for their actions", declared Bruce Harris, Executive Director of Casa Alianza's Latin American Programs.
Joe Curtis Baker, identified by authorities as being Kanev's accomplice, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the offence of administering drugs to minors.
"We hope to see Kanev proven wrong when he boldly told a reporter from ABC News' 20/20 program that the abuse of children is "legally and morally accepted here (in Costa Rica)", concluded Harris.
For information on this and other cases pertaining to Children's Rights please contact Casa Alianza in Costa Rica at +506-253-5439 or send your e-mail inquires to
media@casa-alianza.org or visit our website at
www.casa-alianza.org
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