Legislative
Commission Investigates Comptroller
The Legislative Commission is said to be investigating 13
charges against Comptroller, Álex Solís Fallas, after he refused a
request by legislators that he resign his post.
The commission will be looking into 11 cases of suspected
falsification of signatures on legal documents and two charges on
his alleged involvement in lending money at high interest rates to
Costa Ricans whose intent was on travelling to the United States
illegally.
The commission has asked for a 30 day period to complete it's
investigation of Solís, 10 days more that it was originally given.
Guatemala
'Recognizes Guilt' in Slaying
Guatemala on Monday admitted responsibility in the 1993 slaying of a
leading journalist and politician who had repeatedly accused the
military of rights violations.
Gunmen killed Jorge Carpio Nicolle, 60, and three associates as they
drove in a caravan along a rural highway in the highlands province
of Quiche.
Addressing the San Jose-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights,
Guatemala representative Estuardo Meneses said his country "publicly
recognizes its guilt for the death of Jorge Carpio Nicolle and
regrets the loss his family has suffered."
Carpio Nicolle was editor and publisher of the Guatemala City daily
newspaper El Grafico and ran for president in 1985 and 1992,
finishing second both times.
He was known for fiery speeches decrying the role of the Guatemalan
military in the commission of hundreds of human rights violations. A
bloody 1960-1996 civil war pitted leftist, largely Mayan guerrillas
against hardline state forces and killed 200,000 people.
Meneses' declaration came as the court was considering whether to
sanction Guatemala's government for its role in the Carpio Nicolle
case. That decision is expected in the next six months.
Carpio Nicolle's son, Rodrigo, called Monday's revelation
"historic."
"It's a step forward for the government to accept international
responsibility for the death of my father," he said in an interview.
Guatemala's government has accepted its responsibility in the
violent deaths of several high-profile human rights activists since
President Oscar Berger took office in January.
Susana Villaran, a representative of the Washington-based
Inter-American Commission on human rights, which helps set the Costa
Rica court's case schedule, said Monday's declaration "was a clear
sign of President Oscar Berger's desire to make defending human
rights a top priority."
Air Traffic Controllers Strike Continues into Day 11
As the air traffic controller's strike entered it's 10th
day on Monday, the controller's are still hoping that they can force
the government back to the negotiating tabl. However, foreign
traffic controllers man the stations at the airports and radar tower
in Alajuela keeping air traffic moving without major problems.
The Juan Santamaria International airport has been fully operation
24 hours a day since the strike with little or no effect on
passengers or delays in flights.
Yesterday, it was reported that the two sides in the dispute
exchanged telephone calls after a week long break in dialogue and it
is expected that they will meet today.
The 125 air traffic controllers went on strike claiming the
government has lived up to it's end of the agreement of 1994
assuring controllers pay adjustments. The controller's biggest row
with the government is pay equity with aviation inspectors, who earn
some 35% more than the controllers.
Air traffic controllers earn between 450.000 and 750.000 colones and
though they don't require a university degree, must have completed
high school. Controllers also need to be fluent in English and
undergo a 14-18 month training program.
Controllers in Costa Rica claim they are one of the worst paid in
the Central America. And though last week they all got their salary
paid - salaries in Costa Rica are normally paid on the 15ht and 30th
of each month - it is expected that their salaries will not be paid
for the time they are on strike.
40%
of Births to Single Mothers
In Costa Rica, statistics show that of the average of
70.000 births annually, about 40% are to single mothers.
An average of 28.000 births are recorded each year with only the
name of the mother on the birth certificate.
A new law was passed two years ago gave single mothers the right to
have the presumed father subjected to a DNA test to prove paternity,
though only 25% of single mothers turn to this solution.
According to figures by authorities, in the last two years, only
15.423 women have asked the father for a DNA test authorized under
the "ley de paternidad responsable" of which only one half of the
fathers have accepted their paternal responsibility without
submitting to the test, while 2.857 did.
Authorities say that the number of single mothers who are turning to
the DNA testing has been lower that expected.
This year so far there have been 946 requests, while only 761 have
been subjected to the examination and 19% have resulted negative.
Authorities say that the lack of education or knowledge of the law
on the part of single mothers is the cause for the low demand.
The law allows a mother who has given birth outside of marriage the
right to add the presumed father's name to the birth record at the
time of birth.
The Registro Civil - the official registry - can then subject the
presumed father to a DNA examination to prove paternity if the
presumed father is unwilling to accept responsibility for the child.
Once the DNA exam is completed - the mother, the baby and the
presumed father's DNA sample is tested - the results are available
in three weeks time.
The presumed father whose DNA test results are negative can then sue
the woman who made the claim.
Copa
America:
Off-balance
Costa Rica Experimenting in Copa
For an off-balance Costa Rica squad, the prestigious Copa America
soccer tournament may be little more than training for its attempts
to reach the 2006 World Cup.
New coach Jorge Luis Pinto of Colombia will have little more than
two weeks on the job as he leads Costa Rica into its first Group C
game on July 8 against Paraguay.
He'll also be missing two of the country's top stars: Loping forward
Paulo Wanchope and defender Gilberto Martinez.
Former coach Steve Sampson, who led the United States to the 1998
World Cup, was ousted after disappointing 2-2 and 1-1 draws against
Cuba in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying round in which Costa Rica
advanced only on a technicality -- most goals as a visitor.
For a team that had qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and
Korea, the draws against unheralded Cuba were not well received at
home.
"There's no doubt that we're short of time, but I'm committed to
this cause and I come with full commitment to making Costa Rica a
competitive team that goes to the World Cup," Pinto said.
He'll have four players from the under-23 team which won the Mexico
qualifying tournament in February for the Athens Olympics.
But Wanchope decided to stay with his Manchester City club in
England to get over the injuries which have plagued him for two
seasons. Martinez also remained with Bresica in Italy.
Pinto said the Copa America would serve as high-level training for
the next World Cup qualifying round against Honduras, starting on
Aug. 18.
It's the third Copa America for Costa Rica.
The Ticos bombed out quickly in 1997 with first-round losses to
Brazil and Colombia and a draw with Mexico.
They surprised many by reaching the quarterfinals in 2001, finally
losing 2-1 to Uruguay.
Returning for their third cup are defender Luis Marin, midfielder
Walter Centeno and forward Ronald Gomez.
Pinto also brought back defender Mauricio Wright, who had been left
off the team that played against Cuba.
 News
Briefs
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The teacher's union La Asociación de Profesores de Segunda Enseñanza (APSE)
has called for a strike action when the schools re-open after the mid-term
vacations. And though the strike date was not announced, it will happen. The
strike is to protest the teacher's displeasure the recent increase in public
salaries.
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Need to have your annual inspection done? Riteve will begin charging for
re-inspections come July 16, causing a massive demand for inspections in the
coming week. All Riteve inspection stations are booked solid now to the 15th
as vehicle owners want to get their vehicle passed before Riteve begins
charging 4.400 colones to re-inspect a passenger vehicle.
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