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Costa
Rica and Latin America Condemn Terror Attacks in Spain
Leaders of Latin American countries joined the worldwide
condemnation Thursday against the bloody bomb attacks in the Spanish capital
of Madrid which claimed at least 192 lives and wounded 1,400 people so far.
In Costa Rica, President Abel Pacheco declared two days of national
mourning, as well as the nation's flags to be flown at half staff.
The cultural ties between Costa Rica and Spain are strong, with President
Pacheco coming off the heels of a trade mission last week.
Mexican President Vicente Fox said his country "will tirelessly continue to
fight terrorism on all fronts and using the means of international law and
solidarity."
Fox stressed Mexico will not provide refuge for terrorists, referring to the
statement that members of Spain's separatist group Basque Homeland and
Freedom (ETA) had been hidden in the country.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said, "All Brazilis mourning.
We follow the international community to repudiate, firmly and
unconditionally, this barbaric act that violates the minimal principles of
respect for human rights and civilized coexistence."
Honduran President Ricardo Maduro described the attacks as a "terrorist act,
a barbaric act, a demoniac act" which brought pain to the Spanish people and
the world. The remarks was echoed by President of the Dominican Republic
Hipolito Mejia.
On Thursday, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos extended condolences to the
Spanish government over the attacks.
"This is an attempt against the people who work," said Lagos, referring to
the fact that many victims were students going to schools and people
swarming to work as the blast took place in rush hour.
The bombs exploded around 7:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) in a commuter train arriving
at Atocha station, a bustling hub for subway, commuter and long-distance
trains in Madrid.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos offered
condolences to Spanish King Juan Carlos I and Spanish ambassador to
Nicaragua respectively.
The leaders of Argentina, El Salvador, Paraguay also voiced repudiation
against the blasts.
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said that the string of blasts in Madrid
showed the necessity to adopt a global strategy against terrorism, while
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe noted that "all nations need to share a
global and solidary policy" against terrorism.
The Venezuelan government said President Hugo Chavez was following the
situation and willing to offer all necessary aid andsupport for all
initiatives aiming at ending terrorism.
Meanwhile, a number of international organizations condemned the series of
train bombings in the Spanish capital as well.
Blasts also rocked trains or platforms at two stations on a commuter line
leading to Atocha. The Spanish government said there were four explosions
altogether.
It caused massive panic. Police resorted to using taxis to take the injured
to hospitals as insufficient ambulances were available. Hospitals were
struggling to cope with the huge influx of bomb victims and appealed for
blood donations.
The Spanish authorities said Thursday the death toll continues to rise, as
more people died in hospitals and rescuers found more bodies at the site of
the explosion.
Spain has blamed the attacks on the ETA which is listed as a terrorist
organization by the United States and the European Union. But the group has
refuted the accusation.
The attacks made Spain suffer on the eve of a general election scheduled for
Sunday. The political parties have suspended campaign which was largely
dominated by separatist tensions in regions like the Basque in northern
Spain.
Hours after the bombings, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a
resolution condemning the attacks "in the strongest terms" and called on
countries to cooperate in the effort to bringthe perpetrators to justice.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the deadly bombings, saying, "It
is indeed with profound shock and indignation that I learned about the
terrorist attack in Madrid today." He called fora swift capture of the
perpetrators.
Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American States
(OAS) considered the "brutal acts perpetrated by terrorists" as "a
demonstration of weakness and cowardice."
Sergio Paez, President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
condemned the blasts in Madrid.
"Terrorism constitutes the main threat to democracy and the system of
liberties," Paez pointed out in Chile's capital Santiago.
The Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) and the Andean Parliament also
deplored the terror attacks.
President Defends His Minister of Tourism
President Abel Pacheco said yesterday he prefers the music of "Los Tigres
del Norte", a Mexican group to Luciano Pavarotti in defence of Tourism
Minister, Rodrigo Castro, who has been accused of misusing $70.000 of public
funds that belong to the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) to sponsor
the Pavarotti concert in January.
Castro has come under tremendous pressure by lawmakers to resign his post
due to the irregularities and had asked President Pacheco to remove or
sanction the Minister.
However, yesterday, the President Pacheco told a press conference that he
could not attend the Pavarotti concert because he was working in the
Guanacaste region and Pavarotti's music doesn't appeal much to him. However,
had it been the 'Triges del Norte", who symbolize a style of music native to
northern Mexico, he would have probably been there.
In defending his tourism minister, Pacheco added that "tourism is what is
feeding us at the moment and paving a way for Costa Rica for the future".
And to to make the sale you need to advertise. The arrival of Pavarotti was
great and one must pay for that. Is there a crime in that? I don't see it,
Pacheco concluded.
At the press conference, President Pacheco, took a few moments to give
warning to Nicaraguans who reside in La Carpio, the scene of a problematic
situation over the last couple of months that prompter Nicaragua's president
to make a visit to Costa Rica, that any Nicaraguan who is found illegal, and
carrying fire arms will need to leave Costa Rican soil.
Pacheco said all he wants to impart fair justice and will not go easy or
give anything away because he is being asked of it. His main interest is the
legal rights of Costa Rica.
Last Sunday Nicaraguan President, Enrique Bolaños, was in Costa Rica to meet
with Pacheco concerned about the property and human rights of Nicaraguans
living in the La Carpio following a raid in the area by Costa Rican
officials some weeks back and deported a large number of Nicaraguans found
to be in Costa Rica illegally.
Pacheco said he will not sell out Costa Rica.
Murder
Suspect Found in Costa Rica
Julia Elliot, A Canadian woman, wanted in Canada, was captured by INTERPOL
agents yesterday in the southern area of Costa Rica, near the Panama border.
Elliot had been charged with killing Lawrence Foster, her romantic partner
and then dumping his body parts into the Rideau River.
The murder occurred in 1995 in Kemptville, Ontario and is believed to be in
Costa Rica only a short time.
This is the third capture this year by INTERPOL of a fugitive hiding out in
Costa Rica.
Deaths
on the Road Decrease
The number of people killed in car crashes has
been steadily decreasing since March 2001.
An analysis by reporters from the daily La Nacion found that while 473
people were killed in car accidents from February 2000 to March 2001, in the
same 12-month period corresponding to 2003-2004, the death toll was 348.
According to the General Director of Traffic Ignacio Sanchez, the decrease
results from a combination of factors that include better surveillance,
improved roads, and increasing awareness of drivers; however, he was quick
to point out that one key factor in decreasing the deaths and injuries from
accidents on the road is the wearing of seat belts.
The meaning of using the safety device is underlined by facts: 83 percent of
those killed in car crashes the first two months this year were not wearing
the seat belts.
No to Police
Academy
The Commission of International Relations of the Legislative Assembly
discarded approving the establishment in Costa Rica of an international
police academy operated by the United States.
The congressmen based their decision on the fact that there is no assurance
that military would not be trained in that academy.
Even though the final decision corresponds to a majority in the Legislative
Assembly -Congress-, analysts believe that the possible involvement of the
military would rule out the approval of the academy. The only way out would
be absolute certainty that only law-enforcement agents would be trained
there, they added.
Exports to Canada
Costa Rican exports to Canada reached $194.1 million in 2003, a 24 percent
increase in comparison to the sales to that nation in 2002.
On the other hand, imports from Canada reached $48.4 million. Because of a
Free Trade Agreement that has been in place since 2001, 86 percent of the
Costa Rican goods are not subject to tariffs in Canada.
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US says bin
Laden not behind deadly attacks in Spain
The United States on Thursday denied suggestion that Osama bin
Laden, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. terror attacks, was behind the
deadly bombing attacks in Spain and believed ETA was responsible.
"The Spanish government has made clear that they believe, based on the
evidence they've collected and the patterns they've detected, that ETA is
responsible for this. That's a Basque terrorist organization," State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing.
The terrorist group has killed some 850 people and injured hundreds of
others since they began lethal attacks in the 1960s, Boucher said.
Boucher said the United States was cooperating with Spain to dig out the
terrorists.
"The US government, our law enforcement people, our intelligence people are
in touch with their Spanish counterparts. We have a long history of
cooperation with Spain in matters regarding terrorism. We're in touch with
Spain, diplomatically -- very high levels," Boucher said.
Boucher also confirmed that no US citizens were among the dead or injured
"at this point" and the US embassy in Madrid and the consulate general in
Barcelona were flying the flags at half staff for three days.
Both President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have
condemned the deadly terrorist attacks, which killed 190 and injured 1200
others on packed trains in Madrid.
Spain has been a vehement supporters of the US-led war against Iraq.
Pro-Chavez groups propose ratifying signatures within two days
The Ayacucho Command that gathers pro-government Venezuelan
sectors proposed Thursday on holding within two days the reconfirmation
process to ratify the signatures collected in support of a recall referendum
against President Hugo Chavez.
At a press conference in the headquarters of the National Electoral Council
(CNE), William Lara, a spokesman for Ayacucho Command, said that the CNE's
decision to set up 2,700 centers to reconfirm the signatures within two days
must be maintained.
Noting that the quantity of reconfirmation centers seemed excessive, he said
that "for the sake of balance and impartiality," the process should be held
within two days, a term the CNE discussed with both supporters and opponents
of Chavez.
The CNE awaits an answer from the opposition Democratic Coordinator on its
acceptance or not of the reconfirmation of the 800,000 signatures on which
the information and ID of the person presented similar calligraphies.
The opposition has made it clear that the two days proposed by the CNE would
not provide enough time due to the large number of signatures that had been
ruled invalid last week.
The opposition submitted 3.4 million signatures, but the CNE ruled last week
that only 1.8 million were valid, well short of the minimum 2.4 million
legally required for a vote to unseat President Chavez.
The ruling triggered a week-long wave of demonstrations on Feb.27 More than
500,000 people took to the streets and at least nine were killed and 111
wounded in the turmoil, the Scientific, Penal and Criminalistic
Investigation Corps said.
Chavez, who survived a brief coup in April 2002, has accused the
opposition-led recall petition of being filled with forgeries, including
using the names of deceased voters, minors or foreigners.
The opposition leaders said the protests would continue until the government
agreed to hold a referendum.
Cuban
spies' trial flawed, lawyers say
Lawyers for five Cuban spies argued Wednesday that they were
unfairly convicted in a flawed 2001 trial that never should have been held
in an anti-Castro hotbed like Miami.
Federal prosecutors countered the trial was fair, the judge gave the defense
plenty of chances to seek a new venue and the life sentences handed down to
three of the spies were justified.
At the center of the debate was the Feb. 24, 1996, shooting down of two
Brothers to the Rescue planes by Cuban Air Force MiGs. Exiles say the
incident occurred over international waters, while Cuban officials contend
the exile group's planes crossed into Cuban airspace.
The three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked
pointed questions about the government's evidence underlying the murder
conspiracy conviction of spy ringleader Gerardo Hernández. Defense attorneys
contend no evidence directly links Hernández, a career agent with the Cuban
Directorate of Intelligence, to the shoot-down.
Appeals Judge Stanley Birch asked what was the proof Hernández ``was going
to know that it would be a murderous shoot-down as opposed to one justified
by [Cuban] sovereignty.'
Federal prosecutor Caroline Heck Miller responded that the Cuban government
had told Hernández in coded radio messages that a ''confrontation'' was
imminent and to make sure his operatives stayed off the Brothers' planes in
the days before the fatal attack.
But Hernández ''had no control over what they told him,'' Birch shot back.
Judge Phyllis Kravitch noted that the conviction required a plot to down
planes in international airspace -- not over the communist island. Her
point: The Castro government had been warning the United States and the rest
of the international community that the Brothers group, which mainly
searched for Cuban rafters, had made 25 incursions into Cuban airspace in
the 20 months before the shoot-down.
The case has few legal precedents and it may be a while before the appeals
court issues a ruling.
If the defense succeeds in vacating the murder conspiracy conviction against
Hernández, it could have an effect on the life sentences handed down against
codefendants Antonio Guerrero and Ramón Labañino. All three were convicted
of espionage conspiracy and their life sentences were based, in large part,
on the murder evidence.
Federal public defender Richard Klugh argued there was no evidence the
espionage created an ''exceptionally grave danger'' to U.S. national
security interests. ''It was nothing more than a flea on a pimple of the
United States,'' he said.
Heck Miller acknowledged that the spies never obtained classified documents
-- but it wasn't for a lack of effort.
Ring members, some using fake identities, tried to spy on U.S. military
installations and Cuban exile groups to feed military and political
information back to Havana and discredit the exile community.
If the appeals court overturns the murder conspiracy count, Hernández,
Guerrero and Labañino could face considerably less prison time at a
resentencing hearing -- and perhaps a chance of returning to Cuba one day,
said Hernández trial attorney Paul McKenna.
''There's no way [the U.S] is even going to consider a trade as long as
murder is hanging over this proceeding,'' McKenna said after the hearing.
``But if we can get rid of that stigma, we might be able to trade them
someday.''
The change-of-venue issue was raised by attorneys for all five spies.
Attorney Leonard Weinglass said the trial should never have been permitted
in a community with more than 500,000 residents who left their homeland
because of the Castro regime.
Heck Miller countered that U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard, who presided
over the trial, gave defense attorneys ample chances to argue their change
of venue motions and gave them extra chances that effectively removed all
Cuban Americans from the jury.
The defense attorneys repeatedly praised the jury during the trial, she
said.
''That happiness persisted until the convictions took place,'' Heck Miller
said.
The spies have been turned into national heroes in Cuba, their faces
splashed on billboards, and are the subject of a government-sponsored
international campaign to sway support against the U.S.
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