Fallen Angel
Costa Rican authorities say that they will arrest and transport former Costa Rican president and former Secretary General of the OAS in handcuffs when he arrives today in Costa Rica.

Rodríguez will be immediately arrested as he sets foot on Costa Rican soil when he arrives at the Juan Santamaria airport, leaving his post at the Organization of American States.

Marco Badilla, director of immigration, told a Repretel news channel last night that he has received the "order of capture" for Rodríguez and that his agents have been instructed to detain the man as soon as he is spotted at any of the entry points to Costa Rica.

The question that has been asked the last day, was would be Rodríguez be handcuffed as a common criminal? The answer would be left up to the agent or agents who first come into contact with the former president.

The origins of the current damage to the prestige of Costa Rica at the international level, because of the corruption charges against former President date back 10 years, that is the time that this country invested to get one of its citizens elected as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Rodríguez was president of Costa Rica for the period 1998-2002, leaving the seat to the current president Abel Pacheco, who belong to the same political party, the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).

Rodríguez took office at the OAS last September 15, but lasted less than one month at the post, since he was forced to resign after his alleged involvement in accepting bribes from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel and the government of Taiwan.

"From pride to shame" is the description local analysts have for the situation, which has marred the image of Costa Rica at the international level.

Rodríguez is expected to return to Costa Rica, where he will face prosecutors who have many unanswered questions about the former president's involvement as related to them by former ICE directors and employees.

Rodríguez's arrival in Costa Rica as early as this morning or as late as this evening, with the last commercial flight arriving from the U.S. Speculation is that he could arrive in a private plane and could land at the Liberia airport, to avoid the crowds and press.

No matter, Costa Rican authorities are demanding his immediate detention and that be brought before the tribunals as soon as possible following his arrival in Costa Rica.

There still exists the possibility that Rodríguez will not return to Costa Rica, be arrested in Washington as his immunity expires with his final act as Secretary General of the OAS and be brought back by force.

Rumours still circulate of possibly Venezuela or the Dominican Republic as possible safe havens, where he would be granted diplomatic asylum. However, the man has stated repeatedly that he has done nothing wrong and will return to Costa Rica to defend himself.