Costa Rican Intelligence
Police Work Questioned
Costa Rica’s Dirección
de Inteligencia y
Seguridad Naciona
(National Intelligence
and Security Direction),
known as the DIS, is the
object of strong
criticism by those who
consider this
institution an arbitrary
organization of
political police in this
Central American nation.
According to the Spanish
language press, the
DIS uses questionable
methods, because it
makes surveillance work
on citizens without any
kind of control to
inform the government
authorities on possible
destabilizing behavior
in the national
territory.
Legislator Jose Merino
accuses the institution
of watching leftwing
political movements and
organizations, and human
rights defenders, even
if it has to go over its
own constitutional
attributes.
The Fiscal General de la
Republica (chief
prosecutor), Francisco
Dall Anese,
considers the DIS a
political police force
which reports a lack
of signatures or orders
supporting the reasons
for the investigations.
Dall Anese remembered
that between 1998 and
2000, the DIS intervened
private telephones
illegally, but no
judicial investigation
was ever started.
DIS director Roberto
Solorzano scorned the
accusations and said the
DIS efforts are
concentrated on
organizations dedicated
to drug and weapon
trafficking.
Solorzano said the DIS
was founded in 1994 and
keeps close
collaboration with the
Policía de Control de
Drogas (PCD) - Drug
Control Police - and
judicial investigators,
working closely with the
international police
(Interpol).
He also recognized that
the institution uses the
service of informers,
whose identity it
protects.
Solorzano said that the
Costa Rican current
government the
intelligence work of the
DIS important. According
to the Solorzano, the
DIS has the complete
support of the
government and the
financial resources to
carry out its work.
The DIS headquartes is
located in a unmarked
government building
across from the Gimnasio
Nacional at the east end
of the Parque La Sabana. |
