Today's Stories: Aristas Claim Victory Fire Claims Couple Minister is Pushing for Child Pornography Laws Did you know?

Costa Rica in Crisis What to expect today

Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) held it's district elections yesterday, the first step in the 2006 presidential elections.

Did you Know? That since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred Costa Rica's democratic development.  Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

The "Aristas" are without a doubt the winners, claiming a 75% - 80% support over candidate Antonio Álvarez Desanti.

The district elections are the first step in the PLN or "green" party choosing candidates at all levels that will be running in the national elections in 2006.

More than 100.000 people participated in the day's elections that took place at various schools and community halls.

Fire Claims Couple
A couple burned to death shortly after midnight last night, when fire totally consumed their luxurious home in San Isidro de Heredia

Dead are Maurist Baron van Sytzama, an 80 year old Dutchman and a woman only known as Alice.

Van Sytzama had lived in the house for more than 20 years and according to neighbours, was a solitary man and didn't make any friends in the area.

This brings the total for deaths by fire to seven for this year.

According to police reports, the fire alarm was received by the 911 service. When police and emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they found it difficult to enter home, that was surrounded by a 4 meter wall, with razor wire and electrified.

Police found three locks on the main door that ensured total security. Police used a pickup truck to pull open the gate, however, found barred windows and more locks on the doors to house. The bars on the windows were much thicker than what is normally used to protect homes from intrusions.

Police and emergency crews could not enter the home to rescue the couple, as they fire crews took more than an hour to extinguish the blaze.

A neighbour in the adjoining property alerted 911 when she smelled smoke and could here banging on the door of her neighbours house. The high wall surrounding the property contained the fire from spreading to the neighbours homes.

Minister is Pushing for Child Pornography Laws
During the first half of this year, the Ministerio Público investigated and brought to trial 64 persons for sexual exploitation of minors. Of the 64, 37 were found guilty and sentenced, several up to 45 years in prison.

According to police records for this year, police initiated 223 operatives or "raids" gave protections to 391 children - boys and girls - who were victims of sexual exploitation.

In addition, the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) and the 911 emergency system say that for the year 2003 and the first three of this year, they received 490 complaints of sexual crimes that were sent to the "Fiscalia" - prosecutor's office - to be investigated.

Thus, as authorities work to detect cases of where children are being sexually exploited, the door to child pornography remains open, with the lack of any laws that prohibit these types of acts.

Rosalía Gil, Minister for la Niñez y Adolescencia and head of PANI, has made a strong call to legislators to approve a law before the lawmakers that would penalize the production of child pornography. This, according to Minister Gil, would go a long way in their fight against the sexual exploitation of children in Costa Rica.

The proposed law would penalize anyone involved in the any form of child pornography.

The penalties would fours years in prison for anyone who distributes or exhibits pornographic material where a minor is involved; form three to five years in prison if the child 13 years of age or younger; and a further two to fours years in prison for anyone who holds, exhibits or distributes child pornography, including the internet.

Minister Gil says that the law would fill a void in the current legislation that penalizes anyone has "remunerated" sex with a minor, pimping or "proxenetismo".

Costa Rica has set up a commission to deal with sexual exploitation of minors - Comisión Nacional contra la Explotación Sexual (CONACOES) - whose aim is to strengthen the fight against the commercial sexual exploitation and preventive campaigns.

Paniamor is another institution that has been fighting this type of practice and was able to develop a project called "Conducta para la Protección de niñas, niños y adolescentes contra la Explotación Sexual Comercial en el Turismo”.

The initiative places responsibility on the tourism sector to denounce any type of sexual exploitation. A database was established, in conjunction with immigration officials, of those suspected of commercial sexual exploitation of minors. The initiate has the support of the U.S. Department of National Security.

In addition, the Consejo de Transporte Público del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) added caution to taxi drivers, that they will be sanctioned if they are found to be promoting or facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors. The Transport Ministry has said it would not renew a taxi license if a taxi driver is found guilty in a court of law for any involvement in the sexual exploitation of minors.