Taiwan To Explain Aid To Costa Rica
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Tan San Chen, yesterday noted that his ministry will formally give an explanation to the Costa Rican government on Taiwan's aid to the Central American nation, including the time of former President Miguel Angel Rodríguez.

Foreign affairs officials yesterday also confirmed that the government has offered economic aid to Costa Rica but there has never been any aid given as political contributions. They declined to disclose the amount of the economic aid.

Chen reiterated that all foreign aid that Taiwan offers is implemented in accordance with plans and is under the supervision of the Legislative Yuan.

Chen was referring to allegations that Taiwan had conducted dollar diplomacy under the guise of foreign aid to Costa Rica.

"There were absolutely no political contributions to Costa Rica," Chen stressed.

Chen made the remarks when he was campaigning for Democratic Progressive Party legislative candidate Lin Chung-mo.

Rodríguez has been detained for allegedly taking huge kickbacks from the French telecommunications company Alcatel, and being investigated over allegations that he received political donations from Taiwan.

Rodríguez Makes INTERPOL Wanted List
Now that former president Miguel Angel Rodríguez has been arrested and is in custory, 17 Costa Ricans still make the INTERPOL list of wanted.

Costa Rican authorities had issued an international warrant for the arrest of Rodríguez, however, his "poster face" did not appear on the wanted list until the weekend, after his arrest of Friday.

Still on the wanted list is Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho and though not Costa Rican, Luis Angel Milanés makes the list of those wanted by Costa Rica.

A search of Costa Ricans wanted worldwide, Rodríguez appears as one 18 names on that list and one of more than 200 wanted by INTERPOL around the world.

The persons on the wanted list are wanted by national jurisdictions (or the International Criminal Tribunals, where appropriate) and INTERPOL's role is to assist the national police forces in identifying or locating those persons with a view to their arrest and extradition

One of INTERPOL's most important functions is to help the police in member countries communicate critical crime-related information to one another using INTERPOL's system of international notices.

The information exchanged concerns persons who are wanted for committing serious crimes, missing persons, unidentified bodies, possible threats and criminals' modus operandi.

Based on requests made by the National Central Bureaus (NCBs), the General Secretariat produces notices in all four of the Organization's official languages (English, French, Spanish and Arabic).

A "Red Notice" is used to seek the arrest with a view to extradition of subjects wanted and based upon an arrest warrant, such was the case for Rodríguez and continues for Villalobos and Milanés.

Meanwhile, former president Rodríguez is reportedly settling in to his now home on his second day of six months of "house arrest" while the Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) is ready to appeal the judge's decision, wanting nine months of preventive detention.

Neighbours of the apartment complex in Montes de Oca, San Pedro, have been complaining about the attention they have been getting, with news reporters hanging around and police providing around the clock surveillance and protection for for Rodríguez.
 

Three Prisoners Escape During Visits
Taking advantage of the Sunday visiting day, three inmates at the La Reforma prison, made away with the prison's pick up truck, to escape their incarcilation.

The three men were identified as Ramírez, who is serving a 20 year sentence for armed robbery, Ordóñez who is serving 18 years, also for armed robbery and Alpizar who is doing 15 years for murder, concurrent with 10 years for armed robbery.

Sunday morning is visiting at most prisons in Costa Rica, and there generally is a lot of confusion as family member and friends come to make their weekly visit, to alos bring food and other necessities, which go to making prison life more bearable.

Authorities have begun a manhunt for three men, who are considered dangerous.
 

Holiday Day Today
Costa Rica celebrates today the October 12 holiday, which is now being called "Dia de las Culturas"  (Cultural Day) instead of "Dia de la Razas" (Race Day).

All banks and government offices are closed today. Most offices are closed as well, though retail stores will remain open, especially in the malls around the Central Valley.

The government made the announcement last week that the day off would be official on Monday rather than last Tuesday, to give Ticos the long weekend.

Labour laws stipulate a paid day off for all public employees and private sector employees that are are on a monthly or bi-monthly salary. Employees who are asked to work the holiday Monday will be paid extra, unless they are on a weekly salary or under a term contract.

In the past, Costa Rica, like most of the Americas, observed October 12 as Christopher Columbus's discovery of America.

As sentiment throughout the Americas has changed focus in recent years, so has Costa Rica's vision of this important date. It now embodies a celebration of all the peoples who constitute the base of this country's culture.

Recognizing the strong influence on present-day Costa Rican culture by the Indians, Europeans, Africans and Asians who have settled and lived here throughout history, Costa Rica utilizes the Día de las Culturas to commemorate the invaluable contributions to this culture that is uniquely Costarricense.