Costa Rica Adopts Anti-Terrorism
Law
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Costa Rica Adopts Anti-Terrorism
Law
Terrorists stay away from Costa Rica, now
that it has a new anti-terrorism law, that
was signed by Costa Rican president, Oscar
Arias, on Wednesday, that gives Costa Rican
authorities more ammunition to fight
organized crime in the country.
The law, Ley de Protección de Víctimas y
Testigos (Law on Protection of Victims and
Witnesses), and other ther participants of
the Intervinientes del Proceso Penal
(Criminal Procedure Act) and the
strengthening of the Ley de Fortalecimiento
de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo
(anti-terrorism legislation) were
initiatives organized with the support of
government, the Legislature and Poder
Judicial, the Ministerio Público and the
Instituto Costarricense de Drogas (ICD).
The new law, simply known as the Anti
Terrorism law, establishes an Oficina de
Atención a la Víctima del Delito, an office
for the attention of crime victims, through
which victims and witnesses can receive
support that includes psychological
treatments, surveillance and relocation.
The crime victims office can also assist in
finding a new job or provide private police
escort, depending on the existing threat.
The protection measures are evaluated every
six months.
The law allows witnesses and victims to
provide judicial officials, in absolute
confidence, all the details of the crime and
the assailants that will help in the
investigation to bring the criminals to
justice.
The new law defines terrorism as a crime and
also allows for aiding and abetting
criminals, including the financing of
terrorist groups, with a prison sentence of
up to 20 years.
The law bring Costa Rica in line with the
International Convention for the Suppression
of the Financing of Terrorism, adopted by
the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Costa Rica's Fiscal General (Chief
Prosecutor) Francisco Dall'Anese, said
that he was pleased with the signing of the
anti-terrorism law, but now awaits the
passing of the organize crime law.
Dall'Anese said that without the law against
organized crime, which is still in committee
review, the anti-terrorism law is useless
and only the first step in combating crime.
The organize crime project has been bogged
down to problems with text, especially with
regards to wiretaps.
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