Vol. VIII, No. 3 - San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, September 10,  2002

(Posted Tuesday 1:15 p.m.)
The U.S. State Department has just issued a “worldwide caution” of terrorist attacks – including possible suicide bombings – against U.S. citizens living abroad.  The alert is based on “credible indications that extremist groups and individuals are planning additional terrorist actions against U.S. interests,” according to a State Department release.

The State Department is asking for U.S. citizens to be “especially vigilant during the period around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.” The worldwide caution expires on Oct. 31.

New Security Measures
Following 9/11
From tough new security measures at Juan Santamaría International Airport to tight restrictions on movement in and out of the port area in Limón, Costa Rica is working to improve its security measures following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
(Click for more)

C.R Foreign Minister
to Address UN
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar Wednesday will travel to New York to address the General Assembly of the United Nations and meet with several world leaders to discuss advances made during this year’s meetings of the Rio Group.
(Click for more)

Nicaraguans Flee to
C.R. to Escape Famine
Border police in the northern town of Upala last weekend intercepted a total of 65 Nicaraguans attempting to illegally enter the country. For these immigrants, entering Costa Rica was a last-ditch effort to escape the famine and massive unemployment that have been ravaging northern Nicaragua since June, reported the daily La Nación. 
(Click for more)

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New Security Measures
Following 9/11
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff

From tough new security measures at Juan Santamaría International Airport to tight restrictions on movement in and out of the port area in Limón, Costa Rica is working to improve its security measures following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Although its geographic location, demilitarized state and friendly relations with other nations keep Costa Rica off the front lines of the U.S.’ terror war, President Abel Pacheco has pledged his country’s support for the campaign. And just by being itself, Costa Rica is earning points for helping the U.S. in its war on terror, says U.S. Ambassador John Danilovich.

“Costa Rica has been supportive of the war on terrorism, with its rule of law and by cracking down on money-laundering, which affects the ability of terrorist groups to finance their operation,” Danilovich told The Tico Times during a recent interview. “Costa Rica has that role naturally.”

Another unlikely group to recently join the war on terrorism is none other than the Costa Rican American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

Teaming up with the Ministry of Public Security, AmCham recently announced the formation of The Overseas Security Advisory Council’s Costa Rica Chapter (OSAC). The idea was born in 1985 “for the purpose of sharing information between the private sector and government as regards terrorism,” according to the group’s press release.

While the brass tacks are still being hammered out as to how the OSAC will gather and disseminate information related to terrorism here, the AmCham group has already received the blessings of the U.S. State Department and has held several meetings with Costa Rican law enforcement groups, including the elite anti-terrorist Special Forces Unit.        

Don’t miss this Friday’s TT print edition for details on OSAC and the 9/11 fallout in Costa Rica.

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C.R Foreign Minister
to Address UN 

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar Wednesday will travel to New York to address the General Assembly of the United Nations and meet with several world leaders to discuss advances made during this year’s meetings of the Rio Group (TT Daily Page, Tue, Sept 3).

Representing both Costa Rica and the 19-country Rio Group – to which Tovar is serving as President – the Foreign Minister will meet with delegations from Switzerland, the Arab League, the E.U., Japan, Russia, the Ukraine, Canada, China, Israel, India and Colombia, according to a Ministry press release.

In addition to attending 9/11 memorials while in New York, Tovar is scheduled to address the UN’s General Assembly on Sept. 20, before returning to Costa Rica.      

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Nicaraguans Flee to
C.R. to Escape Famine 

Border police in the northern town of Upala last weekend intercepted a total of 65 Nicaraguans attempting to illegally enter the country. For these immigrants, entering Costa Rica was a last-ditch effort to escape the famine and massive unemployment that have been ravaging northern Nicaragua since June, reported the daily La Nación. 

Police Regional Director Edgar Hernández and Regional Head of Immigration Leda Vargas admit there has been a sharp increase in the number of Nicaraguans detained at the border during the last three weeks. 

Carlos Villalobos, chief of the Upala police, cites two main reasons for the increased immigration: hunger in the north and fear of potential conflicts between Sandinista sympathizers and allies of former President Arnoldo Alemán. 

“We come without documents. If we don’t have enough money to buy food, how are we supposed to pay 350 córdobas ($25) for a passport?” Matagalpa native Margarito Martínez asked. Martínez confirmed that many Nicaraguans from Northern region have fled the country or are planning to do so in the coming weeks. 

“We don’t want our children to die of hunger like many have in the plantones (groups of families that live on the side of northern Nicaragua’s roads),” detained immigrant Ofelia Castillo told reporters.