Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September 23, 2002

DETHRONED: New congressional directorate has former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Alemán up against the ropes. Story below.

Police Bust Brazilian Drug Smuggler
The Drug Control Police in the Juan Santamaría International Airport busted a 22-year-old Brazilian man trying to enter the country Saturday with more than 4 kilos of cocaine hidden inside the lining of his suitcase, according to a Ministry of Security press release.
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September 23

Films For Kids
Centro de Cine invites all children to start the celebrations of the Discovery of America watching the movies "Tras la Huella de Colón" and "The Little Captain," today and tomorrow. At 10 a.m., in Sala Gómez Miravalles, at the Centro, Av. 9, Ca. 11, San José, 222-9329.

Opening of a New Children’s Radio
Children’s Museum is happy to announce the opening of its new radio, starting today at 10 a.m. with kids music, attraction bargains, prevention messages and advise for parents. The radio is inside the Museum, west end of Calle 4. Info: 223-3551.

Mexican Film Production
Mexican Cultural Center tonight will show the movie Rodrigo "D no Futuro." The show is at 7 p.m., at the Center, Ca. 41, Av. 10, Los Yoses. Info: 283-2333.

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Murder Suspect Arrested in Medina Case

After 14 months of collecting evidence, the Judicial Investigate Police (OIJ) Friday night arrested a Nicaraguan man in the Caribbean town of Guápiles for his alleged involvement in July 7, 2001 murder of radio journalist Parmenio Medina.

Identified by the last name Aguirre (known locally as "El Indio"), the suspect is reportedly the leader of a criminal gang that is well-known and widely feared in Guápiles. Sources close to the investigation tell The Tico Times that El Indio was so feared by residents that local gas station attendants would not charge him for gas.

Aguirres is believed to be one of the hired guns behind the murder of the outspoken voice and producer of the long-running investigative radio program "La Patada" (The Kick), who was gunned down outside his home as he returned from taping the last edition of his show.

The suspect has not yet officially been charged with murder, but police are investigating his involvement with a local businessman, who is thought to have contracted the killers. More arrests are expected in the coming days.

Police reportedly have had their eye on Aguirres since the week following Medina's murder. However, investigators were unable to obtain key testimonies linking him to the murder until recently.

Member of the national press claim the much-anticipated arrest happened several days behind schedule. Cameramen and reporters were waiting outside El Indio's house last Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in expectation of an OIJ raid, which came two days later.

The suspect and his gang were also reportedly involved in a May 17 bank robbery of a Banco Costa Rica in Buenas Aires, Punatarenas. "El Indio" has been slapped with a three-month preventive prison sentence for the bank robbery while police continue to collect evidence regarding his alleged relationship to the Medina murder.

Read Friday's TT print edition for the all the details.

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Alemán Dethroned
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff
MANAGUA- Former Nicaraguan President and current congressman Arnoldo Alemán is expected to file two legal injunctions with the Supreme Court today, following a Thursday vote in the Legislative Assembly to oust the congressional directorate which he controlled.

Taking advantage of the Liberal Constitutional Party's (PLC) absence from Thursday's congressional sessions (the party had called for a nationwide demonstration to protest the anti-corruption campaign it believed was unfairly targeting Alemán), the parliamentary majority composed of the Sandinista National Liberation Front and two minority parities voted to dethrone the directorate and vote in seven new members.

The political maneuver is being decried by Alemán as illegal, but has already been enthusiastically endorsed by fellow party leader and current President Enrique Bolaños, the U.S Ambassador, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and the independent government watchdog group Ethics and Transparency.

The outvoted PLC directorate, which would have stepped down from power in January, had been criticized for protecting Alemán's congressional immunity and preventing him from facing trial for allegedly defrauding the government out of $10 million (TT, Sept. 13).

Upon swearing in, the new congressional directorate immediately ordered formation of a special commission to study the allegations that Alemán stole state funds. If the commission determines that there is adequate evidence to support the claims, congress could vote on whether to lift Alemán's immunity as early as this week.

Meanwhile, the embattled former President has called on his faithful to take to the streets Wednesday afternoon to stage a massive nationwide protest. Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has urged his supporters to stay inside during the protests to avoid potential violent confrontations.

Analysts say that Wednesday's demonstrations will put Nicaragua's fledgling democracy to a difficult test.

Read Friday's TT print edition for complete story.

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Police Bust Brazilian Drug Smuggler

The Drug Control Police in the Juan Santamaría International Airport busted a 22-year-old Brazilian man trying to enter the country Saturday with more than 4 kilos of cocaine hidden inside the lining of his suitcase, according to a Ministry of Security press release.

The confiscated drugs are valued at an estimated $1,137.

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