Daily Edition

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 03, 2003

CLOWNING AROUND: Jason Peñalosa poses at Zapote fiesta. The party ends on Sunday.
TT/ Julio Lainez

January 03

Last weekend for Zapote Yearend Fiesta, east of San José

Copa del Café Tennis Tournament
Best international teenage tennis players compite in this tournament, through Jan. 5 at Costa Rica Country Club, San Rafael, Escazú. Info: 394-5530.

Theater, Games and Fun
For Children on Jan. 27 and 28, at 9 a.m., at Museum of Sounds, Spaces and Sounds, Av. 1, Ca. 23. Info: 222-9462.

Newcomer's Club (women only) Meeting
Dra. Edna Matlock-Lang will speak on holistic health. Don't miss the opportunity to meet and hear this renowned Doctor. Tues., Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. Info: 232-3999.

Return To Top Of Page

32 Die in Yearend Accidents

Since Christmas Eve, 32 people died during yearend violent crimes, including 17 who died in automobile accidents, reported the daily Al Día. The highway death toll climbed by 10 victims from the 2001 yearend fiestas.

Between New Year's Eve and Jan. 1, there were 76 traffic accidents -- two resulting in deaths -- two people were killed in homicides, three people committed suicide and a dozen were injured while being assaulted -- making Tuesday night the most violent New Year's Eve in the last three years, according to the report. Of the 76 accidents, 60 occurred in San José.

At the enormously popular Zapote yearend fiesta, east of San José, The Red Cross said it has attended to 358 injured people, many of whom reported bone fractures of some other sort of injury resulting from the amusement park rides. Of those injured at the fairgrounds, 45 had to be taken to the hospital for more serious medical treatment.

Throughout the country, five people were killed by guns, five died in falling accidents, two died in electrical accidents or burns, one person drank himself to death and one person drowned, according to Al Día.

During the 2001 yearend parties, 21 people died violently.

Return To Top Of Page

Ombudsman's Stocking Stuffed with Christmas-time Complaints

While the government went on vacation, the Ombudsman's Office -- the government-funded human-rights watchdog group -- was been kept busy with an influx of complaints filed during the last 10 days by perturbed citizens, according to a Defensoría press release.

From Dec. 20 to Dec. 31, the Obudsman's office received 153 complaints, mostly from shoppers claiming they were sold faulty electronic equipment during the Christmas season. Others complained of noise pollution from the Zapote yearend fiestas and of noisy, drunk and/or violent neighbors causing a ruckus during late-night Christmas parties.

Ombudsman José Manuel Echandi said the high number of complaints filed around Christmas demonstrates the need for at least a minimal level of state services during the yearend break.

Most government employees go on vacation from Christmas until New Year's, when the country all but shuts down for a couple of weeks.

Return To Top Of Page

Alternative Sentencing Pays Off

Instead of spending their days fruitlessly behind bars, some 4,000 of the nation's offenders are paying back their debt to society through a three-year-old alternative sentencing program, the daily La Nación reported.

And the program is working, say administrators of Costa Rica's correctional system, known as the Office of Social Adaptation. A recent report pegged the success rate of alternative sentencing at a staggering 97% nationwide.

Community service can be prescribed for crimes that carry no greater than a three-year jail term, and must be agreed to by the victims. Violators must also compensate victims for the damage. Compensation may be symbolic, if approved by the victim.

Alternative sentencing cannot be applied to cases where the state is the victim, the report added.

Advocates say the program helps offenders restore their confidence and self-esteem, while giving them another chance to repay society from outside the often-violent atmosphere behind bars.

Community service projects including volunteering at senior citizen care and youth centers, the Red Cross, and at community fire and rescue departments, the report stated.

Return To Top Of Page