Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 21,  2003

"GIVE INSPECTORS, IRAQIS A CHANCE": Stagno's message to UN gets C.R. Ambassador in hot water, for a minute. TT/ AFP

C.R.'s Comments at UN
Spark Controversy at Home
Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar yesterday announced he is willing to give Costa Rican Ambassador to the United Nations Bruno Stagno a "second chance" after asking for his resignation Wednesday for having spoken out against the pending war on Iraq without first consulting with the Foreign Ministry.
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Another Nicaraguan Teen Pregnant from Rape
In the shadows of the growing international controversy over a 9-year-old Nicaraguan girl's right to an abortion after being raped late last year in the Caribbean-slope town of Turrialba, a second pregnant Nicaraguan child, 11, has reportedly decided to follow through with her pregnancy following a rape last October in a small border town near the Nicaraguan frontier, according to Costa Rican authorities.
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U.S. Aids Fight Against Child Sex Trade
In an official act at the Casa Presidencial, the U.S. government Wednesday donated $511,000 to aid in the Costa Rican government's war on the sexual exploitation of minors.
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Education Ministry Announces New
Plan for Rural Schools
The Ministry of Public Education this week announced a new plan aimed at improving the country's rural, single-teacher schools by strengthening the curriculum, increasing the number of weekly class hours and promoting new cooperation initiatives to create more opportunities for rural students.
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CPR Course
Community First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resucitation classes by Hugh Johnson, a firefighter from San Diego County Fire Dept., Feb. 22-23, 2 a.m.-4 p.m.,at La Lora Amarilla in Mal País. Info: hjkjincbs@cox.net

Graffiti Contest
For people 13-25, includes materials in Spanish, Costa Rican indigenous language, patois. Also, clowns, skate boarding show, extreme paintball, two concerts by El Guato (rock) and Evolución, Sat., Feb. 22. Info: 223-3551.

Don’t Miss this Concert!
Swing en 4 and Recognized Jazz Musicians Karl Berger and Ingrid Sertso in Concert on Sat., Feb. 22, Quepos. Info: 390-4083.

Chinese Healing Arts
Tai Chi, Chi Kung Energy Trasmission Healing, Feng Shui, Taoist I-Ching Medicine, Herbs, Oriental Nutrition for body, mind, spirit, Dr. Jeff Nagel, Sol Café, San Pedro. Info: 224-3922, 283-5406.

Free Concert in San José
Luis Angel Castro is performing trova at Plaza de la Cultura with the Limón Band. Everyone invited to free concert between noon and 2 p.m., on Sat., Feb. 22. Info: 255-2360.

Youth Encounter for Peace
Organized by University Brahma Kumaris and the National Direction for Non Violence and Crime on Sat., Feb. 22, at 9 a.m., at CENAC, Av. 3, Ca. 15. Info: 223-3924.

C.R.'s Comments at UN
Spark Controversy at Home
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Ambassador Stagno at UN AFP/TT

Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar yesterday announced he is willing to give Costa Rican Ambassador to the United Nations Bruno Stagno a "second chance" after asking for his resignation Wednesday for having spoken out against the pending war on Iraq without first consulting with the Foreign Ministry.

On Tuesday, Stagno urged members of the UN Security Council to grant weapons inspectors in Iraq more time and to avoid war at all cost and using every diplomatic channel available.

"We must fully support and trust the weapons inspectors," Stagno said. "We must give the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) enough time to carry out these inspections.

"The regime of Saddam Hussein does not deserve another opportunity, but the 26 million Iraqis who live under it do," the ambassador stressed. "The Iraqi people must not be the innocent victims of the dictatorial regimen that governs them."

The Foreign Ministry lashed out at Stagno, claiming it had not reviewed the speech and that his position on Iraq differed slightly from Costa Rica's official position. His decision to bypass the standard diplomatic procedure angered Tovar, who ordered his immediate resignation Wednesday evening.

"He acted before receiving the Foreign Ministry's instructions on what the speech's content should have been," Tovar explained in a press release. "His immediate resignation was requested today."

The decision sparked outcry from former government officials and diplomats including former President (1986-1990) and Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias, who agrees with Stagno's anti-war position.

"The United States has 180,000 soldiers in the Persian Gulf waiting to begin firing their guns as soon as possible," Arias said in radio address. "The rest of the world doesn't want this to happen, they want to give the inspectors another chance."

As a result of the pressure and after reading a letter of apology sent by Stagno, Tovar Thursday morning reversed his decision and said the ambassador will be allowed to continue at his post.

"My confidence in him is renewed, he has given me proof that he is not only a qualified person, but also a humble one," Tovar explained. "He has shown great personal quality, he recognizes he made a mistake and has promised it won't happen again."

Another Nicaraguan Teen Pregnant from Rape
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

In the shadows of the growing international controversy over a 9-year-old Nicaraguan girl's right to an abortion after being raped late last year in the Caribbean-slope town of Turrialba, a second pregnant Nicaraguan child, 11, has reportedly decided to follow through with her pregnancy following a rape last October in a small border town near the Nicaraguan frontier, according to Costa Rican authorities.

The daughter of immigrant campesinos, the child is reportedly 14 weeks pregnant after being raped by a 22-year-old Nicaraguan immigrant who was staying in her house for a week, Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) spokeswoman Margarita Morales told The Tico Times yesterday.

According to sources at Enrique Baltadono Hospital in Liberia, Guanacaste, the young victim is in stable condition. The OIJ is investigating the rape suspect's whereabouts, but he is thought to be back in Nicaragua, Morales said.

Although the girl told officials she wants to have her baby, the health of the 9-year-old rape victim -- identified by doctors as "Rosa" to protect her identity -- is reportedly critical and Nicaraguan doctors claim her young body could not survive pregnancy.

For more on the controversy read today's (Friday's) TT print edition.

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U.S. Aids Fight Against Child Sex Trade
By David Boddiger
dboddiger@ticotimes.net

 

"Put'er There Pal!": Pacheco (left) and Danilovich shake on it. TT/ Julio Lainez

In an official act at the Casa Presidencial, the U.S. government Wednesday donated $511,000 to aid in the Costa Rican government's war on the sexual exploitation of minors.

The money will be channeled specifically to the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Public Security to strengthen the two offices' coordination and investigation of child sex crime cases, as well as to help improve attention to victims of such abuse.

Funding will also be used to help improve cooperation between government and non-governmental institutions.

Since taking office last May, President Abel Pacheco has repeatedly claimed that cracking down on the child skin trade is a priority of his administration. Thanks to the recent donation, an 18-month program will be established to train investigators, judges and prosecutors, as well as help provide the resources needed to investigate and try child sex cases.

"Today we give Costa Rica $511,000, which is the biggest donation to date from the U.S. government for our initiatives to enforce the law, specifically to combat the sexual exploitation of minors in Latin America," said U.S. Ambassador John Danilovich.

"In 10 months, (the Costa Rican) government has created campaigns to sound the alarm about victims, introduced legislation to make all forms of human trafficking illegal, established cooperative relations with non-governmental organizations and international institutions, and created coalitions that permit the prevention and adequate treatment of minors that have fallen victim to sexual exploitation," the Ambassador added.

Danilovich said U.S. agencies, including the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs and the National Center for Exploited Children will coordinate efforts with Costa Rican institutions to combat the problem.

Thanking the U.S. government, Pacheco cited various "battles" his administration has won in the "war," including mended relations with outspoken child advocacy organization Casa Alianza, strengthening the Costa Rican Child Welfare Office (PANI), and recent arrests and trials of high-profile cases involving pedophiles and child pornography networks.

The President did not stick around after the press conference to field reporters' questions about how he can claim to have strengthened the PANI in the same week his administration announced the institution is slated for budget cuts next year (TT Daily Page Feb. 19).

Child Welfare Minister Rosalía Gil, who appeared unprepared for the barrage of questions from reporters, denied that the President's austerity measures would severely affect PANI.

"(PANI's) budget will only be reduced from ¢8.1 billion ($21 million) to ¢7.5 billion ($19.6 million)," Gil told The Tico Times. "If they give me a budget of ¢7.5 billion, then we won't be affected by any crisis."

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Education Ministry Announces New
Plan for Rural Schools
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

The Ministry of Public Education this week announced a new plan aimed at improving the country's rural, single-teacher schools by strengthening the curriculum, increasing the number of weekly class hours and promoting new cooperation initiatives to create more opportunities for rural students.

Nearly 40,000 students from all grade levels attend single-teacher schools and high schools in the country's most remote rural areas. Single-teacher schools represent 42% of the country's schools.

On average, single-teacher schools have higher dropout and failure rates than regular schools. By doubling the number of weekly lessons taught and adapting the curriculum to the specific needs of rural students and local job market demands, education officials hope to improve the quality of education and give students a reason to stay in school.

The total number of class hours taught will nearly double from 22 to 40, according to the proposal presented Tuesday by the ministry spokesman Rocío Alvarado.

Two additional Spanish, math, and science classes will teach each week and new courses such as English, computer science, arts and crafts, and music will be added to the curriculum.

Under the new plan, an assistant teacher will be hired at schools that have more than 30 students. Preschool and daycare will also be added to many of these schools, and efforts will be made to improve infrastructure, purchase new desks and expand school lunch and scholarship programs.

Education Minister Astrid Fischel will meet with representatives of World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the coming weeks to request funding for the program, Alvarado said.

He also announced creation of new cooperation program between the Ministry and other institutions aimed at adapting rural schools' curriculums to the actual challenges their students will face once they graduate.

The Ministry is teaming up with the Omar Dengo Foundation and computer chip manufacturer Intel to expand English and computer science programs in rural schools. The program, entitled "Education for the Future," will kick off next week when Intel will donate 28 new computers to rural schools.

The Ministry will also be part of a vocational training program organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that will attempt to create working links between rural schools, technical colleges and the Costa Rican Technological Institute (ITCR) to provide rural students with hands-on training.

Through these and other programs, the Ministry aims to close the so-called digital divide and give rural students the tools necessary to overcome poverty

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