C.R. Signs Petition for Nigerian
Woman Sentenced to Death
Short of sending a delegation of "prominent women" to Nigeria to escort Amina Lawal back to Costa Rica for political asylum, the Tico government yesterday announced it will send a petition to the Sharia High Court of Appeals in Katsina, demanding the 31-year-old divorcee be pardoned from her 2004 death sentence.
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C.A. Veeps Study Border-Zone Development
The Vice-Presidents of Central America met in San José yesterday for the beginning of a two-day conference on developing common plans to develop impoverished border regions while preserving the environment.
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Nica, Tico Prosecutors Discuss Abortion Case
Nicaraguan Prosecutor María de Carmen Solórzan traveled to San José yesterday to meet with Costa Rican counterpart Carlos Arias to discuss advances made in the two governments' investigations into the rape of a 9-year-old Nicaraguan girl known as "Rosa," who underwent an abortion last week in Managua amid a public outcry in both countries (TT Daily Page, Jan. 3, 10, 17; Feb. 10, 12, 17, 19, 24).
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VI Annual Canine Festival
In honor of "mixed breed" dog, contests for dogs, fluyball show, mini flea market, dogs for adoption, proceeds go to spaying/neutering/animal rescue/veterinary assistance.

Also, garage sale items, baked goods and prizes.

Sun., March 2, 10 a.m., Plaza Roosevelt, San Pedro, behind Outlet Mall. Info: 228-2397. Volunteers needed.

10-K Race Jacó 2003
Sat., March 1, 4:30 p.m., Jacó. Call Centro Deportivo Lux, Mall Internacional Alajuela. Info: 442-6909, 442-6747.

Body Building Presentation
Sun., March 2, 2 p.m., Juan Santamaría Museum, Alajuela, Ca. 0/2, Av. 3. Info: 441-4775.

Book Reading and Concert
The Cultural Association and the Canadian Embassy present William Deverell reading and signing his latest novel and Luis Angel Castro performing folk music, Sun., March 2, 4-6 p.m. Info: 777-2280.

Celtic Music Concert
By Peregrino Gris Group, Sat., March 1, 7 p.m., Juan Santamaría Museum, Alajuela, Calle 0/2, Ave. 3. Info: 441-4775.

Concert by Luis Pastor Gónzalez
Nicaraguan singer, performing Fri., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., Giratablas Theater, across from KFC, Los Yoses; Sat., March 1, 8 p.m., San Isidro del Guarco, Cartago. Info: 253-6001.

Dance Show "De Qué Juega Usted?
Performed by Danza Universitaria Group, Fri., Feb. 28, Sat.-Sun., March 1-2, 8 p.m., Teatro Montes de Oca, Edificio Saprissa, in front of Carlos Monge Library, University of Costa Rica Campus. Info: 207-4271.

IV Health and Environment Fair
Workshops, and more, Fri., Feb. 28 -Sun., March 2, Los Santos, southern zone.

JKM Trio
Fri., Feb. 28, 6 p.m., José Figueres Cultural Center, San Ramón, Alajuela. Info: 447-2178.

María Nemeth in Costa Rica: Talking about the link between psychology and finances in Costa Rica, Sun., March 2, 10 a.m. First she will speak at 10:00 a.m., Would it be all right with you if life got easier, Unity-Costa Rica headquarters, Piedades, Santa Ana. Also, at 2:30 p.m. Seminar The Energy of Money: Having what you want with clarity, focus, ease and grace, Unity Satellite Center in Bello Horizonte, Escazú. Info: 203-0198, 381-5147.

Rice Table for the Animals
Annual feast including Indonesian food, wine, beer and soft drinks, Sat., March 1, at Penny and Frank Santominno’s home, San Rafael, Heredia. Info: 267-7155, 267-7054.

Rock Concert
By Suite Doble, Fri., Feb. 28, 9 p.m., Casa de la Urraca, Tibás. Info: 290-5818.

Un Guisante para la Princesa
A story based on a Hans Christian Andersen Tale adapted for puppet presentation, by Art-X, Saturdays, through March 1, 3 p.m., Eugene O’Neill Theater, C.R.-North American Cultural Center, Barrio Dent. Info: 207-7554.

Vegetable Fair
Feb.28-March 2, Cipreses de Oreamuno, Cartago. Info: 232-0639.

Wind Trio from the Florida State University
Fri., Feb. 28, 6 p.m., University of Costa Rica, Music School, Palmares. Info: 207-7555.

C.R. Signs Petition for Nigerian
Woman Sentenced to Death
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

A SHOW OF SUPPORT: Ticos petition to save Nigerian woman Amina Lawal and her baby Wasila. Lawal has been sentenced to death by stoning. AFP/TT

Short of sending a delegation of "prominent women" to Nigeria to escort Amina Lawal back to Costa Rica for political asylum, the Tico government yesterday announced it will send a petition to the Sharia High Court of Appeals in Katsina, demanding the 31-year-old divorcee be pardoned from her 2004 death sentence.

The Tico petition, which will be made available next week for everyone in the country to sign, is a last attempt to persuade the Islamic appeals court, which is scheduled to rule on Lawal's case March 25.

"This is the only option we have to save this woman's life," said Citizen Action Party deputy Margarita Penón, of the Congressional Women's Commission. "And we hope it works."

Lawal was sentenced to death by stoning last March for having a child out of wedlock, which is considered a capital offense under the Sharia Islamic law that is applied in some northern regions of Nigeria. The young woman's death sentence prompted 10 countries -- including Costa Rica -- to boycott the 2002 Miss Universe Pageant in Nigeria (TT, Oct. 11).

President Abel Pacheco wrote a letter last July to his Nigerian counterpart Olusegun Obansanjo, asking that human rights be respected, regardless of differences in the two nation's judicial systems.

Pacheco offered Lawal and her three daughters asylum in Costa Rica, claiming that he was willing to send to Nigeria a group of prominent Costa Rica women -- including Vice-President Lineth Saborío, several congresswomen and Supreme Court Judges -- to help escort Lawal and her daughter safely back here (TT, Oct. 18).

Perhaps realizing that the diplomatic approach is more realistic, the Tico government's hopes of helping Lawal now rest on the petition.

Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said that by sending a petition directly to the court, Costa Rica is going a step further than other countries who have written Nigeria's President appealing for intervention.

The petition, signed by deputies, ministers, Supreme Court magistrates, rights leaders and several foreign ambassadors, will be made available for everyone to sign until March 13, when it will be delivered to the Nigerian Ambassador in Mexico or hand-delivered to the Sharia appeals court by a Tico government representative.

As of Monday, the petition will be available in municipal governments, the Foreign Ministry and at the Office of Women's Affairs. The Foreign Ministry next week will provide a more complete list of locations where people can sign the petition.

Tovar told The Tico Times that everyone -- citizens, residents and foreign tourists -- are allowed to sign the petition, because it is "a case of universal human rights."

Lawal is sentenced to be buried up to her neck and then stoned to death. The sentence has been postponed until 2004, when her youngest daughter Wasila stops breastfeeding.

C.A. Veeps Study Border-Zone Development

photo/ Casa Presidencial

The Vice-Presidents of Central America met in San José yesterday for the beginning of a two-day conference on developing common plans to develop impoverished border regions while preserving the environment.

Costa Rican Vice-President Lineth Saborío said the meetings will focus on strategies to alleviate poverty by bringing new technology and tourism to border areas, while working together to protect natural resources such as forests and river basins.

"We need to understand that sustainable development can be achieved only if the entire isthmus cooperates and works together," Saborío said during the opening meeting.

The Costa Rican Vice-President also stressed the importance of supporting non-traditional exports from border regions and the importance of developing plans to lessen the impact of natural disasters on impoverished sectors living in rural areas.

"We need to look for ways to reduce our vulnerability to natural disasters, which have caused so much death and destruction [in the past]," she stressed.