The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, April 25, 2003

REASON TO CHEER: Sele ranked in top 20 in the world for first time ever.
AFP/TT

Sele Ranked 18th in World
Climbing up three rungs on the international soccer ladder, Costa Rica's Selección Nacional is now ranked 18th in the world, according to the international federation FIFA. It is the first time the Sele has ever been ranked among the top 20 soccer teams in the world.
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U.S. Forces Kill Alleged Assassin
Of Salvadoran Aid Worker in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces in Afghanistan this week killed the man who they believe murdered a Salvadoran Red Cross worker last March, according to an American Forces Information Service report.
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April 25

Dutch Musicians Presentations
Mariken Zandvlet is directing a piano master class at room 107, School of Music of the University of Costa Rica and offering a concert on Sat., April 26, at 8 p.m. at the Eugene O’Neill Theater, Barrio Dent. Info: 219-6834, 387-1585, eddiem@racsa.co.cr

Historical Play Showing at the National Theater
Don’t miss the play "Copenhague," by Michael Frayn, who tells a story of the encounter of three dead people recounting the the discovery of the Atomic bomb, performed at 8 p.m., tonight and tomorrow and at 5 p.m., on Sun., April 27 at the National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 3/5. Info: 221-1329.

Check TT Movies Schedule for complete weekend listings!

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Sele Ranked 18th in World
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Climbing up three rungs on the international soccer ladder, Costa Rica's Selección Nacional is now ranked 18th in the world, according to the international federation FIFA. It is the first time the Sele has ever been ranked among the top 20 soccer teams in the world.

Costa Rica's climb in the FIFA ranking is no doubt due in part to its 2-1 victory last month over Paraguay, which is currently ranked just below the Ticos at 19th (TT Daily Page, March 31).

In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica is only out-ranked by Brazil (1st), Argentina (6th), Mexico (9th) and the United States (10th). But, with only 4 million inhabitants, Costa Rica arguably has the best soccer skill-per-capita in the world's Top 20.

Honduras, coming in at 40th on the list, is the only Central American country to make the top 50.

Cuba made the most dramatic climb on this month's FIFA ranking, jumping up 18 spots to finish at 55th.

Since being "liberated" by U.S. and British forces, Iraq dropped one spot to 54th on the FIFA World Ranking.

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U.S. Forces Kill Alleged Assassin
Of Salvadoran Aid Worker in Afghanistan
By John Liang
Special to The Tico Times

WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces in Afghanistan this week killed the man who they believe murdered a Salvadoran Red Cross worker last March, according to an American Forces Information Service report.

The action took place April 21 in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, AFIS reported. Coalition forces and Afghan transitional government officials collaborated in the gathering of intelligence and coordinating the strike.

Special operations soldiers killed the alleged assassin after he fired on them and captured seven of his accomplices, according to the report. No information was available as to the alleged assassin's nationality.

Ricardo Munguía of San Salvador was an engineer with the International Committee of the Red Cross specializing in water projects. He was shot and killed March 27 while traveling together with Afghan colleagues on an assignment to improve the water supply in the southern Afghan town of Tirin Kot, according to the ICRC statement.

Munguía, 39, joined the ICRC in 1999 and had worked for the organization in Colombia, the Republic of the Congo and Angola. He was the first humanitarian worked killed since the fall of the Taliban government.

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Asphalt Demand up 21%

President Abel Pacheco cites road construction and repair as one of the achievements during his first year in office. And the numbers appear to support his claim.

According the National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) asphalt sales during the first trimester of 2003 are up 21% from last year at this time.

The increase in asphalt sales is due primarily to the re-pavement of five national highways: Bernardo Soto, Próspero Fernández, Florencio del Castillo, General Cañas and Braulio Carrillo.

Other substantial roadwork been conducted on northern strip of the Inter-American Highway, provincial highways in Alajuela and Heredia, roads in the Southern Zone and elimination of the rotunda in San Sebastián, according to the government.

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Former Labor Minister
Requests Prison Transfer

Former Labor Minister Farid Ayales (1994-1998) has requested transfer to a another prison or that he be placed under house arrest, arguing that the chronic leukemia he suffers has worsened dramatically since he entered San Rafael Prison in Alajuela last month.

On March 26, Ayales was sentenced to four years in prison for having used his post to illegally sell work permits to Nicaraguan immigrants (TT Daily Page, March 27).

Ayales maintains his innocence, repeatedly dismissing the claims against him as "political persecution".

The case began in 1997, when it was discovered that the government-funded Foundation for Human Development in Central America (Fundheca) was charging a fee to process and authorize immigrants' work permits quickly. The scam was discovered as investigators established links between Ayales and other Labor Ministry officials involved.

The matter went to court in May of 2000 and Ayales was found guilty and sentenced to eight behind bars.

He appealed the verdict and managed to get his sentence reduced by half. The ruling made him the first government minister ever to be found guilty of extortion.

Ayales has been interned at San José's Clínica Biblica since April 5 while he undergoes medical exams. He remains handcuffed to his bed and under constant police supervision.

Once the tests are completed, doctors will send the results to the Alajuela Sentencing Board, which will be study the medical opinions and respond to Ayales' request for transfer.

Each year, the Justice Ministry receives about 50 applications from inmates wishing to be transferred to their homes. Currently, there are only 15 inmates living under house arrest.

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