The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 17, 2003

ECO-CHALLENGE: The 4th Pacuare Adventure Race, organized by Coast to Coast Adventures, was held here last weekend. This year's winning team was 'Costa Rica Primal Quest,' which bested 10 other teams competing in two-days of mountain biking, hiking, rafting, orienteering, canopy and rock climbing.
Photo/Coast to Coast Adventures

Massive Drug Bust in Southern Zone
Acting on an anonymous tip, Costa Rican police Sunday confiscated 380 kilograms of cocaine and arrested four Mexicans on charges of drug trafficking.
(Click for more)

Teacher Strike Enters Third Week
The teachers' strike entered its third week yesterday after negotiations between the government and union leaders broke down for the second time last Saturday. Strike leaders warned of continued marches --including one planned for today -- and public demonstrations until the government resolves the pending pension problem (TT, June 13).
(Click for more)

June 17

Tuesday Night Recital
Zamira Barquero (singer), Yamileth Pérez (clarinete) and Gerardo Duarte (piano) are performing works by Franz Lachner, Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert, tonight at 7 p.m., at room 107, School of Music of the University of Costa Rica. Info: 207-5565.

Free Conference on Whales and Dolphins
Experts Mónica Gamboa, Frank Garita and Marco Tulio Saborío will answer all your questions about whales and dolphins. Everyone is welcome. Tonight at 7 p.m., at Salón Social of the Colegio de Ingenieros Agricolas, 300 m. west, 100 m. north and 200 m. west of Moravia Cemetery. Info: 236-1713.

Miriam Jarquín in Concert
The celebrated singer and the "mother of the national rock," is performing songs from her new CD accompaigned by Blues Latino and advanced students of Escuela de Música Moderna. Tonight at 9:20 p.m., at Jazz Café, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

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Massive Drug Bust in Southern Zone
By Jon Gambrell
Tico Times Staff

Acting on an anonymous tip, Costa Rican police Sunday confiscated 380 kilograms of cocaine and arrested four Mexicans on charges of drug trafficking.

After receiving information that a plane was preparing to land at a private airfield in the southern district of Palmar Norte to pick up a shipment of cocaine, the Rural Guard and the special Drug Control Police moved in tandem on the airfield. According to the ministry, police found a Mexican-registered turbo-prop airplane and arrested the three Mexicans on board, identified as García González, Vergara Nery and Solís Jilerrol.

The fourth suspect, Hernández Martínez, was arrested at a private residence 200 meters away from the landing strip, where police discovered 19 plastic-wrapped, 20-kilo bundles of cocaine. The 380 kilos, with a U.S. street value of roughly $15.3 million, was confiscated by police, along with the airplane and two vehicles.

This latest seizure comes on the heels of last month's effort by Costa Rican, U.S. and Canadian authorities who seized 1,360 kilograms of cocaine from a sailboat off of the Pacific Coast. Twenty-one members of an international drug smuggling ring were arrested in the operation (TT, May 23).

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RECOPE Cracks Down on Pipeline Thefts

The Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE) announced yesterday that it has successfully ended a recent string of thefts from a section of the company's oil pipeline running through the Caribbean province of Limón, according to a press release.

RECOPE estimates that it lost 100,000 to 120,000 liters of stolen diesel fuel that was siphoned out of a vandalized section of the pipeline between Siquirres and Limón. The problem was detected April 19, and the coast-to-coast pipeline was hit at least two more times on May 2 and 23, according to the release.

RECOPE announced that it has been able to deter additional attacks by working with the Ministry of Public Security to increase day and nighttime security presence along the pipeline. The Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) are reportedly investigating, but no suspects have yet been identified.

RECOPE president Litleton Bolton, who told the daily La Nación the refinery suspects a well-organized band of foreigners experienced in such theft, said the state-run oil company is currently consulting with oil giants ECOPETROL of Colombia and PEMEX of Mexico -- companies that have had to deal with rebel attacks on pipelines in their countries -- to study new ways of increasing pipeline security.

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Teacher Strike Enters Third Week

TAKING THE HOT SEAT: Pacheco swears in Bolaños as new Education Minister.
photo/Casa Presidencial

The teachers' strike entered its third week yesterday after negotiations between the government and union leaders broke down for the second time last Saturday. Strike leaders warned of continued marches --including one planned for today -- and public demonstrations until the government resolves the pending pension problem (TT, June 13).

Negotiation efforts collapsed Saturday when the government called on teachers to return to their classrooms while the pension issues were worked out. The union leaders refused, and instead promised an increase in protest measures.

According to Ricardo Toledo, Minister of the Presidency, the government has already conceded to eight of nine union demands, leaving only the pension issue unresolved. He argues that the pension issue is in the hands of the judicial system and not a problem that the politicos have the authority to resolve.

The teachers' strike began last month in protest of payment irregularities, and later shifted focus to pension problems. The strike forced embattled Education Minster Astrid Fischel to resign her post at the beginning of the month (TT May 16, 23, 30; June 6).

Last Thursday, Fischel's vacated post was filled by Manuel Antonio Bolaños, who earlier served as the Vice-Minister of the Environment.
-AFP

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