The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 30, 2003

HEATED COMPETITION: Tico firefighter competes in rescue test during last weekend's Central American Firefighters' Competition in Guatemala City.
AFP/TT

Gay Pride Day Celebrated in San José
Waving rainbow flags and cheering on speakers, several hundred people attended Costa Rica's first "Pride in Sexual Diversity" festival, held yesterday in San José's Plaza de la Democracia.
(Click for more)

Coast Guard Captures
2 'Pirate' Fishing Vessels
The Costa Rican Coast Guard this weekend captured two Colombian fishing vessels that were caught fishing illegally in national waters in the Pacific Ocean, according to government sources.
(Click for more)

Return To Top Of Page

June 30

Inauguration of New Sculpture Garden
Including a talk on "Sculpture, Practical Guide for the Collector," by Axel Stein, at 7 p.m., at the Costa Rican Art Museum, La Sabana. Info: 288-0300.

Kids’ Reading Workshop
Take your school children to this class and let them start to appreciate reading, today, and July 1, 4, 15, from 9-1 a.m. at Centro Alajuelense de la Cultura, Alajuela. Info: 440-1022.

Tune Into the World
Bernal Monestel presents tonight in his "World Music" section, Dj Dr. Leo and Ensamble Etnico, mixing house and other electric music genre with ethnic instruments, at 10 p.m., at Jazz Café, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933 (2-6 p.m.).

Immigration Sweeps Continue

Forty-three foreigners were detained and are being deported following this weekend's immigration sweeps conducted in the Pacific beach towns of Puntarenas and Tamarindo and the Caribbean port of Limón, according to an Immigration press release.

In the popular tourist town of Tamarindo, Immigration police conducted 92 "passport checks" on the streets, in bars and on the beach, detaining eight foreigners (two Argentines, a Chilean, two Israelis and three U.S. citizens) found to have overstayed their 90-day tourist visa. Police are verifying the claims that two of the U.S. citizens detained are married to Ticas and have residency.

The Immigration sweep in Puntarenas resulted in the detention of 24 Nicaraguans. Two Jamaicans were detained in Limon.

According to Immigration Director Marco Badilla, all detained foreigners are investigated by the International Police (INTERPOL) to determine if any of them are considered fugitives in their native country.

"These operations are part of our effort to control immigration and they will continue unannounced and consistently for the next three years throughout the country," Badilla said.

Return To Top Of Page

Gay Pride Day Celebrated in San José
By Jon Gambrell
Tico Times Staff

PRIDE IN THE PLAZA: first-ever "Pride in Sexual Diversity" festival in San José’s Plaza de Democracia.
TT/Jon Gambrell

Waving rainbow flags and cheering on speakers, several hundred people attended Costa Rica's first "Pride in Sexual Diversity" festival, held yesterday in San José's Plaza de la Democracia.

Organized by the Human Rights Research Center for Central America and a group of self-described "masculine Costa Rican homosexuals," known as the "Ticosos," the festival ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gays, lesbians, transsexuals, families and supporters gathered on the white brick steps of the plaza to listen to music, laugh along with skits performed by their friends and listen to speakers expound on individual's rights to live the way they want.

"A lot of people don't know us, or they have some idea of what we're like; but many of these ideas are wrong," said Rafael Castro of Ticosos.

The event was also attended by the Ombudsman's Office, which provided information about gay, lesbian and transsexual rights. The Ombudsman's Office has created a special division to investigate complaints of rights abuse against gays, lesbians and transgender.

Booths offered information about women's health and AIDS, displayed gay-inspired artwork, and provided free copies of the gay magazine "Gente 10."

Many speakers claimed that Costa Rican society has a long way to go before homosexuals and other minority groups are fully accepted.

"I am here to support the struggle," a 26-year-old woman said. "Costa Rica is starting to stand against sexual exploitation, gay and lesbian abuse and domestic violence. Costa Rica is a country of rights, but these rights need to be practiced."

Police looked on to ensure there were no violent reactions from conservative groups, but the event went off without disturbances.

Return To Top Of Page

Teachers Strike Ends, Students Back to School

Hundreds of thousands of students are heading back to school today after an announcement Saturday by the three principle teachers' unions to end the 30-day strike and go back to work.

Saturday's decision was expected following a Thursday afternoon agreement between union leaders and legislators to form a joint commission to resolve the pending pension problems in a period of 30 days (TT Daily Page, June 27).

The end to the strike came after the most disruptive week of teacher protests thus far. Frustrated with protest tactics that union leader felt were being ignored by the government, hundreds of educators blocked the Inter-American highway bordering Juan Santamaría Airport in Alajuela last Tuesday, causing massive traffic jams and effectively blocking all airport traffic (TT, June 27).

Now teachers and the government are faced with the challenge of complying with a 200-day school year after missing a month of classes.

Read Friday's TT print edition for more on education.

Return To Top Of Page

Coast Guard Captures 2 'Pirate' Fishing Vessels

The Costa Rican Coast Guard this weekend captured two Colombian fishing vessels that were caught fishing illegally in national waters in the Pacific Ocean, according to government sources.

On Friday, the Coast Guard intercepted an 18-meter-long Colombian fishing boat that was discovered fishing illegally 173 miles off the coast of Puntarenas, according to a Security Ministry press release. The boat was reportedly found carrying more than a ton of shark and sailfish.

The ship was taken to Puntarenas and the 10-member crew - all of whom are Colombians - are being detained on board.

The owner of the boat will face piracy charges in Costa Rica and most likely have to pay a fine for the amount of fish extracted from national waters, according to the Ministry release. The rest of the crew will be deported back to Colombia.

The following day, the Coast Guard captured a similar vessel 100 miles off Punta Burica, according to Security Minister Rogelio Ramos. It is not clear how many crewmembers were on the second detained fishing boat.

Return To Top Of Page