The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, July 24, 2003

Long day: Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños (L) and Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco (R) signed eight agreements on issues such as immigration, international money laundering and tourism development yesterday. Read the Tico Times Print Edition for full coverage of Bolaños visit to Costa Rica.
TT Photo / Julio Laínez

University Hopes to Send
Peace Radio Packing
With this week's padlocking of its parking lot and a notice to evacuate the building within two weeks, Radio for Peace International (RFPI) has found itself bracing for, rather than broadcasting, political struggle.
(Click for more)

Dengue Cases On the Rise
Between Jan. 1 and July 19, a total of 5,462 dengue cases were diagnosed in Costa Rica - 2,000 more than during the same period the year before, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday.
(Click for more)

July 24

Gastronomic Festival
Enjoy the best Mediterranean meals, but if you miss it, reserve for the Nouvelle Cuisine, to be served July 25-31 at Villa Caletas Hotel in Puntarenas road to Quepos. Info: 637-0505, 637-0160.

Guanacaste Annexation Celebration
Call today and enjoy the last days of the Guanacasteco Fiesta, including cattle and horse exhibits, carnival, concerts, through July 27, in Liberia, 666-2469.

In Nicoya, the party also finishes on July 27. Minister of Culture Guido Saénz is leading a talk this evening, 5-6 p.m., at the Colonial Church. Tomorrow guests and residents will be delighted with the cultural presentations, including the visit of President Abel Pacheco and Guido Saénz. Activities start at 11:30 a.m., at Parque Central. Info: 221-2022.

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University Hopes to Send
Peace Radio Packing
By Suzanna Starcevic
Sstar@ticotimes.net

With this week's padlocking of its parking lot and a notice to evacuate the building within two weeks, Radio for Peace International (RFPI) has found itself bracing for, rather than broadcasting, political struggle.

The radio has promoted international peace, news and information programs, including many from the United Nations, from the University for Peace (UPAZ) campus in Ciudad Colón, 25 km west of San José, since 1987.

As early as April 12, 2002 the university said the station had to be out by July 10, 2002.

While no one contests the university's ownership of the land, RFPI CEO James Latham says he's still confused as to why the station is being asked to leave.

UPAZ lawyer Luis Alberto Varela cites an outstanding $14,000 debt owed by RFPI to the university for installation of telephone and Internet infrastructure and illegal use of radio frequencies as reasons enough.

Latham admits these issues have come up in meetings throughout the year, but not as justification for the eviction. He adds that an arrangement was in place to repay the debt, incurred in 2001, but that the radio wasn't given time to provide the services in kind.

According to Latham, the shortwave bands the radio is currently using, 7445 and 15040, are international and registered with the High Frequency Coordination Committee, which co-ordinates frequencies over the world, all that is required to transmit from the international territory that is UPAZ. The National Radio Control says differently, maintaining the station is using the two frequencies illegally.

Arcelio Hernández, lawyer for RFPI, says principles are going to be the radio's defense in future legal action.

"The radio entered the premises under an agreement," he says, noting that former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo was one of the founding members of UPaz who extended the invitation to the radio in 1985 and is still active on the station's board, as well as President Emeritus of the university. "And it remains that its most recent actions, sending an armed guard to lock the gates so people can't get their cars out, are hostile acts, and don't coincide with the ideas of peace.

"They haven't given real reasons for eviction," he continues. "We could be looking at repression of freedom of the press."

Varela says that's nonsense.
"These things came up in other administrations," he said. "They just decided to focus attention elsewhere."

Robert Muller, one of the co-founders and Chancellor Emeritus of Upaz, said he was saddened by the actions.

A tired Latham emphasized Tuesday night that the radio bears no ill will towards the university.

"We would just like to see this resolved in a win-win situation," he said. "We're all supposed to be working for peace; there's more than enough to do, and enough room for all of us to do it."

RFPI staff members are notifying donors, members and listeners about the situation, and expect a sound showing of support. On Saturday morning they will also hold an information event outside of the locked gates at 9:30. For more information, call 249-1821.

RFPI members are urging people to get involved, including writing to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (annan@un.org) or contributing with checks marked for Legal Defense Fund sent to Radio For Peace International, P.O. Box 3165, Newberg, Oregon, 97132.

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Costa Rica Willing to Back
Rodríguez' OAS Candidacy
Even Without the Support of Central America

Costa Rica will continue to support former President Miguel Angel Rodríguez' (1998-2002) candidacy for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), even without the support of any other Central American countries, said Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar.

"If there's a way to name a regional candidate, and if there's time to do it, perfect," Tovar told the press. "If there's no way to do that, we have a great candidate we hope other countries will support. But we are not ruling out the possibility of backing a single Central American candidate."

During his visit to San José this week, Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños dodged questions from reporters on whether he would back Rodríguez.

"There is still no commitment" between Central America's leaders to back Rodríguez or Salvadorean President Francisco Flores, who is also expected to run, he said.

According to Bolaños, the Caribbean countries have agreed to back a joint-Central American candidate, but only if he represents the entire region, otherwise they will vote for someone else.

"Those countries have told us they wish to vote for a Central American candidate and have asked us to devise a way to choose a single candidate," Bolaños said. "We have to work on that."

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Foreign Trade Minister Leaves
Today to Meet With U.S. Legislators

Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos is in Washington D.C. today to meet with U.S. business leaders and lobby with influential Congressional Representatives and Senators in favor of Costa Rican interests during ongoing free-trade negotiations between Central America and the U.S. (CAFTA).

During his visit, Trejos will discuss advances made so far during CAFTA negotiations with U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Council of the Americas, Association of U.S. Commerce Chambers in Latin America (AACCLA), and Caribbean Latin American Action (CLAA).

Trejos will also meet with key legislators to request their support for CAFTA.

Friday he will fly to Montreal, Canada to take part in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministers' conference.

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Dengue Cases
On the Rise

Between Jan. 1 and July 19, a total of 5,462 dengue cases were diagnosed in Costa Rica - 2,000 more than during the same period the year before, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday.

The areas hardest hit by the disease are the North and Central Pacific and the Caribbean coast. Health Ministry officials are again urging residents of these areas to dispose of puddles of still water that serve as a breeding ground for the Aedis aegypti mosquito, which carries the disease.
-AFP

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