The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, October 7, 2003

Hurray!! It's Chinese day! Hundreds of Chinese-Costa Ricans people hit the streets of San José to celebrate National Chinese Culture Day.
Julio Laínez / TT Photo

Congress Discusses
Popular Initiative Bill
In the coming weeks, Congress is expected to vote on a bill to strengthen the existing popular initiative mechanism and make it obligatory for Congress to vote on proposals that are backed by 5% or more of Costa Rican voters.
(Click for more)

30 Men Commit 85%
of San José Muggings
Police believe that 30 men between the ages of 18 and 30 are responsible for 85% of the muggings that regularly take place at night in downtown San José.
(Click for more)

October 7

Newcomer’s Club for English Speaking Women
Meeting at 9:30 a.m., call 232-3999, 289-8829, 296-3334 for the location.

Chinese Film Festival
Showing today El Club de la Buena Estrella at at Centro de Cine, Av. 9, Ca. 11, for schedules call the center at 222-9329.

Melico Salazar Theater Celebrates Anniversary
The fiesta starts today at 8 p.m. with a concert with Malpaís, a Costa Rican Contemporary music group. It mixes folklore rhythms with popular music. During the rest of the week you can enjoy of some dance, films presentations and concerts. The theater is on Av. 2, Ca. Ctrl./0. Info: 257-6005, 233-5424.

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IMAS President Calls It Quits

Silvia Lara yesterday resigned from her post as president of the Mixed Institute for Social Aid (IMAS), saying there is no longer room for her to carry out her job nor willingness to listen to her proposals. IMAS is the government institute charged with coordinating and directing the National Plan to Combat Poverty.

"When I accepted the President's request to form part of his government, I did so with personal commitment and enthusiasm," Lara said in her public resignation letter.

"I was certain that under his leadership and given his social conviction, the country could take a leap forward in the fight against poverty. I hope my resignation allows the government to tend to the circumstances of the current political moment."

Lara has agreed to continue to serve as IMAS president until Nov. 6.

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Congress Discusses Popular Initiative Bill

In the coming weeks, Congress is expected to vote on a bill to strengthen the existing popular initiative mechanism and make it obligatory for Congress to vote on proposals that are backed by 5% or more of Costa Rican voters.

Under the bill's current form, popular initiative proposals would have to be voted on no later that two years after the initiative was passed, the daily La Nación reported. The popular initiative proposals also would have priority status in legislative commissions.

Popular initiatives will not be allowed for matters relating to the budget, taxes, government purchases and contracts, or administrative decisions.

The bill was supposed to be voted on last month. However, it was returned to the Judicial Affairs Commission after Social Christian Unity Party deputy Rolando Laclé filed three motions requesting a revision of its exception clauses.

Since 1999, Congress has had a Popular Initiative Office. All citizens are allowed to present their own proposals to the office, but for the proposal to become a bill, it needs the sponsorship of at least one congressional deputy. Since its inception, the office has received 313 proposals. Of those proposals, only 30 became bills and only three have become laws.

Alfonso Muñoz, a lawyer specializing in Constitutional law, told La Nación that the popular initiative process would run into problems as result of its cost and the amount of coordination necessary to make it happen.

Still, any bill that manages to obtain the support of 5% of the electorate (119,000 voters) likely would have the political strength to be approved and become a law, according to analysts.

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30 Men Commit 85% of San José Muggings

Police believe that 30 men between the ages of 18 and 30 are responsible for 85% of the muggings that regularly take place at night in downtown San José.

These men have been identified and many have appeared before court several times, but congestion in the country's judicial system has left police with their hands tied and unable to file charges against them, the daily La Nación reported.

The men aren't organized as a gang, but they do take turns performing crimes. According to the Security Ministry, between June 1 and Aug. 15, a total of 384 muggings were reported in the downtown San José districts of El Carmen, La Merced and Hospital. Of those, 325 were committed by the 30 men that have been identified.

The man police say is the most dangerous criminal in San José, a suspect identified by authorities as Juan Carlos Jara, has been detained 40 times. It wasn't until last month that police were able to arrest him and keep him under preventive prison custody. Police accused him of committing 24 muggings during the last month and a half.

The list includes three other alleged criminals who have been arrested between 10 and 21 times each.

"The judicial system lacks the capacity to contain these dangerous subjects," Security Minister Rogelio Ramos told La Nación. "Police wear themselves out detaining the same people over and over again. But no justice is served."

Last week, Ramos sent a letter to Supreme Court President Luis Paulino Mora requesting the urgent creation of a high-level commission to look into the matter.

"Something must be done," Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) Director Jorge Rojas agreed. "Most of these men have enough of a record to warrant preventive prison sentences."

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