The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 4, 2003

POINTING FINGERS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez accused Costa Rica of involvement in plans to destabilize his government.
AFP/TT

Country to Investigate
Chávez's Charges
Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar yesterday demanded that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez provide "proof" to back allegations that Venezuelan union leader Carlos Ortega is attempting to destabilize his government from Costa Rica.
(Click for more)

Weekend Rains Cause
Flooding in Puntarenas
A heavy rainstorm that lasted eight hours last Friday night caused the Naranjo and Naranjito Rivers to overflow in the central Pacific province of Puntarenas, flooding homes and provoking the evacuation of 198 people, according to the National Emergency Commission.
(Click for more)

Drugs from C.R. Discovered in Italy
ROME (AFP) -- Italian police yesterday confiscated 350 kilograms of pure cocaine, valued at more than $100 million, hidden inside crates containing pineapple juice on a freight ship from Costa Rica, according to Italian authorities.
(Click for more)

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Country to Investigate Chávez's Charges

Carlos Ortega
TT/ Scott Brennan

Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar yesterday demanded that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez provide "proof" to back allegations that Venezuelan union leader Carlos Ortega is attempting to destabilize his government from Costa Rica.

During his Sunday afternoon national television and radio address, Chávez charged that opposition union leader Ortega, granted political asylum in Costa Rica last March, was working with unidentified members of the Costa Rican government to destabilize his regime.

"I have information that there are sectors of the Costa Rican government that are supporting the presence of this coup leader in San José, and are giving him support, security and resources to conspire against Venezuela," Chávez charged on his weekly program "Aló, Presidente," according to AFP reports.

Tovar responded to the charges yesterday by issuing a press release that said Costa Rica respects "democracy and the state of constitutional law in its sister countries in America."

The Foreign Minister said: "If the Venezuelan government has any proof or indication of illicit activities on the part of [Ortega], we invite it to present us [the proof] in an official manner so we can conduct an investigation and take appropriate actions."

The government's press release didn't offer any rejections of Chávez's claims, or make any direct reference to the Venezuelan leader's allegations of Costa Rican officials being involved in the alleged destabilizing efforts.

President Abel Pacheco, who is in Panama to celebrate that country's 100th anniversary of independence, responded to the charges by saying Costa Rica would never intervene in the internal affairs of another country, reported the daily La Nación.

Ortega, the 56-year-old president of Venezuela's largest workers' union, CTV, and the main leader of a 63-day strike aimed at toppling Chávez at the beginning of 2003, faces an outstanding arrest warrant in Venezuela on charges of rebellion, conspiracy, treason and inciting delinquency.

He was granted asylum here last March, after spending two weeks hiding inside the Costa Rican Embassy in Caracas.

Upon Ortega's arrival in Costa Rica, Tovar was clear that he would not be allowed to raise his voice, or organize movements or political struggles during his stay in the country.

"If he wants to do this type of activity, he will have to look to another country for exile," Tovar said (TT Daily Page, March 27).

Ortega's lawyer spoke yesterday on behalf of his client, rejecting the union leader had violated the conditions of his asylum, and dismissing the alleged involvement of the Costa Rican government in any action against Venezuela.

Read Friday's TT print edition for full story.

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Weekend Rains Cause Flooding in Puntarenas

A heavy rainstorm that lasted eight hours last Friday night caused the Naranjo and Naranjito Rivers to overflow in the central Pacific province of Puntarenas, flooding homes and provoking the evacuation of 198 people, according to the National Emergency Commission.

The people who were evacuated were provided with temporary shelter over the weekend, and allowed to return to their homes yesterday after the rains eased up, the Commission reported. The government provided flood victims were provided with blankets, pillows and food.

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New Hotline Created to Aid
Children's Access to Justice

Regional child-advocacy group Casa Alianza yesterday announced the creation of a new toll-free hotline (800-800-3000) to report complaints about slow judicial proceedings in cases of abuse against the rights of minors.

The hotline, established by the Judicial Branch's Comptroller's Office, aims to ensure cases of children's rights abuses are processed in a more timely and efficient manner. If a young victim feels that his or her judicial process has exceeded a normal established time period, he or she can call the hotline to receive immediate assistance.

"We believe that this hotline is an excellent alternative for children and adolescents who have been victimized by a crime and who continue to suffer because of slow and long judicial processes," said Rocío Rodríguez, Casa Alianza's head of investigations and children's defense. "Victims, especially minors, deserve a speedy and efficient judicial process to avoid having to suffer an unnecessary and traumatic ordeal."

Children also have the right to be attended in a personalized way, to express their doubts about judicial proceedings and to receive answers in a language that they can understand, Casa Alianza stressed.

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Drugs from C.R. Discovered in Italy

ROME (AFP) -- Italian police yesterday confiscated 350 kilograms of pure cocaine, valued at more than $100 million, hidden inside crates containing pineapple juice on a freight ship from Costa Rica, according to Italian authorities.

The ship, which docked Friday night at Italy's Gioia Port, had also stopped in Venezuela, Panama and Spain.

According Italian police, the investigation of drug smuggling began several months ago. Police questioned the crew of the ship, but authorities don't believe the crew as involved in the drug smuggling effort.

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