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27 Oct 2005

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 18, 2003

IN DEFENSE OF YOUTH: Child advocate Casa Alianza is set to win another award today for its tireless work toward the well-being of Latin American children.
AFP/Mayela Lopez

U.S., Four of Region's
Countries Sign CAFTA
After 11 months of negotiations, the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua yesterday signed the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
(Click for more)

Jail Suicide Called "An Injustice"
The President of the Association of Separated Fathers, Emanuel Avarga, yesterday said Tuesday's suicide death of a 27-year-old Tico in La Reforma prison is "an injustice."
(Click for more)

December 18

Music Recital
Members of the Municipal Conservatory of Alajuela are offering a free recital at 7 p.m. at the Centro Alajuelense de la Cultura. Info: 221-2154.

Folklore Night
Folklore music group Chubuzu will perform at 7 p.m. at the Kiosk of Parque Central in Alajuela. Info: 221-2154.

Film Cycle: Melancholy Memories
Showing tonight: the movie Historias de Lisboa (1997) by Wim Wenders, with commentaries by photographer Jaime David Tischler, begins at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the Calderón Guardia Museum, 100 m. east, 125 m. north of Santa Teresita Church in Barrio Escalante. Info: 255- 1218, 222- 6392 or 233- 0679.

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U.S., Four of Region's Countries Sign CAFTA
By Fabián Borges
fborges@ticotimes.net

After 11 months of negotiations, the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua yesterday signed the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Costa Rica, which earlier in the week announced it needed more time to negotiate unresolved sensitive issues, did not sign the agreement. The country will continue bilateral trade talks with the United States in January (TT, Daily Page, Dec. 17).

"In early 2002 President [George W.] Bush put forward his vision for the region - a free-trade agreement with Central America that expands economic freedom and opportunity for all our people, and which supports regional stability, democracy and economic development," said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.

"Today, we have fulfilled our vision with a cutting-edge, modern free-trade agreement designed to tear down the tariff walls that block trade between the U.S. and Central America, between friends and neighbors," he added.

The U.S. has said it understands Costa Rica's situation and is willing to give it more time to prepare for CAFTA.

"Costa Rica has indicated the need to consult further with San José, their capital, so that the process will continue," said Richard Mills, press secretary for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
"We understand this. Ambassador Zoellick and Minister Trejos will be speaking next week. We remain interested and positive toward including Costa Rica."

U.S. officials continued to stress that opening the country's telecommunications and insurance markets is a major concern.

"Obviously, services is a critical issue for us. Two-thirds of our economy is the services economy," Mills said. "Costa Rica has a monopoly in telecommunications and insurance, and there are some issues related to dealer protections. So these issues will have to be addressed."

CAFTA must be ratified by the congress of each country before it goes into effect.

In March, the U.S. will begin negotiations to include the Dominican Republic in CAFTA.

If Costa Rica and Dominican Republic join the other four Central American countries as part of CAFTA, they would form a six-nation bloc with 44.8 million inhabitants and surpass Brazil as the U.S.' second largest trading partner in Latin America after Mexico, according to the USTR

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Jail Suicide Called "An Injustice"
By Tim Sparkman
tsparkman@ticotimes.net

The President of the Association of Separated Fathers, Emanuel Avarga, yesterday said Tuesday's suicide death of a 27-year-old Tico in La Reforma prison is "an injustice."

The deceased, identified by his last name Ramírez, was more than halfway through a six-month sentence at La Reforma for failure to pay his child-support payments - about ¢60,000 ($150), according to prison system director Guillermo Arroyo.

He apparently hung himself in the bathroom of the Child Support Unit at the prison, Arroyo said. Prison officials found his body Tuesday morning.

Arroyo described Ramírez as "a very peaceful person" who "must have had some kind of depression."

According to Arroyo, the country's Child Support Law says fathers who are late on their child support payments can be sent to prison for a six-month term, but are free to leave if they can find the money to pay the overdue payment. After the six-month term, the father has one month to pay the late support payments or he can be sentenced to another six months of prison.

Costa Rican lawyer Laura Morales explained that the amount and monthly payment date for child support is determined by a judge from the Family Court, using guidelines included in the Child Support Law. When a payment is late, whoever collects payment can report the delinquency to the judge, who immediately issues an arrest warrant.

"What solution does prison bring?" asked Avarga. "You can't pay because you're in prison."

Avarga said his association is preparing a legislative proposal that will "reflect reality" rather than "the feminine machismo" of the current law.

Morales said that although there are "a lot of problems" with the execution of the Child Support Law, cases of delinquency are taken quite seriously by the Family Court because of "the public interest" in support for children of separated parents.

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Casa Alianza Awarded for Child Advocacy

San José-based Casa Alianza today will receive the "Recognition of Social Responsibility 2003" award for its work defending the youth of Costa Rica.

The Public Relations Association of Costa Rica, which awards the prize, lauded Casa Alianza's "untiring fight against abuse, aggression and sexual exploitation of Costa Rica's children," in a statement announcing the award.

Bruce Harris, Latin American Regional Director of Casa Alianza, said "it is an honor for Casa Alianza to receive this award and we are deeply thankful to the Public Relations Association of Costa Rica for having chosen us.

"We would also like to thank the Costa Rican people who have trusted Casa Alianza as an ally in the defense of their sons and daughters," he added.

This is the second award the child-advocacy group has received this year. The Ombudsman's Office selected Casa Alianza for its "Prize for Improving the Quality of Life" two months ago.

The ceremony for the Social Responsibility award will take place today in the auditorium of the National Radio Hall.

A statement from Casa Alianza said today is the third anniversary of the death of Jacqueline Rodríguez Ríos, whose killer remains at large. Two months later, the release points out, Ivette Badilla León, 14, suffered the same fate.

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Thursday October 27, 2005