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27 Oct 2005

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 19, 2004

QUESTIONABLE quarters? A lion sits behind bars at the Simon Bolivar Zoo in San José. The zoo was called "life-threatening" to the animals during a report on Channel 7 Monday. Members of the pro-Zoological Foundation yesterday denounced those claims.
Tico Times Photo

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant
To Visit Costa Rica Today
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thomas H. Collins will visit with President Abel Pacheco today as part of a multi-country tour, according to the U.S. Embassy.
(Click for more)

Japan Donates $130,000 to Help
Indigenous Communities Affected by Dam
As the Costa Rican government prepares to construct a dam large enough to power more than a million homes, a donation from the Japanese Embassy will help promote dialogue between the government and the indigenous affected by the Boruca Hydroelectric Project, in the southern zone of Costa Rica.
(Click for more)

February 19

National Symphony Performance
The acclaimed musicians play today at 10:30 a.m., at the UNED in Sabanilla. The Symphony will also perform on Fri., Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Church in Palmares de Alajuela, and on Sun., Feb. 22, at 10:30 a.m., at the church in Ciudad Colón. Info: 236-5395, 236-5396, ext. 217.

Story Telling
Story telling by Ramsés Chalita, 7 p.m. at Casa de la Cultura Popular José Figueres Ferrer in Barrio Escalante. Info: 224-0010.

Promising Artists of the 21st Century
Tickets are on sale for the concert by Boston University musicians playing works by Mauricio Pauly Maduro and Mark Berger, with the special participation of soprano Mercedes Sánchez and pianist Gabriela Castro. Concert is Wed., Feb. 25, 7.30 p.m. at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in Barrio Dent. Info: 207-7554.

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U.S. Coast Guard Commandant
To Visit Costa Rica Today
By Steven J. Barry
sbarry@ticotimes.net

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thomas H. Collins will visit with President Abel Pacheco today as part of a multi-country tour, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Collins and Pacheco are expected to discuss the positive relationship between the two countries and the 1998 Bilateral Maritime Counterdrug Agreement, said U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Marcia Bosshardt.

It was that agreement, according to Costa Rican Coast Guard Commandant Claudio Pacheco, which allowed for the recent maritime seizure of more than 300 kilograms of cocaine and the arrest of five Colombians, all suspected drug runners.

Capt. Norman Custer of the USGCS Chase, the vessel from which U.S. forces initiated the pursuit of the drug runners off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, called it an "excellent example" of how the treaty is supposed to aid in the capture of drugs moving through Costa Rican waters (see Friday's print edition for full story).

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Japan Donates $130,000 to Help
Indigenous Communities Affected by Dam

As the Costa Rican government prepares to construct a dam large enough to power more than a million homes, a donation from the Japanese Embassy will help promote dialogue between the government and the indigenous affected by the Boruca Hydroelectric Project, in the southern zone of Costa Rica.

The donation, which totals more than $130,000 (approximately ¢56 million), will be signed this morning by Japanese Ambassador Tadanori Inomata, and recipients Frans van Haren, vice-rector of the University for Peace, and Manuel Villanueva, president of the National Tekra Indigenous Association.

If it is built, the Boruca Hydroelectric Project will be the largest dam in Central America.

Japan supports the project and its potential economic impact on Costa Rica, according to a statement by Japanese Embassy. However, it recognizes the enormous impact, both positive and negative, the project would have on the area's indigenous communities.

Through the donations, the embassy hopes to ensure the project is beneficial to the indigenous of the southern region of Boruca.

University for Peace will use its portion of the donation - $71,000 (¢30 million) - to execute the project Promotion of Dialogue and Fair Development in the Boruca Region.

The National Tekra Indigenous Association will use its donation of $61,500 (¢26 million) for the project Protection of the Rights of the Indigenous Sector Relating to the Boruca Hydroelectric Project.

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Costa Rica Asks Venezuelan
Leader to Respect Rules of Asylum

For the second time in four months, Carlos Ortega, exiled leader of the Venezuelan Workers' Confederation (CTV), has been reminded by the Costa Rican government that he must follow the rules and duties of asylum or risk losing protection.

The reminder, given to Ortega Monday by Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Relations, came after Ortega made accusations against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the Venezuelan press.

Costa Rican officials reminded Ortega that "the right of asylum is neither unlimited nor unrestricted, and the refugee also has a number of duties," that must be respected, the Ministry of Foreign Relations said.

At the beginning of 2003, Ortega unsuccessfully attempted to oust Chávez during a national strike that lasted 63 days and paralyzed the country's petroleum industry. Last March, after the failed attempt, Ortega received political asylum in Costa Rica.

Last November, Chávez accused Ortega of making plans to destabilize Venezuela (TT Daily Page, Nov. 11, 2003). Costa Rican authorities were implicated in the plans, according to Chávez's accusation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Tovar denied those charges, and issued a statement reminding Ortega to confine himself to appropriate behavior and avoid any conduct that could harm the good relations between Costa Rica and Venezuela.

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Zoological Center
Denounces TV Report

The pro-Zoological Foundation yesterday called for corrections and clarifications of Freddy Serrano's television news exposé about the Simon Bolivar Zoo in San José and the Santa Ana Conservation Center, west of the capital.

Serrano reported Monday during the TV program "Siete Días" that the lives of animals at the center were at risk because of austere living conditions and illness. He said that a jaguar donated by ex-Environment Minister Elizabeth Odio had died under the watch of zookeepers, and that the contract of the centers with the pro-Zoological Foundation had expired.

Laura Iglesias, spokeswoman for the foundation, said none of those claims are true. She said the jaguar is alive, there are qualified veterinarians on site, and that the society had invested $2 million in improving the infrastructure of the center.

Iglesias said the persons consulted by Serrano during his report as to the state of the two centers were not qualified veterinarians. She said Serrano was to make on-air corrections regarding these matters last night.

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Thursday October 27, 2005