The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 2, 2004

HIT the ground: A Red Cross medic helps a police officer shot in the leg during a protest in La Carpio Monday night. The Red Cross reported that six officers received gunshot wounds, as well as a 14-year-old boy.
Tico Times/Jeffrey Arguedas

Violent Protest Brings
Injuries, Controversy
A violent protest in the impoverished neighborhood of La Carpio Monday night has prompted investigations of the incident and a meeting between the foreign ministers of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
(Click for more)

Campaign Aims to Stop
Physical Abuse of Children
Child Welfare Minister Rosalía Gil yesterday unveiled a new ad campaign aimed at making parents more sensitive about the negative impact corporal punishment can have on their children. The 30-second radio and television ads attempt to convince parents to think about the consequences of beating their children.
(Click for more)

June 2

Editus in Concert
The acclaimed trio performs at 10 p.m. at the Jazz Café in San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

Camp for Kids Planned
The Waldorf/Steiner School in Escazú offers a summer camp for children 4-12 years old from 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m., July 5-23. Info: 288-2526.

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Violent Protest Brings
Injuries, Controversy
By Steven J. Barry
Sbarry@ticotimes.net

A violent protest in the impoverished neighborhood of La Carpio Monday night has prompted investigations of the incident and a meeting between the foreign ministers of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

About 30 people were seriously injured during the riot in the shantytown, inhabited primarily by Nicaraguan immigrants, and more than 100 people received medical attention from the Red Cross.

Though six police officers and a 14-year-old boy were shot, most of those seen by the Red Cross suffered from respiratory problems as a consequence of tear gas used by police.

The gas appeared to be the only thing that drove back the protestors, who were throwing softball-sized rocks and firing weapons at police. Police threw the rocks back at the protestors, and at least one officer punched a man who surrendered.

La Carpio residents claim a garbage company that had built a landfill nearby has not fulfilled promises it had made to them. In protest, they set up a roadblock at the only road going into the town. When police attempted to clear the roadblock, the riot began.

Ombudsman José Manuel Echandi, who decried the violence, met with residents of La Carpio yesterday in an attempt to help resolve the conflict.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar met with his Nicaraguan counterpart Norman Caldera in El Salvador yesterday. During the meeting, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry, Tovar explained what happened in La Carpio, “with the goal of guaranteeing the tranquility of its inhabitants, showing respect for the free transit of citizens and especially avoiding that innocent persons become victims of attacks of gangs or groups of organized criminals.”

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Campaign Aims to Stop
Physical Abuse of Children
By Fabián Borges
fborges@ticotimes.net

Child Welfare Minister Rosalía Gil yesterday unveiled a new ad campaign aimed at making parents more sensitive about the negative impact corporal punishment can have on their children. The 30-second radio and television ads attempt to convince parents to think about the consequences of beating their children.

“Pinching, pulling hair and spanking with belt can hurt the body and the soul for a long time, possibly a lifetime,” the ads say.

The spots will be aired throughout the country during the month of June on television stations Repretel, Channel 7 and Extra TV, cable provider Amnet Cable and radio stations that form part of the National Radio Chamber (CANARA). Since they are public service announcements, the Child Welfare Office (PANI) will not be charged for airing them.

According to a recent study by the University of Costa Rica, 27% of children are physically abused by their mothers and 24% by their fathers.

In 2003, PANI treated 365 cases of physical abuse against children. So far this year, PANI has treated 138 cases physical violence. Of approximately 1,300 calls that the 911 emergency hotline receives each month related to child abuse, 300 pertain to the physical abuse of children.

Gil said these numbers are worrisome. She hopes the ads will play an important role in preventing violence against children and will serve as a complement to the efforts of 911 and PANI to denounce the violence.

In related news, the Legislative Assembly has proposed a bill that would fine parents who use corporal punishment against their children. Gil said she believes the bill is a good thing, but admits Costa Ricans are not yet ready for it.

First they must become more sensitive to the damage caused by the issue, she said.

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Teacher Strike
Avoided in Turrialba

A strike was avoided in the Caribbean-slope town of Turrialba this week after officials from the Ministry of Public Education met with union and teacher representatives yesterday and agreed to provide the area with a regional director and administrative office.

More than 900 teachers in the Caribbean-slope town will have a new administrative office beginning June 21, according to the ministry. Now, they must conduct regional administrative business at area schools on a rotating basis, causing chaos in the movement of documents, according to the National Association of Educators (ANDE).

Teachers in the area claimed they had been abandoned by the ministry and threatened to go on strike Monday. In addition to lacking offices, they said the administration and process of naming of teachers was in complete disorder.

To resolve this situation, Education Minister Manuel Bolaños named a new regional director, Omar Agüero, who will oversee the operation of 226 schools and the education of more than 18,000 students in the region.

The ministry, teachers and union representatives will also evaluate the current pay rates of teachers to evaluate changes.

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Wednesday October 26, 2005