Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 22, 2004
 KEEPING the faith: Vendors celebrate the news yesterday that they will not be evicted by the Municipality of San José from the area around the Mercado Central before an appeals court issues a ruling on the matter. Tico Times/Jeffrey Arguedas |
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Soccer Federation Fires
Head Coach Steve Sampson
During an “urgent” meeting yesterday afternoon, the executive committee of the Costa Rican Soccer Federation (FEDEFUT) fired U.S. citizen Steve Sampson from his position as head coach of the Costa Rican National Soccer Team (“La Sele”), a source inside FEDEFUT confirmed to The Tico Times.
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Eviction of Street Vendors
Postponed by Court Appeal
It could be up to three months before curbside vendors are forced off streets near the Mercado Central in central San José, the Municipality of San José said yesterday.
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Medina Murder Trial Judge
Receives Death Threats
The penal judge overseeing the case of the assassination of outspoken radio journalist Parmenio Medina has received death threats, sources from the Judicial Branch confirmed.
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June 22
Tuesday Night Concerts
Siwa Quartet performs tonight at 7 p.m. at the School of Music of the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro. Info: 207-4271.
Gala Dinner to Benefit the National Lyric Company
Last days to reserve space, hurry up and call today. The dinner will include a concert by the National Lyric Company, Thur., June 24, 7 p.m., Costa Rica Country Club. Info: Kathryn Tanzi, 225-0012, 381-7747.
Soccer Federation Fires
Head Coach Steve Sampson
During an “urgent” meeting yesterday afternoon, the executive committee of the Costa Rican Soccer Federation (FEDEFUT) fired U.S. citizen Steve Sampson from his position as head coach of the Costa Rican National Soccer Team (“La Sele”), a source inside FEDEFUT confirmed to The Tico Times.
The agreement was reached after analyzing the team’s recent performance during its games against the Cuban National Team. Costa Rica qualified to the next round of World Cup 2006 qualifiers after two draws against Cuba.
The two teams tied at 2 goals when they played in Cuba on June 12. They tied 1-1 last Sunday at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium in Alajuela, north of San José. Since Costa Rica scored more goals as the visiting team, it was awarded a pass to the next round.
While relieved that La Sele lives to fight another day in the battle for the World Cup, the Costa Rican press blasted the team and head coach Sampson’s performance, calling it “shameful,” “mediocre” and “unacceptable.”
In response, Sampson said the team’s performance was due to exhaustion. He mentioned that the recently concluded national soccer season is too long.
A native of California, Sampson, 46, was hired in November 2002 to coach La Sele.
His replacement will be named in the coming days, according to FEDEFUT.
Eviction of Street Vendors
Postponed by Court Appeal
By Rebecca Kimitch
rkimitch@hotmail.com
 BUM deal: Curbside vendors in central San José yesterday offered their goods as well as their opinions, protesting an eviction order by the Municipality of San José. Tico Times/Jeffrey Arguedas |
It could be up to three months before curbside vendors are forced off streets near the Mercado Central in central San José, the Municipality of San José said yesterday.
The eviction of the street vendors, originally planned for last Friday, had been postponed until yesterday for fear protest and chaos in the streets might disrupt Father’s Day shopping (TT, June 18). The eviction was again postponed yesterday after the vendors filed a petition with the Goicoechea Administrative Appeals Court, which resolves disputes between the government and individuals.
A decision from this court could take from one week to three months, according to municipality spokeswoman Carmen Azofeifa. Until then, the vendors will not be evicted.
The curbside vendors celebrated this decision with cheers.
In the meantime, the municipality hopes to continue negotiating agreements with the vendors that will allow their peaceful exit from the streets, Azofeifa said. The Municipal Council voted unanimously in March to give informal vendors three months to clear their chinamos (street stands) from certain areas of San José (TT, March 26).
Some formal businesses in the area remained closed yesterday, fearing violence from protesting vendors.
The municipality recently successfully negotiated agreements with approximately 70% of vendors, allowing for their voluntary exit over last weekend, Azofeifa said. According to the agreements, farmer’s markets will be established around the metropolitan area – where they do not already exist – on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A market will also be established on Avenida 4 on Sundays.
City officials are also exploring opening a building where the vendors can offer their fruits, vegetables, baseball hats and brooms, among other wares. Officials hope to negotiate the peaceful exit of 100% of the vendors before any official decision of the court, Azofeifa said.
In the past, the vendors have filed injunctions with the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV). However, they were rejected on the grounds that the municipality is responsible for deciding whether and where vendors are allowed on public streets, according to Azofeifa.
San José Mayor Johnny Araya has said the vendors spread chaos and anarchy on public streets, block public access, and produce trash and a bad image for San José.
In 1996, officials gave the vendors temporary permission to operate in certain areas around San José.
Medina Murder Trial Judge
Receives Death Threats
By Steven J. Barry
sbarry@ticotimes.net
The penal judge overseeing the case of the assassination of outspoken radio journalist Parmenio Medina has received death threats, sources from the Judicial Branch confirmed.
Judicial Branch representatives could not immediately confirm the nature of the threats, but local press reported that the judge, David Hernández, said he found a note in his car with a drawing of a hanged person on it that said, “watch what you do.” Hernández also said someone driving a black car had followed him to his home.
The case has been riddled with claims and accusation of threats and intimidation. Catholic priest Minor Calvo and sports businessman Omar Chaves, the suspected intellectual authors of the crime, have both been accused of intimidating witnesses, and both are serving preventive detention orders.
A journalist was arrested last week for allegedly passing a cell phone to Medina’s confessed killer, Luis Alberto Aguirre, an imprisoned suspect known as “El Indio.” Authorities said the cell phone was used to coerce and intimidate witnesses involved in the trial (TT, June 18).
Calvo was originally arrested in connection with Medina’s murder in December of last year, but was released after serving 77 days of his preventive detention order. He was re-arrested May 27 for allegedly intimidating a witness in the case (TT, June 4).
An Heredia judge yesterday turned down Calvo’s most recent appeal for his freedom, Judicial Branch spokespersons said.
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Wednesday October 26, 2005