A MASS for the Ministry: Police officers and Public Security Ministry officials yesterday held a special mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown San José. Here, Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal looks upon a restored painting of the Virgin of the Rescue of Ujarrás, the patron saint of the National Police. The ministry presented this work yesterday to San José Archbishop Hugo Barrantes.

The European Union recently expressed hope that the Nicaraguan government will open up a “real debate” over its decision to outlaw therapeutic abortion to save a woman's life.

By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff | lbaxter@ticotimes.net

The trial of Osvaldo Villalobos got under way at 8 a.m. today, with prosecutors Walter Espinoza and Ilem Meléndez presenting the government's case against him.

Villalobos is charged with illegal financial intermediation, money laundering and fraud in relation to a high-interest investment operation he and his brother Enrique Villalobos allegedly operated. Government investigations led to the investment operation's closure, leaving more than 6,000 investors high and dry (TT, Oct. 18, 2002). Officials seized $7 million in bank accounts, and Enrique allegedly disappeared with what some have estimated to be nearly $800 million (TT, Dec. 24, 2003).  

Enrique Villalobos is currently being sought by authorities; his whereabouts have been a mystery since 2002.

Osvaldo Villalobos' attorneys insist their client is innocent, was in no way involved in the investment operation and only ran a currency exchange business that shared offices with Enrique's investment service, known as “The Brothers.”

With more than 100 witnesses, the trial is estimated to take at least four to six months. The proceedings were held in the auditorium of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) building, in downtown San José, to make room for the expected crowds of observers. However, the seats were mostly empty, with approximately 20 onlookers, among them Costa Ricans and foreigners, watching the public proceedings.

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff | kstanley@ticotimes.net

In inauguration ceremonies across the country, 81 new mayors elected during December's municipal elections took office yesterday. In doing so, they also took on a host of challenges, from regulating tourism growth in beach hot spots to attracting investment in neglected rural cantons.

President Oscar Arias has said his administration will prioritize municipal growth and government decentralization; now, municipalities receive only 1.7% of all government spending, making Costa Rica the most centralized country in Latin America (TT, Oct. 20, 2006). Arias has promised the new mayors their full share of the proceeds from a fuel tax designed to provide funds for municipal roads - these funds were partially withheld during the administration of President Abel Pacheco (2002-2006) - and work is under way in the Legislative Assembly on bills that would give municipalities more responsibility and funding (TT, Jan. 26).

Another change under consideration: moving the date of the municipal elections to two years after the national elections, rather than 10 months after these elections, as is now the case, in an attempt to address voter apathy. Only 24% of eligible voters visited polling stations in the recent elections.

The new mayors will serve four-year terms. Additionally, 4,000 other municipal authorities elected in December, including district administrators and council members, took office yesterday.

The European Union recently expressed hope that the Nicaraguan government will open up a “real debate” over its decision to outlaw therapeutic abortion to save a woman's life.

The National Assembly voted on Oct. 26, 2006, to revoke a century-old law allowing these types of abortions by reversing Article 165 of Nicaragua's Penal Code, thereby criminalizing all forms of abortion (NT, Nov. 3, 2006).

“We hope the new government (of President Daniel Ortega) will be capable of opening a debate and discussing the matter outside of the passion of the elections,” Marc Litvine, E.U. representative for Mexico and Central America, told the daily El Nuevo Diario.

The European Union is “worried” over the National Assembly outlawing therapeutic abortion in the middle of an electoral campaign, Litvine said. The decision came just before the national elections Nov. 5. Now the country should “take its time to discuss the matter calmly... to have a real debate,” he said.

The government has received national and international criticism since the law was passed, including from the U.N.-E.U. organization Human Rights Watch, which has demanded that the topic be discussed more in depth.

Meanwhile, doctors have warned that the banning of therapeutic abortion will increase maternal deaths and infant mortality and cause the proliferation of illegal abortion clinics.