=========================================
>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
=========================================

A publication of Destiny Worldwide Net
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net

Also Visit the Costa Rica Page:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/

Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
=========================================
TODAY'S CONTENTS
=========================================

*News Digest

=========================================
SO, YA WANNA MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
=========================================
Announcing Costa Rica's FIRST online, multimedia,
always up to date, and FREE retirement and tourism
guide! See us at:

---->http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm

OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER:

*Real Estate, mortgages [both lenders and borrowers needed,
Buyer's brokerage, Businesses for sale and opportunities,
all at: http://www.cr-realestate.com

*Insurance, Gold & Silver Exchange, e-commerce solutions,
innovative shipping solutions, and much more:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/business.htm

DESTINY WORLDWIDE -- THE SERVICES YOU NEED, AT PRICES YOU
CAN AFFORD!

=========================================
FEATURE ARTICLE
=========================================


=========================================
DISCUSSION
=========================================

Please send your discussion topics to our Costa
Rica discussion group. You will either get an
answer from us, or another helpful member of
the group, and really important issues will be
included in this digest!

Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

=========================================
NEWS DIGEST
=========================================
*Two More Bodies Recovered Thursday

Officials said Thursday they have discovered two bodies from the crash of a

small plane that had carried U.S. and Canadian skydivers.

The Ministerio de Seguridad Pública ( Security Ministry) did not identify the

bodies that were discovered Thursday, a day after U.S. skydiver William

Slater, 34, was rescued from the water near a marina 96 kilometres southwest

of San José.

Authorities said Slater, who remained in Hospital Mexico Thursday, told them

the plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean Tuesday afternoon after encountering

turbulence.

He said he and two others had leaped from the plane with parachutes after

feeling strong vibration from the top of the aircraft.

Costa Rican officials identified the others aboard the plane as local pilot

Jorge Melendez; Milton Burton, a Canadian skydiving instructor who owned a

company called Skydive Costa Rica; Emanuel Sanchez Cornejo, a Mexican-born

U.S. citizen, and U.S. citizens James Simplicio and Jean Roman.

In a news release, the ministry said it "confirms the finding of the lifeless

bodies of two men" near Herradura beach. It said the others aboard the plane

"are intensively searched for."

Roger Sequeira, an employee of Skydive Costa Rica, told the Spanish language

daily La Nación the group was making its final skydiving flight of the day

"because it was dark and began to rain and there was a strong wind."

Authorities said pieces of the plane were seen in widely dispersed areas.

The search for the remaining bodies was called off at nightfall last night

and resumed at daybreak today. According to Jorge Rovira, rescue operations

chief for the Cruz Roja (Red Corss), said their strategy for the search is

use more aeral passes over the area, concentrating more on the area of the

crash.

Operators of the luxury resort Marriott Los Sueños have helped in the rescue

efforts as well as a score of private boat owners, according to Rovira, who

added that today they will be using special equipment to try to locate the

bodies and fuselage of the small aircraft.



What Caused the Crash?
The Preliminary investigation shows the plane may have been knocked down from

the sky excessive turbulence.

Investigators are discounting engine failure. If engine failuer had been

the case, the experienced pilot would have headed for the coast, experts say.

One of the investigators said that once they we eliminated the possibility of

engine failure, it can be assumed that the aircraft lost stability due to

excessive turbulence.

Authorities are presuming that the pilot got too close to a wind current in

his climb to gain altitude for the last jump of the day for the skydivers.

Unnamed sources close to the investigation told the press that, in the last

trip of the day, the aircraft's pilot Meléndez was surprised by the strong

wind current. At the time, the climate over the Pacific was bad and it was

raining.

The pilot was making his climb to the 8.000 foot altitude so that the

skydivers could make their jump, but, authorities believe he never made it

past 3.000 feet.



*Pacheco Criticizes Media For Attacks on Him

Last night, in a national address on television and radio, President Abel

Pacheco began his attack against the collective media for the persecution

campaign against him and for discrediting him in the past week.

The President told his audience that there are some media who are angry with

the government for not buying advertising space from them, the reason which

is that they are more expensive and that his government has to use public

funds wisely.

He did not name names.

Pacheco added that the game these people are playing is a dangerous one, as

they generalize their discredit, the real corrupt can take advantage of the

situation by dressing in sheep's clothing and create a climate of uncertainty

for all.

"You know me and know how I am. Abel Pacheco, will not yield his principles.

Costa Ricans can be sure about that", were the words spoken by the President.

Pacheco took the time to explain what he says is the "truth".

He said he has nothing to hide and explained in detail his trip to Dominican

Republic and Spain last year, and that it was all done in public and fully

covered my the media. There was no mystery or secret to his trips and that

now the media is trying to make a scandal out of it.

The president admitted that he did use the tickets for the San José - Miami -

San José portion of his trip, tickets given free of charge to the government

by TACA airlines, that which Pacheco commented was normal practice among the

other Central American presidents for decades.

The President spoke about the facts surrounding his trips to Sevilla, Spain

and the publication of his book by the prestigious Ateneo de Sevilla and the

Fundación Martín Robles, which are highly respected around the world. "In

this case they have tied a series of events that make me look corrupt and

that the publicatio of the book is payment for a favour, which I did not or

have conceded. This is false. It is a lie", the President told his viewing

and listening audience.

"You know me, you know how I am and not because I say it, but because there

71 years of public testimony of an honest and correct life", president

Pacheco referred to his reputation.

As to the naming of Bernardo Martín Moreno where he is accused of making a

trade, naming the Moreno to Honourary Consul in Sevilla, Spain, for the

publication of his book, Pacheco said it was utterly false and evil. "Costa

Ricans, things have gone so far, that one day, while I was flying to

Guatemala in economy class, they were watching to see if the peanuts I was

given were just for me or for all passengers. I could not beleive that. It

has gone to the ridiculous, to the point where my colleagues in the region,

kidding, are callinbg me 'el presidente ceniciento"."

Pacheco explained that there are powerful forced in the country that are

angry with him over the Plan Fiscal (Tax Plan) that will see the rich being

taxed as they should, like they should have been for many years already. They

tell me that there are also those who would have loved if I had sold off ICE

(the state monopoly on telecommunications and electricity), which I will not

do.

"If that is why they are angry with me, well let them continue to be angry,

because I will not yield on the tax reforms, the TLC and nor will I hand them

the ICE flag, nor the INS or the Caja, I will not hand over Costa Rican goods

so that a few can do business.

If these people is what they want to is treat me ill and discredit me, let

them because I can bear it for I am used to it," affirmed the President.

COMMENT: Well, well, well, now that HIS corruption is coming to light, it
is simply a "media circus" and all over peanuts? Spoken like a true
demagogue! Bravo! The facts are still the facts, el presidente, no matter
how you squell like a stuck pig when your evil deeds come to light! Let's
see, someone publishes your book for free, and in return, they become

honorary counsel and get the primest bids on a gigantic tourism project.
It is all so transparant, huh, and just a personal attack? HOGWASH! And
we are not forgetting your OWN illegal campaign contributions. But, in your
own words, maybe we should be going after the "truly corrupt," which, I

guess, means ANYONE BUT YOURSELF? I think we have it right. I hope they

strip you of your immunity and haul you away in the Perrara just like you did

to your enemies, and impeach you before your term is over. You were so quick

with your condemnations then, but now that the shoe is on your own foot, you

hide behind your own immunity. We most certainly DO understand!


*Canadian Arrested For Drug Smuggling

A 29 year old Canadian woman was arrested by the Policía de Control de Drogas

(PCD) at the Juan Santamaría airport in San José when it was discovered that

she was hiding drugs - heroin and cocaine - in her travel bags.

The woman identified only by her last name, Haehnel, was travelling with her

11 year old son when she was stopped by the PCD agents.

According to the PCD, the woman had 1.086 grams of heroin and 2.239 grams of

cocaine hidden in her suitcases.

The woman was travelling from Panama to Canada with a stop in Costa Rica

according to a spokesperson for Ministerio de Seguridad Pública, which also

added that the woman's child will be in the hands of the Canadian Embassy who

will contact the boy's family and arrange for his return home.

Thousands of kilos of cocaine have been confiscated by police this year,

however, this is only the fourth instance of seizure of heroin.

If found guilty, drug traffickers face a conviction of 20 years in prison.



*Man Chains Himself to Post Saying He Was Scammed

Michael Lee Rouco, a 45 year old American, living in Naranjo chained himself

to a light post on Wednesday to protest that an architect scammed him of

us$56.000 dollars.

Rouco took along a chair to sit on when he got tired while being chained to

post in Naranjo's central par. Naranjo is small community northwest of San

José.

It was about 9am when the man decided to chain himself to the post to bring

attention of his complaint against a man identified as Herrera, who according

to Rouco, represented himself as an architect to design and build his house

in Berlín de Sam Ramon for a fee of ¢26 million colones, but instead made off

with the money.

Quickly a crowed gathered around the man as the curious stood by to watch was

happening. Members of the Fuerza Publica (police) were dispatched to the

scene as well as the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).

Following a dialouge between police and Rouco, the police officers dispatched

to the scene left and Rouco remained chained to the post. Last report is that

Rouco is still there.

What Rouco wants, according to the Fuerza Publica officers, is that Herrera

show his face and admit his guilt.

Rouco talked to a reporter of the Spanish language dialy Diario Extra,

telling the reported that his nightmare began when he signed a contract with

Herrera. "I am happy to be living in Costa Rica among hard working people. He

was recommended and inspired my trust", Rouco told the reporter.

According to Rouco, Herrera told him that he could use a bank account help by

Herrera to make the deposit for the construction, of which only 25% of the

house is built and took off with the rest of the money in the account.

"I won't leave until h (Herrera) apologizes and finishes my house", Rouco

said.

Herrera being contacted by the newspaper told his side of the story, who

assures that his client is experiencing some kind of mental breakdown. He

said he has all the documents, contracts and receipts that prove the man is

lying and has offered to meet the man in his office to go over the bills, in

the presence of his (Herrera )lawyer



*Court Upholds Ericsson Contract

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court (Sala IV) has thrown out a lawyer's attempt

to annul a us$130 million contract awarded to Ericsson by telecom monopoly

ICE and approved by the comptroller, for the installation of a new GSM

network.

Lawyer Pablo Barahona took legal action last week against the officials of

the comptroller's office, reviving allegations of bribery between employees

of ICE and Ericsson. He alleged that Ericsson paid for hotel lodgings of

former ICE officials during a visit to Sweden last year.

The contract, which is for 600,000 GSM lines, got the green light in March

this year despite an internal investigation into possible bribery.

The nod from the constitutional court is an added guarantee that the project

will go ahead.

ICE hopes to begin selling lines by December 2005, when it will try to have

around 200,000 ready. Ericsson's GSM network will let subscribers send

photos, animated images and music from their handsets.

The current GSM network installed by Alcatel only allows SMS text messaging

GPRS internet service,

Costa Rica ran completely out of new mobile lines last December and has been

rapidly selling off phone lines from delinquent accounts to alleviate the

situation.



*Bolivian president takes measures to calm unrest

Bolivian President Carlos Mesa signed a decree on Thursday to quell weeks of

unrest over a new energy policy that indigenous groups felt fell short on

state control.

Mesa, who came into power 19 months ago, called on Congress to elect a

constitutional assembly to rewrite the constitution with the aim of

redistributing power in favor of the poor indigenous majority.

In addition, a referendum on regional autonomy would be held on October 16,

said the president.

"The country is experiencing a very critical moment, a high-risk

confrontational situation and in this context we cannot wait until Tuesday,"

he said in a televised announcement, referring to a planned debate in

Congress on constitutional reform and a referendum on regional autonomy.

"I urge this country to return to calm," the leader added.

He also called on the Roman Catholic church to sponsor a "national meeting"

of politicians and social leaders to calm the unrest.

Protesters took to the streets after the parliament passed a law on May 17 to

levy a 50-percent tax on foreign oil and gas companies operating in the

country which boasts an estimated 48.7 trillion cubic meters of natural gas,

the second-highest reserves in South America after Venezuela.

Trade unions, including the Regional Trade Union and the Bolivian Central

Trade Union, and farmer, indigenous and student organizations participated in

the demonstrations to push for a rewrite of the constitution and for

nationalization of the naturalgas wealth.

Demonstrators also demanded the resignation of President Mesa, the closing of

the congress and the trial of ex-president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada who

resigned in October 2003.

Demonstration has turned into riots since May 24 when marchers blocked a

downtown square in La Paz, where the executive and legislative departments

are located, and began to smash windows inbuildings and cars in the

surrounding streets.

Mesa released a statement Wednesday, calling on the demonstrators to "respect

the president of the republic, the national government and people in

general."



*Bolivia rejects OAS intervention in internal crisis

Bolivia rejects any kind of intervention in its internal affairs by the

Organization of American States (OAS), the Bolivian Foreign Ministry said

Thursday.

"The social difficulties faced by the country will be sorted out by the

Bolivian people within the framework of their institutions and democratic

mechanisms," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the country's constitution has not been revised "to justify a

mediation" from the international community or "friend countries," according

to reports from La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia.

The statement came after the OAS said it may discuss the political situation

in Bolivia at a general assembly session, which will be held next week in the

United States.

The current unrest in Bolivia was sparked by a law passed by the congress

imposing a 50-percent tax on foreign oil and gas companies operating in the

country.

Opponents first demanded higher taxes but gradually turned their demand to

the resignation of President Carlos Mesa, the nationalization of the

lucrative oil and gas industry, the closing of the congress and a call for a

constitutional assembly.

Argentine Ambassador to Bolivia Horacio Mercado said last week that Bolivia

has turned down an offer from Argentina to mediate in its internal conflict.





=========================================
COSTA RICA DIGEST DISPLAY AD RATES
=========================================
This publication is designed to have one display add
between each article or section. Thus, the more
articles or sections we have per day, the more room we
have for advertisements. Advertisements are filled
on a first come first served basis, and prices vary
depending on placement and frequency. You must order
a minimum of 5 insertions with your order. If there
are no advertising positions available right away,
you will be placed on a waiting list and notified
when a spot becomes available. Please email us
at destinads@safe-mail.net for more details.

One final note, if you want to do a solo mailing
to the list, that is available on a limited basis
if we decide that your product or service has merit.
Email us at the above address for more details.
=========================================
COSTA RICA CLASSIFIEDS
=========================================

If you have a worthwhile, honest offering, please
email us. New subscribers get a free five line
ad for a month. If you have used up your free
ad, or would like to place another one, the low
price is only $1.00 per line per issue. we have
a min. ad of three lines and you must insert in
at least three issues. to submit your ad, please
email your ad to destinyads@safe-mail.net
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover,
e-checks, e-gold, evocash, netpay, pecunix,
e-bullion, Picpay, Moneybookers, and
Offshorearnings. We make e-commerce EASY!

=========================================
We give you hard hitting, timely, common sense articles and
news that the mainstream, or corporate media, either will
not or cannot give you. Several times a week we bring you
an up to date digest on what is going on in the world around
you.

At The Costa Rica Digest, we don't give you hype or BS or
"common knowledge" solutions, but we aim to give you
the cutting edge information you need. If you wish to
become a writer for us, submit your article[s] for
approval to costarica@destiny-worldwide.net. We cannot
pay for articles, but, instead, you may include a resource
box at the end of your article promoting your website
or product. We welcome submissions of all kinds to
make this a great publication for all to read!
=========================================
Find out about our OTHER Exciting E-mail groups on a broad
range of important topics. Subscription boxes for all of
them may be found here:

http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/boards.htm

The Restoration Website:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/

Destiny Central Success Resources
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net

The Costa Rica Page --
The Fun, the Sun.... The business opportunity
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/

Your Safe, Secure, Offshore Payment Processor
http://www.offshorearnings.com

-----------------> Visit our Blogs! <-----------------
----> SuccessQuest http://successquest.blogspot.com/
----> The Real Truth http://destiny-worldwide.blogspot.com/
----> Costa Rica News http://costa-rica-news.blogspot.com/

=========================================