=========================================
>>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
=========================================
*President Pacheco Treated for High Pressure, Relinquishes Presidency

Temporarily

President Abel Pacheco was hospitalized on Monday morning with high blood

pressure, although his condition was stable by the afternoon, his spokeswoman

said.

Pacheco, 71, has had a number of health scares in recent years, including a

brief spell in hospital in February for heart problems.

A diabetic, the U.S.-educated president suffered partial facial paralysis

after a brain hemorrhage in 2000, two years before taking office.

Hospital director Luis Paulino Hernandez said Pacheco was in stable condition

and that his "arterial pressure came down in the past few hours."

Presidential spokeswoman Betania Aratavia said Pacheco would remain

hospitalized overnight.

Pacheco's latest health problem are a possible result following allegations

this week of irregularities in accepting gifts, used airline tickets given to

the government for personal and a connection between Spanish businessman

Bernardo Martín and his investment in a Papagayo land development and Paheco

appointing him Honourary Consul to Sevilla, Spain and getting his book

published free by a Martín foundation.

The pressure started when it was made public that Pacheco had accepted as a

gift a lifetime membership for he and his wife to a luxury resort in the

Dominican Republic when he visited there this year.

Next on the list of irregularities is the use of free tickets given as a

customary practice by the TACA Group airline to the government. Pacheco used

the free tickets for the San José - Miami - San José leg of his Spain trip,

which was a personal trip. Pacheco said he would reimburse the government for

the cost of the tickets

Also on the Pacheco watchlist is the connection between he and Spanish

businessman Martín, who was appointed Honourary Consul to Sevilla by Pacheco

and later invested in a land development project in Papagayo, Guanacaste,

which is owned by Rubén Pacheco Lutz, the former Minister of Tourism in Abel

Pacheco's administration and accompanied the president on the Spain Trip.

Also on hand on the Spain trips was also Jorge Arce, president Pacheco's

chief protocol officer at Casa Presidencial, who resigned last Monday

following reports in the media of possible wrongdoing.

Martín's foundation published a book of poems by president Pacheco and

presented last December on the President's second trip to Spain.

Pacheco came out fighting last week, taking to the airwaves on national

television and radio, defending his actions. He admitted that he may have

made some mistakes.

He told Costa Ricans that they know him and know what to expect from him. And

all the accusations are a campaign by the media who are angry at him and want

to smear his good name.

President Pacheco, according to his doctors, will probably be released from

the Calderón Guardia hospital today, following a 24 hour observation.

Hwever, doctors are now "ordering" to stay home for the next five days and

not a recommendation like the last time.

Facing doctor's orders, Pacheco made a call yesterday to temporary relinquish

his presidential powers to first Vice-President, Lineth Saborío, this

according to information released by Casa Presidencial.

Casa Presidencial press secretary, Carolina Murillo, confirmed yesterday that

Saborío will fill in for Pacheco while is out on medical orders.

Under the Costa Rican constitution, a president cannot resign office. The

transfer of power of the president can only occur on the death or "permanent"

incapacitation.


*24 New Political Parties Registered; Bringing Total to 72

The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) reports that five new political

parties will be running candidates for the presidency in the 2006 elections.

The parties, Alianza Democrática Nacionalista (ADN) headed for former Justice

Minister, José Miguel Villalobos; Unión para el Cambio (UPC) headed by

Antonio Álvarez Desanti; Unión Patriótica (UP) formed by Humberto Arce and

José Miguel Corrales; Patria Primero by Juan José Vargas; and Unión Nacional

(PUN) all presented their documentation before the 4pm deadline yesterday.

In addition there are 19 new parties that will be fielding candidates for

regional and provincial positions in the election to be held next February,

bringing the total of political parties registered to 72.

Not all the parties are active on a national level or even known outside of

their community, though the number of candidates making a bid for elected

office will make the historic election interesting for Costa Ricans.

The new parties will face the mainstream parties Liberación Nacional (PLN),

Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), Acción Ciudadana (PAC).

Parties who have made a name for themselves in the last couple of elections

are the Integración Nacional (PIN), Renovación Costarricense, Alianza

Nacional Cristiana, Independiente Obrero (PIO), Movimiento Libertario,

Patriótico Nacional, Rescate Nacional and Fuerza Democrática, some of which

will seeking the presidential seat.

The traditional two party system began to disappear in the 2002 election when

the PAC forced a run off vote between the PLN and PUSC which saw president

Abel Pacheco elected, ending the traditional two party system and division of

party as each party would take the presidency in alternate elections.

The new parties are now inscribed in the official records and we will know in

the coming months which will be making a strong bid for the presidency and

other elected posts.


*Probation For Three Women in Trafficking Ring

Remember the case in 2003 when police raided homes in La Uruca and Escazú and

arrested a number of people in connection with a trafficking ring involving

minors?

In all 16 people were arrested and an investigation was begun into the

trafficking of minors that saw Guatemalan children sent to families in the

United States by way of Costa Rica.

One of the persons arrested as lawyer and former manager of the defunct Banco

Anglo, Carlos Hernán Robles.

Most of the accused in the case, including Robles, has yet to see formal

charges levied against them. However, three Guatemalan women also arrested

decided to accept the charges and submitted themselves to a fast track

process.

A has now sentenced the three women to two years and three months for their

role in the trafficking ring. However, since the sentence is less than three

years, the women are free on probation and if the stay clean for the

duration, will not see a prison cell.


*Dead Man's Missing Car is Owned by Police Commander

The Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) in San Ramon, northwest of San José, is

looking into allegations that the second commander of the Fuerza Pública de

San Ramón, Marco Hernández Barrantes, registered the purchase of a vehicle

after the owner had already died and the car had been reported missing.

The accusation is also against a lawyer identified as Barahona Segnini, who

is registered lawyer and notary number 82.

The complaint says that the Suzuki Gran Vitara was the property of North

American James Kent, who died in September of 2003. However, records show

that the sale was made in March of this year.

Kent's family had begun the legal process of possession following his death

in 2003 and was concluded last month. The vehicle in question had disappeared

from Kent's home during this time.

The OIJ was called in to investigate the case of the missing vehicle and

discovered that the vehicle was in the possession of the local police

commander. The national registry shows that the purchase was made this year

for ¢100.000 colones (us$210) while the vehicle has a value of ¢5 million

colones (us$10.500).

Police, once they located the vehicle, confiscated it from the police

commander and turned it over to the family of the deceased man. Police are

now investigating into the complaint against the police commander and the

fact the vehicle was in his possession after it was reported missing.

In Costa Rica the transfer of ownership of a vehicle is handled by a

lawyer/notary, which will make an entry into his "protocol" book and then

submit the required documentation along with taxes and "timbres" to the

national registry.

Both the seller and the buyer are required to sign the "protocol" before the

presence of the lawyer,/notary, but that is not always the case. There are

cases, like in the death of a foreigner, a lawyer, for a fee, will take the

buyer's word for the situation and banks that the deceased of his far away

family will not be around to complain.

The registry verifies that the document is in order, the tax is paid and the

"timbres" are attached to the paperwork. Once the verification is complete, a

owners certificate is issued.


*Two Wheeled Transportation on the Increase

The high cost of gasoline as a result of the high cost of crude oil on world

markets has forced Costa Ricans more ways to get around town.

Many have begun using buses more and those living a short distance from work

make it on foot. However, a growing market has been for scooters and

motorcycles.

According to Demtrio Pérez of the Asociación de Importadores de Motocicletas

(AIMA) the number of motorcycle sales have been steadily increasing over the

last several years and moreso this past year when gasoline prices began

setting record levels.

The AIMA attributes the increase in sales directly to the high price of the

combustible.

Peréz says that in 2002, 4.966 new motocycles/scooters were sold in agencies

across the country. In 2003, the number of sales of new motocycles/scooters

increased to 6.570 and in 2004 7.763 new motorcycles/scooters were sold.

For the first three months of thus year, 2.279 new motorcycles were sold.

Forecasts for this year may reach 10.000 sales.

Two wheel transportation not only saves on gasoline but time, as the roads of

downtown San José become more congested each day. Another benefit of a

motorcycle or scooter is the low cost in maintenance. Repairs to motorcycles

and scooters take less time and the cost is dramatically lower than that of a

vehicle.

Peréz adds that the owners of motorcylces/scooters are not the only winners

in this. With the increased use of motorcylce/scooters, the population in

general benefits also with lower contamination and less traffic congestion.

In Europe, major cities like Rome, two wheel motorized transportation is the

favouite way to get to an from work, as well as shopping and recreational

use. Many automobile owners also own a scooter for the trip into town, while

the auto is for family trips.

In San José, the demand for scooters has increased. When there was only one

or two dealers selling scooters, now along the Avenida 10 and La Uruca there

are a half dozen dealers selling scooters from the original Vespa to the

asian and other european imports.


*Mexico rejects US proposal to "supervise democracy" in L. America

Mexico rejected on Monday a US proposal which calls for the creation of a

so-called "democracy supervision mechanism" in Latin America.

"In principle, we don't agree with any supervision whatsoever, "Mexico's

presidential spokesman Ruben Aquilar told the press.

The US proposal also gives the Organization of American States (OAS) the task

of giving help to countries "where democracy is under threat."

"We agree in extending the guarantees and rights of the nations of the

continent, though. We do agree with extending the respect of human rights,

but never under the supervision of anyone," said Aquilar.

The remarks came at a time when a debate is under way on whether the OAS

countries are ready to have an observation mechanism to prevent and manage

crises at the bloc's annual general assembly being held between June 5 and 7

at Fort Laderdale, the United States.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that the "OAS has to be a

valid instrument to help the countries of America whose democracies are in

peril."

She warned that American countries failing to fulfill democratic principles

have to respond to the OAS.


*Bolivian president resigns amid mass protests

Bolivian President Carlos Mesa said late Monday that he would submit

resignation to the congress after mass anti-government protests paralyzed the

country's capital of La Paz, according to reports from the city.

Bolivian demonstrators attend a protest march in San Francisco square in La

Paz June 6, 2005.

"It is my responsibility to say that this is as far as it can go," Mesa said

on national television. "I have taken the decision to present my resignation

from the presidency."

Mesa's decision came hours after tens of thousands of Indians, miners and

labor protesters paralyzed La Paz in their largest anti-government march in

weeks demanding nationalization of the country's natural gas sector and early

elections.

Protesters marched through La Paz waving "Nationalize Now" and "The People

Demand Nationalization" banners, and vowed to maintain roadblocks which have

caused gas and food shortages in the capital after more than two weeks of

blockades.


Bolivian demonstrators attend a protest march in San Francisco square in La

Paz June 6, 2005. The protesters are demanding nationalization of the

country's natural gas sector.

A senior government official said earlier on Monday that it is "very

difficult" for the government and the president to continue in office if

"insecurity and instability" continue in the country amid mass street

protests.

If the social chaos and insecurity continue, "without a doubt it is very

difficult that the president and the government can continue," said Minister

of Presidency Jose Antonio Galindo. "We are on the verge of collapse."

Church leaders had called for a truce to help negotiate a solution to the

stalemate. They held a second day of talks on Monday as some members of the

congress suggested early general elections as the best way out for Mesa.

Earlier on Monday, the embattled president managed to flee his office after

protesters threatened to storm the presidential palace.

The recent unrest began after the congress passed a law on May 17 to levy a

50-percent tax on foreign oil and gas companies operating in the country,

which has the second-largest gas reserves in South America after Venezuela.

The opposition first demanded higher taxes on foreign firms and later the

nationalization of the country's lucrative oil and gas industry.

They also demanded the resignation of Mesa and a rewriting of the

constitution to boost indigenous representation in the congress.

Demonstrations have escalated into riots since May 24 when demonstrators

blocked a downtown square in La Paz, where the executive and legislative

branches are located, and began to smash windows in buildings and cars in the

surrounding streets.

The long-term crisis over the gas issue already forced Mesa's predecessor,

Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, to step down 20 months ago.

NOTE: This article is not entirely accurate. As readers of our Offshore
Destiny list know from yesterday's reports, this whole mess started because

of US interference in Bolivian internal affairs due to their ridiculous
"war on drugs." The coca leaf is a traditional crop of the indigenous
community, but the US government put massive pressure on Bolivia to destroy
the crop and the livelihoods of the Indian farmers who raise the crops, much

of it for their own use as they have done for thousands of years. This

insane and ludicrous "war" is what started this whole thing going, and the

indigenous groups added the gas issue later on. Now, because of this heavy

handed meddling in the affairs of another country, the situation has blown up

in the face of the US government, which is now trying to bring its policy of

"unilateral intervention" in the affairs of other nations to this hemisphere,

using the OAS as its cloak. As reported in the article above, Latin America

now outright rejects the interference of the US in their internal affairs.

And Nicaragua is another case in point where imperialism will no longer be

accepted. The only supporter of Enrique Bolanos is the US government. The

National Assembly and the Supreme Court have already rejected his

"government," which simply does whatever its master in Washington says. It

is my prediction that Bolanos will be impeached and put on trial for his

crimes and corruption, and that there is nothing that Wasthington can do to

stop it now. If they would have stopped their meddling, then this would not

have happened, but they seem to think that Latin American countries are their

colonies and that the colonies must do what master says still. Nothing could

be further from the truth, as people all over the world utterly reject their

policies of telling other sovereign countries what to do.




=========================================
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/

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