San José, Costa Rica - Tuesday 07 September 2004

1.234 Daily Average. Visits in August! Up 10%

Updated every day by 8:00AM Central Standard Time

Former President, Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier, broke his seclusion from the press, presenting himself before the Fiscalía de Delitos Económicos del Primer Circuito Judicial de San José, to deliver a document in which he says he making himself completely available to the courts in their investgiation of him and they can search his home and office. Calderón claims of no wrongdoing, however, refused to comment on the details of the accusations against him. [Foto: Róger Córdoba/Diario Extra] Click for larger image!

insidenicaragua A new weekly feature published on Sundays, featuring a summary  of current news and events in Nicaragua.

Minister for the Presidency, Ricardo Toledo Resigns
As we indicated yesterday, more government resignations were forthcoming, Ricardo Toledo, yesterday resigned his post as Minister for the Presidency, returning to the Legislative Assembly, to resume his role as a legislator.

Hacienda Vice Minister Also Resigns
Silena Alvarado, Vice Minister of  Hacienda, also resigned her post yesterday, a week following the departure of her boss, Alberto Dent.

"Fischel" Scandal Continues
Channel 7, Telenoticias, is continuing to follow the money trail in the "Fischel" scandal, where it was uncovered on Saturday that for president Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier received $400.000 form Marchwood holdings, a company held by Fischecl president Walter Reiche and part of the funds from a Finland company that was to have purchased medical equipment for the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).

Former President  Calderón Ends his Seclusion from the Press
Following almost two days of reclusion, Rafael Angel Calderón, along with his lawyer, faced the press as he left his house Monday morning on his way to the San José courthouse.

More Blockades Possible Soon
And when you thought it said and done, leaders of the Movimiento Cívico Nacional are again threatening to take to the streets for more protests, saying that the government has not lived up to it's promises with respect to Riteve.

Did you Know?
Coffee was brought into Costa Rica from Cuba by a Spanish traveller, Navarro, in 1779.

Spain to support peace process in Colombia
The Spanish government is prepared to support Colombia "as much as necessary" to facilitate the peace dialogue with the guerrillas and the paramilitaries, said Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos on Monday.

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization to meet in Brazil
Foreign ministers from the member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) will meet on Sept. 14 in the Brazilian city of Manaus to discuss the group's Strategic Plan 2004-2012, local press said Monday.

Venezuela looks for oil partners in Iran, India and South America
After defeating the internal opposition in August recall vote, President Hugo Chavez opened the gates of country"s oil market - world"s fifth - to foreign investors. The two Asian nations started ahead.

Colombia seeks arrest of soldiers
Colombia's vice-president is said to have linked the union leaders with the ELN
The Colombian authorities have ordered the arrest of three soldiers and a civilian in connection with the deaths of three trade union leaders.

International News from the New York Times
 

HEALTH-LATIN AMERICA: Contrasts in Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies Colombia, caught up in an armed conflict and with a hard-right government that tends to clash with rights groups and other civil society organisations, nevertheless has fairly advanced sexual and reproductive rights policies. Bolivia, on the other hand, seems to be moving backwards in that area, despite its active social movement. "Colombia is a country of extremes, almost schizophrenic," the executive director of the Association for the Welfare of the Colombian Family (Profamilia), Maria Isabel Plata, told IPS in London. "We have a violent conflict whose effects are felt in rural areas and small cities. But we also have a very advanced constitutional, judicial and legal framework, which is a model for many countries," said Plata.

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