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A Golden Jubilee Charity Garden Party will honor British Queen Elizabeth II Saturday but it also will raise money for disadvantaged Costa Rican children. It’s turning out to be the social event of the month. You do not have to be British to go. The queen is celebrating 50 years on the throne, and the British Embassy and local British citizens here in Costa Rica will join in the festivities beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the residence of the British ambassador. The ambassador is Georgina Butler who said that the enthusiasm of the British community comes from "our admiration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her dedication, service and style throughout the 50 years of her reign are an inspiration to us all and we are immensely proud to join together to salute her and her achievements on this special occasion." The residence is in Escazú on the main road from Escazú to Santa Ana, just west of the Hotel San Gildar. The Costa Rican address is: de la AyA 300 mts oeste y 75 mts norte. |
The beneficiaries of the event will
be the Salvation Army and the Costa Rican Cruz Roja, according to the ambassador.
For the musical, the program includes a piper, Morris dancers, and the Country Day School recorder group. There is a play and games and activities. British classic cars will be on display, too. The program also suggests that a small pub will be erected for the event. Tea will be served on the terrace. A number of merchants have contributed goodies. The event is expected to run until about 2 p.m. Tickets can be bought in advance at the British Embassy in Edificio Colón on Paseo Colón (258-2025) or at the Baglemens' stores in Escazú and San Pedro as well as at the door on Saturday, according to a spokesman, Entrance is ¢2,000 ($5.50) for those 12 years and older, ¢1,000 for children 5-12 years and free for children 5 and under. Raffle tickets also will be sold to raise even more money for the Salvation Army and the Cruz Roja. |
Harris loses round
in Guatemalan trial By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Casa Alianza reports that the 12th Criminal Court of Guatemala has refused, once again, to rule that anyone other than journalists in Guatemala have freedom of expression and ordered that the trial for defamation against the group’s regional director continue this Friday. On the wrong side of the ruling is Bruce Harris, Casa Alianza's director who spoke out about the role of lawyers and other individuals involved in illegal adoptions in a press conference with the attorney general of Guatemala in 1997. As a result of the information presented by the Guatemalan Attorney General and Casa Alianza, a growing number of countries are now requiring obligatory DNA testing of Guatemalan babies and their biological mothers to assure that the baby is being given up by the real mother said Casa Alianza. More than 10 countries, including Canada, Ireland, Spain and Holland, have now banned adoptions from Guatemala as a result of the illegalities and lack of guarantees for the child being placed in adoption, the organization said. Guatemala now sends more babies per capita in international adoptions than any other country in the world, it added. Casa Alianza gave this summary: Susana Luarca, former wife of the president of the Guatemalan Supreme Court, accused Harris of defamation after his press conference with Attorney General Asisclo Valladares. Mrs. Luarca is an outspoken Guatemalan lawyer who has processed many adoptions. She did not file charges against the attorney general. The Guatemalan courts have kept the case in a criminal court which could deal out a five-year jail term for Harris. The court could have passed the case to a Printers Tribunal as Harris' lawyers argue is required by Article 35 of the Guatemalan Constitution which deals with freedom of expression issues. A Printers Tribunal can give a maximum sentence of 6 month's house arrest. "This case is about the right of people to speak openly and without fear about social injustice in Guatemala and also for people's rights to receive information about what is happening," said Harris." "If we had not spoken out about illegal adoptions in the Attorney General's press conference, there would be no DNA testing and the anomalies in hundreds of adoptions would have continued. This is the power of freedom of speech and this is why it must be protected at all costs". Harris will travel to Guatemala Thursday for the trial, which is open
to the public, the Casa Alianza statement said.
Ex-president ducks
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services MEXICO CITY, México — Former Mexican President Luis Echeverria has refused to answer questions regarding a 30-year-old student massacre, saying he will invoke his constitutional right not to testify about the incident. Echeverria, who was recently hospitalized for respiratory infection, was to have answered by Tuesday more than 180 written questions regarding the student massacre. The questionnaire was issued on the orders of special prosecutor Ignacio Carrillo. The probe is part of President Vicente Fox's quest to uncover rights abuses and corruption during the 71-year rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Carillo has already questioned Mexico City's 80-year-old former mayor, Alfonso Martinez, who is accused of ordering the massacre of about 30 student protesters in 1971. Martinez denies the charge. Echeverria, who was previously questioned regarding the massacre, has
said his conscience was clear about his involvement in the incident.
Dead woman ID’d By the A.M. Costa Rica staff A young woman who died after a party on a yacht in the Los Sueños marina over the weekend has been identified as Ivelca Concepción Chavarría Moncada. She worked in a Jacó nightspot and went with three coworkers to the party Sunday night, according to police. She is a Nicaraguan citizen, police said. They identified the owner of the yacht as Joseph Christopher Azzara, a U.S. citizen who has residency in Costa Rica. Investigators are not certain why the girl died. They only know that she lapsed into unconsciousness during the party and died later at a Puntarenas hospital. Toxcicology tests are pending. |
Violence erupts
again in Caracas By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services CARACAS, Venezuela — Disturbances broke out on the streets here late Wednesday after the Venezuelan supreme court voted 11-8 to reject a bid from the government to put four senior military officers on trial for their role in April's frustrated coup attempt against President Hugo Chavez. A crowd of several hundred Chavez supporters had gathered in the vicinity of the courthouse, on the edge of downtown Caracas, to protest against the anticipated decision. Pro-Chavez activist Lina Ron declared that if the decision favoured the officers, the demonstrators would occupy the court, "physically if necessary." As the decision became known, the demonstrators broke through a cordon of 120 police and threw bottles and rocks at a national guard riot squad. They were repelled with tear gas and birdshot. As clashes continued, a news cameraman for Venezuela's RCTV channel was shot in the leg, allegedly by pro-government demonstrators. The court's decision is seen as a key turning point in the opposition campaign to oust the leftwing president. Congressman Nicolas Maduro, of the ruling MVR party, said it marked
the beginning of a second coup — this time by institutional means. And
labour leader Carlos Ortega, a prominent opposition figure, said this week
would be a crucial one in the removal or consolidation of the president.
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