By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

On Wednesday, Mariano Figueres Olsen, 59, died. He was the former Director of Intelligence and National Security, known as DIS.

Figueres was the son of the three-time former President of Costa Rica José Figueres Ferrer (1906 - 1990).

His mother Karen Olsen Beck is an architect, sociologist, politician, and diplomat of Costa Rica. Originally from the U.S., she was a nationalized Costa Rican.

The death of Figueres Olsen was released by his family. "We appreciate the love we have received from so many people. If it were humanly possible we would call each person who shared with our dear son, brother, father, uncle and dear friend," they said in its statement.

President Carlos Alvarado gave his sympathy saying "I express my condolences at the death of Mariano Figueres Olsen. Strength to his family and loved ones."

The brother of Figueres Olsen, Jose Maria who was also former president in the period 1994 to 1998. His sister Karen Christiana, a former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, arrived in the country on Wednesday to attend the funeral.

The Figueres Olsen family reported that Mariano's funeral honors took place on Wednesday, in his hometown of La Lucha.

Today at 11:00 a.m., the mass will be held in the Culture Hall of La Lucha, then the body will be cremated.

According to the family's statement, Mariano Figueres requested his ashes to be set next to the grave of his father, José Figueres.

The Figueres have been founders of the social democratic party in Costa Rica.

According to the biographical novel of José Figueres Ferrer, written by historian Arturo Castro Esquivel, in 1948 he was the leader of the so-called Revolution of 48.

The Revolution of 48, was a civil war that ended with the creation of a new Political Constitution.

In 1949, Figueres Ferrer, as head of the governing board, nationalized the banks, decreed the abolition of the army, legalized the female vote and did away with racial segregation towards people of African-American descent.



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