Costa Rica, Latin American News Bites

President Pacheco Urges Congress to Approve Tax Plan

"Hunger will be waiting us. We cannot continue to lose opportunities
like the present to resolve for once and for all our problems that have
caused, as Monse=F1or Barrantes pointed out, to exist in Costa Rica
several social and economic realities", said president Abel Pacheco on
national television, making one more call to Legislative Deputies to
approvel the Plan Fiscal (tax reforms).

The president made reference to the homage expressed by the Archbishop
of San Jos=E9 on August 2 at the Basilica de los Angeles in Cartago,
saying that there are three Costa Ricas - the rich, the poor and the
real poor.

"As as a Catholic, I listen and pay attention to the words of my
pastor... I will continue to fight against poverty and inequality...",
Pacheco said.

President Pacheco urged the legislative deputies to approve the Reforma
Fiscal Estructural, which will permit the future administrations to
count with financial resources which have been denied his government,
all which will be required to combat poverty.

The President added that the words of the Monse=F1or should move the
consciense of the deputies, who have in their hands the responsibility
and the constitutional power to make the decisions to close the social
gaps in Costa Rica.

President Pacheco reminded his audience that in the year 2000, the
Legislative Assembly, approved a contingency plan that would last into
2003, with the promise that in 2004 the new Plan Fiscal would come into
effect. However, that has not been the case.

President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, added that the international
prices of crude oil and the ensuing high gasoline prices have greatly
affected the cost of living in Costa Rica and that the approval of the
Tax Plan is imperative.

COMMENT: Like all other socialist idiots, he doesn't understand
economic reality at all. When governments RAISE TAXES they LOSE
REVENUE! And for such a small country as this, the VAT would be a
total disaster! It would send foreign corporations and ex pats fleeing
for the exits so fast, they might even leave before Pacheco's term
expires! Not only that, but his stupid connection of the global price
of oil is a total non sequiter, and has nothing at all to do with his
imbecilic tax plans. Furthermore, hidden away in this nefarious piece
of excrement is a provision that would repeal Costa Rica's bank secrecy
laws, which will mean even more capital flight. Far from doing this
country any good, this plan foisted on Costa Rica by the ilk at the IMF
would utterly bankrupt this entire country. What this country needs is
to cut spending to the bone and live within its means -- something this
government has NEVER been able to do!


Pacheco May Water Down Costa Rican Tax Package

It has emerged that President Abel Pacheco is prepared to water down
one of the more contentious aspects of the long-delayed fiscal reform
package in order move the legislation through Costa Rica's legislature.

Under the tax plan, Costa Rica's taxpayers will be required to pay tax
on income earned worldwide, whereas under the current territorial
system only income earned within the country's borders is taxed.

However, Pacheco met with legislative leaders last Thursday when it was
decided that foreign income would only be taxed if it was remitted back
to Costa Rica.

First proposed in 2002, the fiscal reform package intends to raise some
$500 million in additional revenues, pay off the country's growing
foreign debt, and reduce the deficit to 2.65% of GDP through a series
of tax hikes and improved collection methods. However, it has remained
bogged down in the legislative assembly ever since despite attempts by
government supporters to force through the reforms.

COMMENT: This piece of trash doesn't need watered down -- it needs to
be FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! This "plan" will quickly bankrupt this
country.


Notables Report Due Today
The first report of the Comisi=F3n de Notables who is studying the
Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) with the United States is due today.

President Abel Pacheco is set to meet with the leader and voice of the
Notables, Franklin Chang Diaz.

The comisi=F3n is made up of several key Costa Ricans who will make a
full report within 60 days to the government.

Along with Chang, former UCR director Gabriel Macaya, scientist Rodrigo
G=E1mez, Catholic priest Guido Villalta, and lawyer Alvar Antill=F3n will
be making the recommendations.

Chang said last Friday that the TLC - approved or not - is sparking
debate over the changes necessary in Costa Rica. "I believe that
perhaps this will help us develop a little more, to fix our ship that
has suffered damage over time".


130.000 Waiting for Cellular Service

Claudio Berm=FAdez, subdirector of telecommunications at the Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad, says that the waiting list for cellular
telephone service tops 130.000.

Berm=FAdez said that ICE hopes to satisfy the demand beginning the end
of October of this year when the first 200.000 of the 600.000 cellular
lines of the new GSM service will be made available.

At present there are no TDMA or GSM cellular lines available.

To get connected to the cellular network - one the lines are available
- a subscriber will be required to post a deposit of =A212.500 colones
(us$25.75) and have a receipt for the telephone equipment and copy of a
utility bill and a copy of their 'cedula'.

Foreigners and visitors to Costa Rica who do not have a residency
cedula cannot subscribe to cellular service.


US Interference in Nicaragua Must Cease, Say Opposition Groups

Nicaraguan opposition deputy Agustin Jarquin demanded the cessation of
continuous US interference in Nicaraguan domestic affairs.

Jarquin, a member of the National Convergence, a collection of groups
allied with the Sandinista National Liberation Front, told Prensa
Latina that US governments and officials "interfere and complicate
Nicaraguans=B4 search for understanding."

He pointed out that intervention by US special envoys and the US
Embassy in Managua is "illegal and inappropriate, violates law and
sovereignty and creates a lot of complication."

He stated that instead of looking for solutions to the political
crisis, they try to weaken the strength of the Front and the National
Convergence by provoking confrontation, they create polarization to
generate tension, and they complicate matters when Nicaraguan groups
sit down to talk things out.

He said that the Nicaraguan government blindly obeys the orders of the
White House without looking at the serious problems of the population,
which are the product of its own neo-liberal strategy.

Jarquin said in the 19 years of mandate of those "democratic
presidents", social differences widened, and most of the country's
capital is concentrated in a minority while more than 70 percent live
in poverty.

"In spite of the "dirty campaigns of disinformation" against the FSLN,
the population feels defrauded because the rulers did not satisfy their
needs, instead they intensified them," Jarquin noted.

=BFThe local elections in November 2004 showed this, as the National
Convergence won 87 of 152 mayor offices, including Managua," he added.

"The Nicaraguan people accept our project against poverty, and for
equality and social justice, and the Sandinista Front is ready to
listen to all suggestions and proposals to improve the quality of
life," he stressed.

He concluded that each day brings them closer to victory for the 2006
elections, with social projects to benefit all people, without
exclusion.


Venezuela to suspend cooperation with DEA

Venezuelan President Hugo Chaves on Sunday suspended its cooperation
with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing the agency
of using its agents for espionage.

Chavez said at a press conference, "we have been detecting intelligence
work against Venezuelan government carried out by the DEA."

"Under these circumstances, we decided to shut down these agreements.
..=2E. The US DEA is not essential to the fight in Venezuela against
drug-trafficking. We will keep working with international organizations
against drugs," he said.

Venezuela is an major hub of smuggling routes for cocaine and heroin
from Colombia to Europe and the United States. The US and Venezuela had
agreed until recently to work together in the fight against the drug
smuggling industry. However, foreign security officials say the two
countries' relationship has been strained by mistrust and corruption.

Political relations with the US government have become more and more
tense since President Chavez came to power in 1999. He ended joint
military operations and exchanges with the United States and rdered US
military instructors out of the country on April 22.

The DEA suspension adds further tension to Venezuela's already tenuous
relations with the United States.


Atlantis proponent
next forum speaker

The lost island of Atlantis may have been here in Costa Rica according
to author and professor Ivar Zapp. Zapp is the next scheduled speaker
in the monthly speaker's forum at Big Mike's Place in Escaz=FA. His
speech is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.

The one-hour talk is called "Traces of an Unknown Civilization." In
1940, workers in southwest Costa Rica were clearing land for the United
Fruit Co. when they stumbled upon stone spheres as large as nine feet
in diameter buried in the earth. According to Zapp, the spheres were
used by the Huetar Indians for navigation. Zapp said that the spheres
prove that the skill of the Huetar in finding such out of the way
places as Easter Island and the Falkland Islands was on the same level
as that of the ancient Polynesians.

His speech will be about the process that lead to his book "Atlantis
in America." Zapp came to Costa Rica 33 years ago as an artist. He
was invited by the University of Costa Rica to give a lecture on art.
Afterwards, he said, officials invited him to be a professor. He said
that he had had an interest in the spheres and often included them in
his paintings. So when the University offered him the chance, he
decided to find out what purpose the spheres served. His speech will
be about that research, he said. He is convinced that not only were
the spheres used for directional astronomy but also that the spot in
southwest Costa Rica where they were found is Plato's lost island of
Atlantis.

Entrance is 1,000 colons, a bit more than $2. Guests are invited to
arrive at 6:30 p.m. to sample the snack bar and refreshments. For more
information call 289-6333, 821-4708 or Mike at 289-6087.