Here's a copy of a letter to the editor of AM Costa Rica

El Tranquilo · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:57 pm

Prolijo wrote:

And where do you think that the Chinese National Petroleum Company will be sending that fuel that they're refining? Do you think it is all for the CR market or do you think most of it will be shipped back to China to feed the energy needs of its factories and automobiles?. . . . That's a TRADE deal, not an no-strings AID deal.

It certainly is a trade deal and I agree with you that it may or may not be in CR's best interests. From what I understand it is a joint project with RECOPE (the CR petroleum monopoly) with shared profits. 100% of the product is supposedly for export to other Latin American countries. I think the CR government is also looking at it as an insurance policy for future supply here. They've signed a preliminary agreement and are still negotiating the final contract.

BlueDevil · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:17 pm

Prolijo wrote:

BlueDevil wrote:

Very poignant! The letter contains some over-statement for dramatic effect, but it certainly resonates. I can appreciate his perception of SJ vs Medellin. At least in Colombia, the government appears to be making an effort to contain crime. IMO, the same cannot be said about CR.

Two questions:

1) How many years and how many governments did Colombia go through before they finally began to respond effectively to their crime and security problems?

2) Perhaps Colombia has only made the serious effort that they have because crime had grown so much much worse than it has gotten so far in CR. Despite the more serious efforts that Colombia has relatively recently undertaken, is the crime situation really any better in Colombia than it is in CR OR does it only SEEM that way because it is not as bad as the HORRIFIC situation it once was? Sure, things are extremely safe on the streets of Medellin whenever and whereever they station their HEAVILY ARMED police/soldiers, but I'm sure there are still many places you don't want to wander around late at night just as there are in SJ.

Colombia is not totally safe by any stretch of the imagination. Throughout the history of this nation, since its independence from Spain, it has known only violence and civil war. Bombs still go off in major cities like Bogota and Cali, and many areas in the Colombian countryside are controlled by the leftist-guerillas (FARC) or the right-wing paramilitaries (AUC). Both of these organizations are fueled by money from the drug trade. The FARC also supplements its revenue stream with kidnappings and ransom. All Colombian governments have struggled with the perpetual violence and civil wars throughout the past two centuries. In 1999, then President Andres Pastrana declared a DMZ in the south of Colombia known as El Caguan in an attempt to negotiate peace with the rebels...this plan failed miserably. When President Alvaro Uribe came on the scene in 2003, he initiated an aggressive plan to bring some stability. It met with some success, but requires a strong police/military presence throughout the country. Colombia is relatively safer than just a few years ago, but even last year, the City of Medellin experienced a spike in murders probably due to turf wars among the various drug-dealing factions. When the right-wing, drug-dealing paramilitaries were demobilized a few years ago, a number of its leaders were imprisoned or extradited to the US for trial. That left a leadership vacuum which probably contributed to the new turf wars. Medellin is a beautiful, vibrant city, but has a dark-side that is very difficult to shed in spite of the government's aggressive attempts to get rid of it. I enjoy Medellin very much, but I do so with of caution. I know the safe areas...and also the unsafe barrios which I know to avoid.

Yes, the Colombian government is proactive with its efforts to contain crime and violence. At least it is not throwing up its hands and declaring "mission impossible." I just hope the successors to the Uribe administration continue to follow through.

TheMadGerman · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:28 pm **Posts:** 705

Honestly, I don't see much of a problem with organized crime in Costa Rica. Frankly, why would they want to come here. It's a country that is difficult to get around in, making it very difficult to use as a conduit for getting drugs from south america to north...

What would organized crime want with CR? That's basically been CR's primary saving grace for the lst 50 years, despite massive government coups all around it.

Costa Rica has taken the motto "Let's not be worth invading" to a new height.

Mucho Gusto · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:52 am

I don't know if this applies here or not, but on the way to the airport in Pavas this weekend (Tobias Bolanos), I saw a large park with piles and piles of raw construction materials stacked up. The driver told me that they were getting ready to build a 60,000 seat stadium, and everything was donated by the Chinese. This is the park on the left, before you get into Rohrmoser.

I don't know if this info is true or not, but on the way back to the gulch, a different driver confirmed it. Take it for what it's worth....

MG

Prolijo · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:21 pm

Mucho Gusto wrote:

I don't know if this applies here or not, but on the way to the airport in Pavas this weekend (Tobias Bolanos), I saw a large park with piles and piles of raw construction materials stacked up. The driver told me that they were getting ready to build a 60,000 seat stadium, and everything was donated by the Chinese. This is the park on the left, before you get into Rohrmoser.

I don't know if this info is true or not, but on the way back to the gulch, a different driver confirmed it. Take it for what it's worth....

MG

MG,
Apparently you missed this thread New stadium resembles huge vagina

Mucho Gusto · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:32 pm

Prolijo wrote:

MG,
Apparently you missed this thread New stadium resembles huge vagina

Ooops. lo siento. I guess I missed that thread. My bad ! :oops:

Orange · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:20 pm **Posts:** 12644

TheMadGerman wrote:

Honestly, I don't see much of a problem with organized crime in Costa Rica.

I have absolutely no fear about organzied crime in CR. It's the un-organized and dis-organized crime in San Jose that bothers me. :lol:

MarkL54 · **Joined:** Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:06 pm **Posts:** 654

costaricans are not organized enough to have organized crime.

Prolijo · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:02 pm

The criminal types that we most often encounter are the crack addicts and petty thugs, but where do you think those crackheads who are robbing us to support their habits are getting those drugs? Do you think crack just magically finds its way into the country? Or that its just smuggled in by various independent entrepreneurs? At some level there is definitely organized crime. It is just not at the level that normally directly touches us. And, Mark, the ticos MAY not be organized enough to have organized crime (personally, I wouldn't bet on that) but you can be sure that there are many Colombianos in CR who have PLENTY of experience at that. Also, there have been recent reports that the Salvadorean based MS13 gang has started to make inroads in CR.

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:33 pm

Prolijo wrote:

However, I'm a little curious about one of your other comments. Is the comment that a higher proportion of transito cops being corrupt based on some statistics you've seen or anecdotal based on your personal experience? Or is it logical conjecture based on the fact that Transitos are even less well paid than Fuerza cops, or less well trained and screened or that they have more opportunities for shaking down people by the nature of what they're responsible for (stopping motorists).

Pro, sorry for the delay. I was moving and did not get internet service back until this afternoon. I would classify my comments as anecdotal rather then empirical because they are based on experiences of myself and other residents who own cars rather then any published data.

I drive a very Tico car (92 Hyundai Elentra) and have only been stopped once. The offense was speeding, I was, and the Transito accepted a payment of the fine on the spot (5 mil). Others I know have had similar experiences and those who drive more upscale newer model cars get stopped with much greater frequency.

Transitos have a greater ability to solicit bribes based on their job. They routinely stop motorists and there is no one to stop and observe the dialogue between the motorist and the officer. On the other hand the Fuerza Publica officer has less opportunity to stop and question someone without a few pedestrians gathering around.

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:05 am

Some more evidence about the corruption in the Transitos. This article was in today's Inside Costa Rica.

Quote:

Lawyers, Engineers In The List Of People Applying For A Job At The TrÃ¡nsito Police

The possibility of becoming a traffic cop in Costa Rica seduces many Costa Ricans, as 3.400 people have applied for one of the 400 new positions created in the police force with the approval of the new Ley de TrÃ¡nsito that went into effect last December 23.

"We have received applications from engineers and lawyers" said GermÃ¡n MarÃn, the director of the TrÃ¡nsito police.

The director added that next week the first 80 officers will be hired that will start their duties before September 23, when the new traffic fines and regulations go into full effect.

MarÃn said he is not surprised at the high demand for a position with his police force, as the current financial crisis leads many to seek out jobs as police officials even though they have no training in the field.

Candidates must have a B1 license for a vehicle and A4 for a motorcycle and will be submitted to a 580 hour course on police work, which includes the use of firearms, attending the scene of an accident, traffic laws and ethics. Oh yes, candidates will have get instructions on how to operate one of the many tow trucks used by the traffic police.

However, a 30 year veteran of the Policia de TrÃ¡nsito has a different opinion as to why the large number people who want to join the force.

Official Alvarado told Inside Costa Rica that many applying have the idea that being a TrÃ¡nsito is a profitable venture, getting in, taking out as much cash as possible before being booted or getting out.

Alvarado, at the age of 60 and with the plum job of directing traffic at the San Jose airport, says he joined the force when he was 30 and admits there is corruption in the TrÃ¡nsito, but not as much as there used to be.

The drop in corruption, according to Alvarado, is mainly due to better salaries, better working conditions and tenure.

Alvarado predicts that many of the new officers will be disappointed and will leave the force within the first year. He cites his recollection of the last time the TrÃ¡nsito police force hired new officials a few years back, saying that of the 125 hired, only 25 are still on the job today.

The Human Resources department of TrÃ¡nsito will be taking applications on the road, visiting the communities of Puntarenas on March 18, Liberia on March 25, PÃ©rez ZeledÃ³n on April 1, Siquirries on April 15, San Carlos on April 22 and RÃo Claro, Golfito, on April 28.

Of course, applications can always be submitted at the TrÃ¡nsito La Uruca offices in San Jose.

Thirdworld · **Joined:** Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 4858

ID is right on target about the transitos.... From what I have seen there is definitely organized crime in CR. I can tell from the change in things on the street that there is a definite heirarcy (sp) in Jaco.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Here's a copy of a letter to the editor of AM Costa Rica

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