After 4 years of investigation, the trial for the murder of journalist Parmenio Medina has begun.  Extreme security precautions are evident, since there is police protection for the accused, the witnesses, the judges, and the attorneys. 

9 men are charged in the case, including Father Minor Calvo and entrepeneur Omar Chaves, who are accused of being the intellectual authors of the murder.

The first day was dedicated to procedural formalities.  The reading of the accusation for one.  Also, the defense attorneys plead for the removal of handcuffs for their clients during the court sessions. This motion was granted, however the motion for the suspects to have paper and pens for taking notes was denied.

For the 3rd consecutive year, the City of San Jose will revive the tradition of throwing confetti along Central Avenue.  Hotels, shops and other businesses give their clients and pedestrians bags of confetti to throw as they walk along window shopping on the avenue. The selling of confetti is prohibited. 

The activity will run from December 8th through the 23rd. Every day different musical groups will play for the confetti throwers. 

The Chamber of Construction, College of Architects, and the Council of Real Estate Developers is studying a proposal for taking CONAVI (National Roadways Council) and the Finance Ministry to court. The case would be based on the fact that CONAVI takes over 1 year to award contracts for projects that are approved.  The Finance Ministry has withheld tax money specifically collected for CONAVI, despite a decision by the Supreme Court ordering it to release the funds. The developers believe that the state of the road network is a national emergency, and most Costa Ricans would agree.

The Superior COuncil of Education has decided on 4 new majors for students at some of the country’s high schools.  Rural Tourism, Call Center Executive, Customs Administration and Accounting for Small Business will be offered during the 2006 school year.

Rural Tourism will be taught at San Pablo of León Cortés, Santa Cruz and La Fortuna of San Carlos technical high schools.

Call Center Executive is a profession geared to meeting the demand for call center employees in Costa Rica.  The specialty will be taught in INVU High Las Cañas, Monseñor Sanabria, COVAO, Santa Ana, Heredia, San Sebastián , Dos Cercas, Mario Quirós Sasso y Jesús Ocaña.

Customs Administration will be given at Corredores, Puntarenas and INVU Las Cañas.   Accounting for Small Business will be taught at Los Chiles, Sabalito and Golfito technical high schools.

Yesterday, the delivery of the new cell phone lines was more normal.  34,000 lines had been delivered connected between Monday night and Wednesday afternoon.  Orlando Cascante, head of Mobile Services at ICE explained that "The system is new for the distributors and we didn’t know how it would work until we had a live test. During the day today, we have improved its functioning. "

In San Pedro, the ICE agency only had 10 people in line at 11 am. The Tibas office had even less. So if you’ve been waiting for this, pounce!

Insure Your Cell with INS
The National Insurance Institute has brought to the market a cell phone insurance plan that you can get when you activate your line.  You can also buy it from registered agents.  You only need the electronic series number of the device (IMEI)

Costa Rican Rigoberto Alpízar Medina (44) was shot dead by authorities in the Miami Airport while boarding a flight to Orlando.  His wife, US citizen Anne Beuchner, was involved in the tragedy also.  Apparently Rigoberto suffers from bipolar disorder and was acting erratically as passengers were boarding the plane.  His wife tried to explain to fellow passengers and air marshals that Rigoberto had manic depression and had not taken his medication.  Mr. Alpízar became more upset and fled the plane.  At the boarding gate, he was challenged by undercover air marshals and became more upset.  The marshals order him to go to the ground and when he reached for his carryon bag they shot him.  Witnesses say that his wife returned from the jetway apologizing to fellow passengers and trying to explain that her husband was sick. Passengers aboard heard 4 or 5 shots.

According to James Bauer, head of the US air marshal service in Miami, at some point Alpízar suggested that he was carrying a bomb in his backpack, before moving his hand towards the bag.

"The threat escalated," Mr Bauer added, explaining why the marshals then opened fire, killing Alpizar. Police boarded the plane and ordered fellow passengers to brace themselves against their seats with their hands on their heads. Sniffer dogs checked passenger luggage on the airport tarmac. Controlled explosions carried out on Alpízar’s luggage confirmed he was not carrying a bomb.

There was no indication of any link to terrorism, but federal air marshals were deployed in airports around the US as a precaution, Mr Bauer added.

Relatives said Alpizar and his wife had been on a working vacation in Peru. A neighbor who said he had been asked to watch the couple’s home described the vacation as a missionary trip.

Alpízar’s family here and in laws in the US are in shock.  Anne and Rigoberto met here in Costa Rica when she came here to study.   Alpízar had  worked here as an assistant manager at the Más x Menos in Hatillo 6. For the last 2 and a half years he was working in Home Depot, in the paint department. 

Rolando Alpízar, one of the dead man’s brothers, told reporters that "el Flaco"  (Slim) was very caring and had been in Costa Rica in July of this year and also last December. "In July he came here alone.  Dad, (Carlos Alpízar, of Río Claro Golfito) needed to have some tests done for his heart condition.  He took him to San José and everything was fine." 

In 2004 he came with Anne, they rented a car and went to the beaches in Guanacaste and visitied his father in Río Claro. His mother has been dead for 11 years. 

"We are all very hurt. All of my children are good, but he was special. Never in my life could I expect news like this.", said the 72 year old don Carlos.

Chancellor Roberto Tovar stated that the Costa Rican government would seek more details over the incident and would try to see if the family needed any assistance. 

"He was Not a Terrorist"

Why?  Rolando Alpízar Medina was still asking himself this question about the death of his beloved brother.  Who always stayed with him when he came to Costa Rica. He is absolutely certain that his brother "is no terrorist", as some news reports indicated.  He added that one of his brother’s passions was running, a sport that they both practice, also his love of la Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. "He was cheerful, a kidder, and very close to his family".