by Rod Hughes

The Central American Human Rights Commission has rejected a petition filed by former Costa Rican president Rafael Angel Calderon. The petition claimed his rights had been violated by his encarceration on corruption-related charges in October, 2004.

According to the Commission, Calderon failed to “exhaust all legal resources” in this country before filing for a hearing before the Human Rights Court. The organization confirmed to the newspaper that, “at this time, no petition exists” before the body, meaning that rejection is final.

Calderon was jailed briefly (before being released under house arrest) for his alleged role in the scandal that also ensnared a high officer of the Fischel corporation, an importer of medicines and medical equipment. The charges revolved around the import of public hospital equipment from Finland and evoked anger from the Finnish government that had approved funds for the transaction.

The expresident continued to influence his Social Christian Unity party even while under a cloud, but the party performed poorly in the 2006 elections. Part of the party’s woes stemmed from the court action against expresident Miguel Angel Rodriguez, also accused in a corruption case and also a member. Both former chief executives continue to protest their innocence and both have publicly played the victim to the press in an attempt to gain sympathy.

Calderon’s petition alleged that at the time he was jailed he had not been informed of the charges against him. His lawyer, Juan Carlos Rivero, maintains that his petition is not rejected but “suspended,” but the commission maintains it wiped the slate clean with a rejection.