<strong>by Rod Hughes</strong>

A report by the police intelligence agency DIS to a special congressional investigating committee yesterday reveals damning evidence of frequent references to Costa Rican political figures in e-mail communications between leaders of the guerrilla/narco-terrorist group FARC, including glowing references to a minority lawmaker and an ex-president.

The report seems to back up former Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal’s controversial speculation that FARC may have penetrated the political scene here. The e-mails were downloaded from laptop computers captured by the Colombian army in its raid on a FARC outpost in Ecuador March 1. The raid killed 20 FARC soldiers including Raul Reyes, the organization’s number two official.

By mid-March Berrocal found himself fired by Persident Oscar Arias who even went on TV to disavow his minister’s statements. Testifying before the lawmakers this month, Berrocal did not reveal names of those with FARC connections. Yet, the DIS report says that the captured computers show some 36 messages involving such political figures as former President Rodrigo Carazo (1978-82), current Legislative Assembly Deputy Jose Merino, and a leader of the Costa Rican Electrical Institute (ICE) union Jorge Arguedas.

The DIS report also named the University of Costa Rica (UCR) Federation of Students president in 2001, Maximiliano Moreira, and a Public Employees Union lawyer Saul Umana. The computer files covered the period between 2000 and last November. Most of the allegedly damning messages were not directed to Costa Ricans but were commentaries about them.

"…(I)t will be seen how it goes with Jose Merino and others that come from the party," ran a text message from Reyes to FARC "chancellor" Rodrigo Granda on Feb. 11, 2002, "So it would be good to seek them (with patience) this way because the position of Carazo has been good toward FARC." (Carazo is one of the founders of the Social Christian Unity party and Merino heads a small minor party called <em>Frente Amplio</em>. This may have been an error of Reyes.)

A 2001 message from FARC official Marcos Urbano to Reyes reported, "We went to the University…to obtain contact and good relations with a group called GenteU that is now in the leadership of the Federation, especially with Maximiliano."

Carazo told <em>La Nacion</em> that he could not remember much about the circumstances of the Reyes message "because it was many years ago." However, he added that he met with many people at his home who "come to talk about things that have to do with peace." (Carazo turned a blind eye in the late 1970s to Sandinista military activity on the northern border in the revolution that overthrew Nicaraguan dictator Anastacio Somoza and has taken a number of positions farther left of his Unity party’s platforms.)

Legislative Assembly Deputy Merino admitted to <em>La Nacion</em>, "As a deputy, I talked with them. But after that time, I’ve never had contact with anyone considered a FARC member." Both Carazo and Merino say they were attempting to promote peace in Colombia.

But ICE union leader Arguedas may have more trouble explaining away this snippet from a communication directed to Granda: "Yesterday we talked with Jorge Arguedas…He promise us economic aid, in part, for the publication of the magazine." (Arguedas was unavailable for comment yesterday.)

Just when it appeared that the lawmakers’ FARC investigation was at a dead end, the DIS report drops a bomb sure to reverberate long and loudly, especially through such leftist organizations as the Public Employees’ Union (ANEP) and ICE’s union. This reporter can remember during the cold war being surprised to find a huge photo of Che Guevara on the wall of ANEP’s inner sanctum. But it is a big difference between that time and now: FARC is not a leftist guerrilla outfit any more but a drug-running machine willing to use hired killers and kidnapping to further its aims. This is not about ideology but about power through terrorist means.

by Rod Hughes

Alajuela’s Catholic bishop, Angel San Casimiro, lauded the Spanish-language newspaper La Nacion for uncovering allegedly illegal financial maneuverings with the use of its bank accounts. (See previous newsblog) Bishop San Casimiro continues to insist that the Episcopal Conference of eight bishops was unaware of any irregularities in the use of its pastoral funds.

Wednesday, the financial watchdog agency Sugef formally presented accusations that the Episcopal Conference had illegally acted as a stock broker without authorization of any regulatory agency. If proven, this violation of the Central Bank Codes carries a penalty of 3-6 years in prison.

San Casimiro thanked the daily paper on his weekly homily aired by the radio station Radio Monumental. In his radio talk, the bishop said the members of the Conference were not privy to the way the pastoral accounts were administered and are awaiting a decision of the courts on whether it will proceed with prosecution based on the Sugef report. Apparently, the watchdog agency warned the Conference in 2004 that its funds were being ullegally collected and administered as if it were an investment house but the violation allegedly continued.

by Rod Hughes

That “ïncentive” money Alajuela soccer players were paid to win in their final match of the season against Cartago will go to charity, decreed the Alajuela club’s hierarchy. The money was paid by Guapiles businessman Mario Villaplana so his club, Santos, might avoid being knocked out of the First Division.

But all was in vain. Santos was supposed to win its match to avoid being bumped down to the Second Division, but merely tied. Alajuela obediently won over Cartago. (If all had gone according to Villaplana’s calulations, it would have been Cartago knocked out of the division and into the equivalent of the bush leagues in baseball.)

The whole affair left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, but the ruling soccer body in the country, FEDFUT, has no rule about being paid a bribe to win, although all hell would have broken loose had they been paid to lose. The Alajuela front office held a press conference to announce its decision to order the players to give the money to a charitable institution.

To be fair, the “incentive” was hardly a king’s ransom. Originally it was reported as five million colons but Alajuela midfielder Harold Wallace said it was only four million, about $8,000 at the colon’s current rollercoaster exchange value. Presumeably, it would have been divided among the 25-player roster.

A message, proportedly from the players in on the deal, was read at the front office’s press conference begging pardon of Alajuela fans and the club’s board of directors. But midfielder Wallace, after the conference was over, was unrepentant and blamed the press for making it a big deal. “I haven’t committee a crime, I haven’t robbed anyone, I haven’t killed anyone. We made an error…In Mexico or Spain, these thing happen and not for $8,000 but much more… I continue to insist that, under the regulations, we did nothing wrong because it’s permitted,” he said.

Hummm… If it isn’t illegal go for it, eh?