Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I decided to try something new (nothing else was working this year!) and put a photo in an ad for my rental. 

That was on Monday, by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday it was rented — not only that, the person rented it long distance.  After 10 years of renting apartments that's the first time that's ever happened.  I will definitely advertise with you and always put in a photo!  Thank you very much and keep up the good work.

The United States is condemning the bomb attacks early Tuesday against Spanish and Colombian diplomatic offices in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The bombings followed criticism of the two countries by President Hugo Chavez on Sunday for alleged meddling in Venezuela's political crisis. 

Venezuelan officials say the early-morning explosions at the Spanish embassy and the Colombian consulate were the latest in a troubling series of events in Venezuela since last week, highlighting the need for progress in dialogue between Chavez and the opposition.

The powerful blasts, within a 15-minute span, injured at least four people and caused material damage at the diplomatic posts and nearby buildings.

At a news briefing, Philip Reeker, a State Department spokesman, condemned the bombings and called for an "expeditious and thorough" investigation of the attacks, which he noted had followed criticism of the two governments, among others, by Chavez.

Reeker said the attacks, and other recent developments in the long-running political crisis, underscore the need for the Venezuelan parties to uphold an agreement they made only last week to avoid violence and curb political incitement.

Canada, too, has raised its concerns over the bombings.

The declaration was signed by the Venezuelan government and opposition parties in Caracas following talks facilitated by Cesar Gaviria, the Organization of American States secretary general, said a release from the Canadian foreign ministry. Under this peace and non-violence pact, all parties agreed to respect democracy and freedom of speech, and to condemn violence and work toward peaceful solutions, added the release.

The bombings came less than two days after Chavez had criticized Spain and Colombia, along with the United States and Gaviria for alleged interference in Venezuela's internal affairs. 

All of them had spoken out against the arrest last week of business leader Carlos Fernandez, a key figure in the two-month general strike against Chavez that faded out earlier this month. Another strike leader, labor federation chief Carlos Ortega has gone into hiding in the face of a warrant for his arrest.

Gaviria has been trying to mediate an end to the Venezuelan political conflict. The United States, Spain and Colombia are among members of an international "group of friends" aimed at supporting the negotiating process.

SANTIAGO, Chile — A judge here has indicted two former commanders of the country's feared secret police for the 1974 murder of exiled army General Carlos Prats. 

The judge Tuesday indicted retired General Manuel Contreras and his second-in-command, Pedro Espinoza on homicide charges. Three others, two ex-military officers and a civilian, Raul Iturriaga, Jorge Iturriaga and Jose Zara, also were charged with masterminding the crime. 

The five defendants deny the charges. 

Authorities allege the five men plotted the assassination of General Prats and his wife, Sofia Cuthbert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The two died in a car bomb explosion Sept. 30, 1974. They had fled into exile in Argentina following the 1973 military coup that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power. 

Report: Illegal narcotics  suppress economies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report by the United Nations' International Narcotics Control Board says that the most damaging effects of illicit drugs are on the long-term economies of developing nations. 

The Control Board's annual report recognizes that illegal drugs create serious social problems in developed nations. But the report says the stress on social problems often overlooks the major impact of illegal crop cultivation on economies. According to the annual survey, the production of cocaine and heroin is stunting economic growth in developing nations. 

Illegal crop cultivation can provide jobs for farmers and workers in processing laboratories, giving a short-term boost to developing economies. But the report finds the overwhelming share of profits made in the international narcotics trade are reaped by the nations where drugs are sold and consumed. The report says farmers who grow illegal crops earn one percent of the money ultimately spent on drugs while 99 percent is earned by narco-traffickers. 

Philip Emafo, the Board's president, cited Colombia as one example of a nation where economic growth declined in spite of increases in coca bush cultivation. Afghanistan, he said, is another example. 

"Evidence suggests that Afghanistan witnessed negative economic growth and instability from the time it first engaged in large scale illicit opium-poppy cultivation," he said. "In contrast, Pakistan recorded the strongest economic growth rate at the time when opium production declined significantly." 

Emafo said that global production of illicit drugs increased 35 percent in the last two years. Afghanistan is once again the world's largest opium producer, followed by Burma and Laos. 

Police to toughen up on drug accessories on net

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. law enforcement officials announced Monday a nationwide crackdown on sales of drug paraphernalia over the Internet.

The U.S. Justice Department announced that 55 people have been charged with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. A total of 45 businesses, from Pennsylvania to California, have had their inventories seized.

Under U.S. law, it is a crime to sell products that are mainly intended for the use of illegal drugs like marijuana and cocaine. These include items like marijuana bongs, or water pipes, and pipes and miniature spoons and scales for cocaine.

John Ashcroft, the attorney general, said Monday's crackdown targets what he calls the "explosion" of drug paraphernalia businesses accessible on the Internet.

"It is troubling enough for parents to realize that stores with these illegal products may be operating in their neighborhoods," said Ashcroft. "But it is even more frightening when parents understand that with a click of a [computer] mouse, a child's room or college dormitory could become a showroom in which drug paraphernalia merchants can advertise, market and sell illegal products."

Ashcroft says customers who want to visit some of their favorite drug paraphernalia websites are in for a big surprise in the days ahead. They will be automatically redirected to the website for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Youth dies in crash
that injured trio

A 17-year-old was killed, and three adults injured early Tuesday morning when their Nissan Sunny car flew off the road and collided with a tree, according to the Judicial Investigating Organization. The incident happened in Bagaces de Liberia.

Officials identified the injured adults with the last names of Garcia, 22, Calvo, 20, and Flores, 21. The name of the youth who died was not released. Officials said the youth died at the scene.

The injured adults were taken to a hospital in Liberia where they were retained as a result of their injuries. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m., said the officials.

Nightclub encounter
proves to be fatal

The Judicial Investigating Organization is looking into a possible murder in Pavas after a man died there Tuesday morning.

According to officials, the incident happened in Pueblo Nuevo de Pavas, a nightclub in Pavas, Monday night. Officials said the incident involved two people, the victim and the presumed assailant.

The victim, identified by the last name Badilla, 27, and the presumed assailant apparently had personal problems.

At some point the presumed assailant reportedly left the nightclub before returning again, said officials. It was at this time that the incident initiated as the pair began to scuffle. 

Badilla then received gunshot wounds to the back of his head and left shoulder, continued officials. The officials said Badilla died at the scene. The incident occurred at around 2:20 a.m. 

Shortly after the incident occurred, said officials, the presumed assailant surrendered to authorities and is being held.
 

Pedestrian struck down

Apparently unaware of a vehicle heading his way, a man in Tres Ríos was killed Monday night trying to cross the road.

The Judicial Investigating Organization identified the man by the last name of Barrantes, 49. Officials said that the incident involved an Isuzu Trooper, and occurred near Dulce Nombre de la Union.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños reassured the Organization of American States Tuesday that his government remains “firm and resolute” in its determination to fight corruption. 

He also urged international financial institutions to give more attention and economic aid to Central America. 

“My commitment to fighting corruption has been, is and will remain unyielding,” declared Bolaños at a meeting of the organization’s Permanent Council, reaffirming as well Nicaragua’s commitment to treaties to fight terrorism and arms and drug trafficking. 

Turning to the recent report on the diversion of Nicaraguan arms to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, President Bolaños said he had given specific instructions “for a thorough investigation at the national and international level, and trust we can count on the cooperation of countries that are friends of this Organization.” 

He lauded the Organization of American States for “the exceptional role it has played in Central America, particularly in Nicaragua,” and said recent Permanent Council resolutions were not only “an eloquent demonstration of efficiency” but also “a clear demonstration of the usefulness of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.” 

Secretary General César Gaviria praised Nicaraguans for their “great commitment to democracy,” telling the President: “Throughout these past 13 months holding the reins of Nicaragua’s destiny, you have demonstrated your commitment to transparency, honesty, austerity, and to a frontal and sustained campaign against all forms of corruption.”
 

Professional Directory A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor. Psychiatrists Dr. Luis Carlos Sancho Torres   bilingual psychiatrist (UCR) • consulting • depression  • schizophrenia  • psychiatric disability VA Affairs • evaluations for gun permits   • bipolar disorders • addictions  • methadone Available 24-hour a day children and adults office: 233-7782 beeper: 233-3333 lucasancho@yahoo.com Lawyers INVESTMENT RECOVERY CENTER Learn how to best protect your interests in the Villalobos case. Explore your options at http://www.irccr.net Also, we invite you to join one of the most active discussion groups on the case.  Find out what people who care are saying. Join at irccr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 2/16/02 tem Law Offices of Lic. A.A. Hernandez Mussio Attorney, Notary Public, Official Translator English and Spanish Specializing in Criminal  and Corporate Law Practice e-mail: legalxpt@racsa.co.cr www.forovial.com  Cell: 365-3088                                            San Jose, Costa Rica 132-5/29/03 KEARNEY-LAWSON & Asoc.       Lic. Gregory Kearney Lawson, attorney at law Villalobos and Savings Unlimited Collections *Investments  *Corporations  *Real Estate Sales in Costa Rica *Tax Shelters  *Immigration *Intellectual Property     *Business procedures *Family and Labor Law     *Locate People *Private Investigations        Ph/Fax: 221-9462, 394-7007 gkearney_lawson@hotmail.com attorneykearney@yahoo.com Real estate agents MARGARET SOHN  of Carico 15 years Costa Rican real estate experience Member of the Costa Rican Real Estate Association, Lic. #1000  Member, Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce margaret@caricohenderson.com www.realtorcostarica.com (506) 232-5016 home   (506) 233-8057 office  (506) 382-7399 cell  229-8/9/03 Investments Investigators Empresa de Investigadores Internacionales S.A. Telephone (506) 280-5217  FAX (506) 280-5120 P.O. Box 297-2100 Costa Rica Cédula Juridica #3-101-097681-32 investigators@prodigy.net johnniechaverri@policeone.com 112-5/18/03 Web Design Personalized Web Design •Hosting •Promotion •Logo Design Prices so reasonable they will astound you Call for a quote:  220-4602 www.alegria-webdesign.com We have over 12 years international experience 214-7/14/03

Changes in attitude are taking place among Villalobos investors in Costa Rica. More and more are fed up waiting for the fugitive financier to reappear and are leaning to strong police action.

Postings to a host of Internet discussion lists and individual comments on the street are less and less optimistic that the man, Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, will voluntarily return to Costa Rican and distribute the estimated $1 billion he holds in trust for his investors.

Privately, even some very close to the investigation and legal process confess their boredom with lack of a quick resolution to the case.

Villalobos closed up his Mall San Pedro office Oct. 14 and went into hiding. The best guess by police officials is that he is holed up on a heavily protected ranch in Nicaragua, although no one here knows for sure.

An effort to hire a lawyer by the United Concerned Citizens & Residents of Costa Rica has not reached its goal of $100,000. And no announcement has been made of a firm deal between the group and José Miguel Villalobos Umaña, the lawyer. The group had said it would sign an agreement this week, but others say the organization has not raised enough money to meet the demands of the lawyer.

The group wants to bring criminal and civil action against key members of the Costa Rican government and the judiciary in order to speed the investigation along. The group believes officially that Villalobos is innocent of wrongdoing and has been persecuted by bureaucrats working at the urgings of jealous bankers.

But as time goes on, more and more of the estimated 6,400 investors question exactly how Villalobos was able to pay up to 3 percent per month that he gave his investors. The manner of his business was supposed to be a secret, but some key judicial officials quickly agree that money laundering is the strong charge that Villalobos will face, that and a charge of fraud for what investigators say was a ponzi scheme in which investors were paid from their own principal in order to attract more investors.

However, a charge of illegal financial intermediation (being a broker) is likely to fail because investigators can’t seem to find how Villalobos was working as an intermediary. There does not seem to have been other parties borrowing the money, and this would be necessary for an intermediation charge to stick. That is the most minor of all the charges, and failure to prosecute on this charge actually would lend support to allegations of money laundering.

Villalobos has not been charged with anything, although an arrest warrant has been issued based on allegations of fraud and money laundering. In 

Some Villalobos investors were encouraged when investigators detained José Victor Poo, who had been hiding out in Panamá. Poo is a close associate of Luis Milanes, operator of Savings Unlimited, another high-interest operation that failed in late November when Milanes left the country with Poo. Some investors had money in both operations. Milanes may have taken as much as $260 million. He still is at large.

But if Poo could be run down and captured, there is hope for the arrest of the other fugitive financiers, the investors reason. And more are seeing the arrest and return of Villalobos as the best route for getting at least some of their money returned.

 A judge ordered Poo held Friday for four months of preventative detention while agents continue to investigate the Savings Unlimited disaster. Naturally, they will want to ask him if he knows the whereabouts of Milanes.

Another Villalobos group headed by Canadians is seeking to raise money to seek international arbitration under a treaty that was designed to protect investors from predatory governments. Even though some may agree with the spirit of the group, investors are becoming a hard group from which to solicit money.

The Canadians want to hold Costa Rica’s feet to the fire for failing to exercise oversight of the Villalobos investment operations. However, many of the investors were outraged when The Tico Times published stories about efforts by an elderly investor to recover his money from Villalobos in 2001. A similar reaction probably would have greeted any government effort to intervene in the highly informal investment relationship between Villalobos and his predominately North American clientele.

Despite the defections of some investors, a hardcore handful is keeping the faith. And faith it is because the Villalobos investment operation was closely tied to Christianity. He sprinkled biblical terms in his written messages and was a solid member of the International Baptist Church from which he recruited investors. 

One couple this week said they attributed a miraculous healing  of the husband two years ago to the fact that Villalobos agreed to pray for the man after he was badly burned. They are unshaken in their belief that Villalobos will return to distribute all the money he has in trust.

Others call this anticipated return of the financier "the second coming," a clear reference to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Christian theology.

Meanwhile, investigators are keeping a close eye on the comings and goings of Villalobos family members on the assumption that one or more are in contact with him.

This newspaper seeks the prompt return of two men who ran high-interest investment operations that have gone out of business.

Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, 62, was associated with Ofinter S.A., a money exchange house, and with his own private investment business that had about $1 billion in other people’s money on the books.

Villalobos closed his business Oct. 14 and vanished.

Louis Milanes operated Savings Unlimited and several casinos in San José. He left the country with other members of his firm the weekend of Nov. 23. He may have as much as $260 million in his possession. Both operations catered to North Americans.

Villalobos and Milanes are the subjects of international arrest warrants.  Associates of both men have been jailed.

A.M. Costa Rica has posted a $500 reward for information leading to the detention of either man with the hopes that others will make similar pledges. The newspaper believes that investors only will see some of their money when the two men are in custody.

Milanes has few supporters in San José. On the other hand, as the letters frequently on this page show, Villalobos still has supporters who believe that he will reappear and settle his debts. They believe he is in hiding because of a predatory Costa Rican government.