A prosecutor told youngsters going through an academic/disciplinary program in Orotina that they were old enough to leave on their own, according to a mother of one of the teens. And at least eight did.

Investigators raided the Dundee Ranch Tuesday in search of something wrong, mostly on the criminal complaint of Susan Flowers, whose daughter, Nicole, 15, was being held at the ranch. Both are U.S. citizens as are most of those at the ranch.

Ms. Flowers does not have custody, and the child was sent to the ranch by her father, who is in the United States.

Meanwhile, Casa Alianza said in a press release that it was satisfied by the search of Dundee Ranch after eight months of complaints.

The bulk of the complaints came from youngsters who were so out of control that their parents sent them to the private correctional facility or, as in the case of Mrs. Flowers, persons who were unable to maintain custody of their children in U.S. courts.

Casa Alianza downplayed the flight of the youngsters. But Ms. Flowers sent an e-mail to those who had followed the case:

"When the district attorney went there to talk with Nicole because of the petition I filed with the criminal court, he told the teens that if they were 15 through 19 in age, in Costa Rica they were free to leave Dundee. 

"Front page [of Spanish newspaper Al Dia] has pictures of the kids running the f--- out of Dundee. On the inside is one of the owners Narvin Litchfield watching $240,000 worth of teens, 8 x $30,000 per teen, walking down that despicable dirt road. They were laughing and crying, carrying their pillow cases with their belongings. Pray these pictures get sent around the world."

Ms. Flowers said that some of the children, perhaps as many as 30, ended up with the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia and others were still on their own.

"Dundee is officially closed.  The American Embassy is taking phone numbers from parents," said Ms. Flowers.

Joe Atkin, director of the ranch, said in a news story last Oct. 25 that the facility has housed around 200 youngsters in the last 14 months. He said most are there because they are rebellious, manipulative or involved in marijuana. The camp is part of a network that is based in the United States where it also is controversial. 

According to its Web site, the Academy at Dundee Ranch program consists of behavior modification, a series of highly motivational emotional growth seminars, a progressive academic curriculum and a structured daily schedule that includes daily personal development courses. Dundee Ranch has an extremely progressive academic program that is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, said the Web site.

Casa Alianza said it had received a series of complaints from various parents, who feared for the physical and emotional integrity of their children, who were held there. Casa Alianza's Legal Support Office in turn informed the director of the Patronato, Rosalía Gil, several weeks ago, it said.

The ranch is in La Ceiba de Cascajal de Orotina. Casa Alianza and regional director Bruce Harris helped bring a case with Ms. Flowers before the Sala IV constitutional court. They alleged that the rights of Nicole were being violated, although how was not specified Wednesday.

The Sala IV did not agree, rejected the case and remanded it to family court, Casa Alianza said.
So Ms. Flowers presumably filed her criminal complaint, probably under the direction of Casa Alianza. As a result of the criminal complaint, investigators from the Judicial Investigating Organization, a judge and the prosecutor visited the camp.

Casa Alianza noted in its release that the girl, then 14, was taken to Dundee Ranch against her will from her home in the United States.  In
letters to her mother, the girl wrote: "Please, whatever, take me out of here, please," said Casa Alianza. Casa Alianza did not say if it had contacted the father of the child who is in the United States and was the parent paying the bills. The father, as the parent with full custody, has the right to dictate where his child lives.

Ms. Flowers, a psychologist, came here months ago and worked at odd jobs in beach communities to enable her to stay near her child.

In describing what prompted his organization’s interest in Dundee Ranch, the Casa Alianza release explained; "To enclose children in tiny rooms on their knees or stomachs for hours is cruel and inhumane treatment and needs to be investigated by the authorities." The release gave no further details.

President Abel Pacheco has asked the prime minister of Canada to help speed up the extradition of Jorge Martínez, the former public employee here who is facing up to 12 charges relating to official actions. 

Costa Rica has been trying to get the man back since September 2000, but he has claimed religious prosecution, among other defenses, and used a multitude of legal maneuvers to prevent that from happening.

Pacheco sent a note to the Canadian Embassy here, according to Marco Vinicio Vargas, the acting foreign minister. The letter was addressed to Jean Chrétien, the prime minister.

Martínez is believed to be in Ottawa.

Body at hospital
probably bandit’s

The body that ended up in a car in the parking lot of Hosptial San Juan de Dios Tuesday night was that of a holdup man who was shot by his would-be victim.

At least that is the most reasonable explanation that agents of the Judicial Investigating Organization were able to reach.

They said that a man was parking his car at his home in Villas de Ayaco in Tres Rios Tuesday night about 8 p.m. when he was confronted by two armed men who demanded the car and threatened the man, his wife and daughter.

Agents said that as the bandits were taking the car, a relative of the victim stepped out of the house by coincidence, and the two men began shooting in the direction of the building, thinking perhaps that they were threatened.

The victim and the owner of the car then pulled a 9-mm. pistol and began firing away at the bandits who by now were riding in his the victim’s car.

Seconds later the two men were seen leaving the victim’s car and getting into a vehicle that had brought them to the area in the first place. It was this second car that showed up a half hour later in the hospital parking lot. The dead man inside has been identified as Angel Pizarro Espinoza, 24, who suffered a bullet wound in the chest.

Investigators also said they found ski masks and a pistol.

Greenspan upbeat
on U.S. economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Central Bank Chairman Alan Greenspan Wednesday offered a mixed but ultimately positive assessment of the U.S. economy, suggesting that growth is likely to pick up in the months ahead. Greenspan appeared before the congressional Joint Economic Committee.

Greenspan said businesses remain reluctant to invest or hire new workers. However, he said the pace of growth may be quickening as the positive effects of a fall in energy prices and the end to the Iraq war take hold. The central bank, he said, needs further economic data to fully assess future prospects.

"The economy continues to be buffeted by strong cross-currents," he said. "Recent readings on production and employment have been on the weak side. But the economic fundamentals, including improved conditions in financial markets and the continued growth in productivity, augur well for the future." 

The U.S. economy has been growing at under a 2 percent annual rate. Expectations are that growth will accelerate to a 3- to 4-percent pace in the second half of the year.

Greenspan acknowledged that there is a threat of a general decline in the price level known as deflation, a phenomenon that has kept Japan in or near recession for a decade. However, he said the threat of deflation in the United States is still minimal. 

"To recognize this not as an imminent threat to the United States, but a threat — even though minor — is sufficiently large that it does require very
close scrutiny and maybe, maybe action on the part of the bank," he said.

Greenspan said deflation is essentially caused by weak consumer demand. Despite 40-year low interest rates, he said the central bank still has the policy tools to further stimulate consumer demand.

The 77-year-old Mr. Greenspan declined to comment on the recent sharp declines in the value of the dollar, saying that was the job of Treasury Secretary John Snow.

International members of the Hash House Harriers, a running and drinking organization, are arriving in San José for a weekend of their chosen activities.

About 1,000 persons, runners and spouses, are expected.  Events also will take place at Orosi, around Playa Herradura and near Santa Ana. 

The non-competitive runners usually end each day of their annual gathering with a dinner. The event, called the Interamericas, runs through Monday and is hosted by Costa Rica’s Hash House Harriers.
 

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. Lawyers Adolfo Rojas Breedy Breedy Abogados S.A. —Attorneys-at-Law— Since 1957. Best experience in: • Real Estate Transfer of Title and Title Search • Business • Investments • Commercial & Civil Litigation • Corporate Law & finance • Capital markets Law • International Taxation (506) 233-7203/221-0230          breedy@racsa.co.cr Web page:  www.breedy.com 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 232-8/16/03 Arcelio Hernández Mussio, Lic. Attorney at Law, Notary Public Official Translator Corporate, Criminal, Constitutional, Family Practice. Property title searches and transfers. Official English/Spanish translation & interpretation We also offer the following services in association with Morning Star Investments CRI, S.A.: *Real Estate Investment opportunities *Money Management *Accounting Services e-mail: legalxpt@racsa.co.cr           Web: www.forovial.com Cell: 365-3088  132-5/29/ 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, 841-0007 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 info@realtorcostarica.com www.realtorcostarica.com (506) 232-5016 home   (506) 233-8057 office  (506) 382-7399 cell  229-8/9/03 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

Star Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam is scheduled to tee off in a U.S. men's Professional Golfers Association Tour event today in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ms. Sorenstam, 32, has won 43 tournaments in nearly a decade on the women's golf circuit. She was dominate last year when she won 13 times, winning close to $3 million.

Now, Ms. Sorenstam is doing something no woman has done in 58 years, playing in an official men's PGA Tour event. She received a sponsor's exemption to play here in the Colonial tournament, meaning she did not have to qualify.

Ms. Sorenstam received a number of offers to compete in men's tour events this year. She chose the Colonial because she believed it best suited her game. "This is a very tricky golf course, don't get me wrong," she said. "But it's a golf course where strength and distance is not as important as all the other tournaments that the guys play. This is more of [the type of layout] where you need good course management." 

That means the emphasis is more on placement when hitting the ball off the tee rather hitting long drives. Her landmark appearance in Texas is drawing huge interest from around the world. Nearly 600 media credentials were issued to cover this tournament, or more than three times the usual number. It's become more than just a sports story, especially in light of the controversy surrounding last month's Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, which is played at a golf club that has refused to admit any women members.

It's rained much of the past couple days here in Fort Worth, so she has not had much time to practice on this course. And she knows the wet conditions will be a factor.

"The course is obviously playing much longer [the 

Because of the rain, Ms. Sorenstam was able to play only 10 holes Wednesday when the professionals were paired with amateurs, in what is called the Pro-Am. David Darnell was her amateur playing partner. He described playing with her as a lifetime experience.

"We had a lot of fun. We had a good time," he said. "And Annika played extremely well, under certainly tough conditions today with it wet and raining. But she hit it strong and she was around the pin all day, and it was very impressive."

For her first two rounds here at the Colonial, Sorenstam is paired with two rookies on the PGA Tour, Americans Dean Wilson and Aaron Barber.

Wilson has had two top-ten finishes in 12 tournaments this year, while Barber has cracked the top-ten only once in 13 events. Sorenstam has been in the top-ten in all five LPGA events she has entered this season. The Swede has earnings this season of $555,000. That is more than $100,000 better than Wilson ($441,000) and more than twice as much as Barber has won ($239,000).

The two men were paired with Sorenstam by a computer which selects groups based on class of player. Wilson and Barber are both in the lowest category, and Sorenstam was placed in that class because she is not a PGA Tour member. 

Both say they are Annika Sorenstam fans and Barber thinks her skills are good enough that she can beat anybody. 

Sorenstam has said she'll consider this effort a win if she shoots par, which is 70 for 18 holes. 

NEW LONDON, Conn. — President Bush unveiled a new international service initiative known as Volunteers For Prosperity, a program to enlist and deploy highly skilled professionals such as doctors, nurses, computer specialists, engineers and educators to countries around the world to promote global prosperity.

He made the announcement in a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Under Bush's plan, volunteers will be matched through USA Freedom Corps with non-governmental organizations working through the Millennium Challenge Account, the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Digital Freedom Initiative, the Water For the Poor Initiative, the Trade for Africa Development and Enterprise Initiative, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative. The initiative calls upon professionals to be deployed for a limited period of time.

The executive director of USA Freedom Corps, John Bridgeland, told reporters that there are several organizations "prepared to accept skilled volunteers, for example, to work in hospitals to help prevent and treat AIDS patients, through City Links partnership to deploy individuals from city governments to help work on clean water and sanitation projects."

Millions of dollars in new federal funding will be awarded to non-governmental organizations to implement the president's program. The organizations will then be responsible for paying for the volunteers and using those resources as leverage to solicit additional private contributions.

Bush also restated his commitment to double the capacity of the Peace Corps from 7,000 to 15,000 volunteers over the next five years.

"We remain on track to do that," Bridgeland told reporters. He said interest in the Peace Corps is greater than ever, noting that while there have been 183,000 requests for applications by Americans who want to serve, only 7,000 slots are available at this time.

Another of Bush's international volunteer service programs, the Digital Freedom Initiative, has more than 40 computer specialists, called the Geek Corps, currently working as volunteers in Senegal. 

The program is designed to help 360,000 small businesses in Senegal grow with the introduction of information technology. The Bush administration plans to expand the initiative to 20 countries throughout Africa.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — First lady Marta Sahagun de Fox, wife of President Vicente Fox, is lashing out at the authors of two books about her that include some accusations against her and her sons. She took her case Wednesday to a popular public affairs television program hosted by a clown. 

Sitting in a television studio in Mexico City across from her host, a man who calls himself Brozo and wears a red bulb nose and a green hair wig, Marta Sahagun calmly answered the charges leveled against her in the books. She denied any abuse of power and she denied any abuse of public resources by her son, who is accused in one book of having used the presidential plane to fly to Houston with friends. 

Above all, the Mexican first lady defended herself and her family from what she called unacceptable intrusions into their private lives. 

She said the private life of a public person should be left out of such publications. By private life, she said, she means anything about the intimate details of one's life that have nothing to do with affairs of state. 

Besides respecting the personal life of a public person, she said, it is also important to tell the truth and this, she said, is her principal complaint with the books about her. 

The two books about the first lady are "La Jefa," or the boss, by Argentinian writer Olga Wornat, and "Marta, el destino de una mujer enamorada," in English "Marta, the destiny of a woman in love," by Mexican journalist Rafael Loret de Mola. 

Marta Sahagun is a former English teacher from the central state of Michoacan who served as press secretary to Fox during his presidential campaign. The two married in a civil ceremony in July 2001, ending months of speculation about their relationship. 

Both are conservative Catholics, but both had been married previously, and the church is opposed to remarriage for those who are divorced. They attempted to have the Vatican annul their previous marriages, but were turned down. 

One reason some political commentators here believe the books have come out is that there has been frequent mention of Ms. Sahagun as a possible presidential candidate to succeed her husband in the 2006 election. The author of "La Jefa," Olga Wornat says that the first lady's political ambitions and her status as a public person make her fair game for scrutiny and that this includes both her private as well as her public life. 

So far, the controversy has had little effect on the first lady's public image. Public opinion polls show that she remains popular and her charity work and efforts to help women have earned her strong support among many grassroots social movements that could prove helpful if she does indeed have political aspirations.