The community of Nueva Cinchona will contain the population from three towns that were ravaged by the Jan. 8 earthquake.

Residents of Ujarráz and Cariblanco also will move into the town that is being built from scratch by the Ministerio de Vivienda and Asentamientos Humanos. They got their first look at a detailed model of the proposal Tuesday.

The design is by the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos. The proposal calls for an integrated community with housing, commercial space, an agricultural area, a service area, walkways and parks.

The land is 12 hectares (about 30 acres) purchased not far from the old Cinchona. Some three hectares (about 7.5 acres) have been held in reserve. The agricultural area is considered feasible for chickens, among others. The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias purchased the land. Officials envision the town being occupied by 1,230 persons or about 370 families.  all have been displaced by the Jan. 8 quake.

Ex-prisoner wins case
over illegal detention


One prisoner figured there was no reason for him to hang around his cell for three days after jailers got an order to release him. So he took his case to the Sala IV constitutional court.

The court agreed and ordered the ministry in charge of prisons to come up with a plan within one month so that prisoners are released rapidly when courts say they are free.

The case was of a man identified by the last names of  Godínez Carvajal.  He was a guest at the Dirección del Centro de Atención Institucional de Pérez Zeledón. A Cartago judge ordered his releae Oct. 2, and the person was notified the same day, according to a summary of the case provided by the Poder Judicial.

Despite the notification, it still took prison officials until Oct. 5 to release him. The man said in his suit that he considered himself to have been detained unlawfully for three days. Oct. 2 was a Friday and Oct. 5 was the following Monday. It appears the man was held because of the weekend.

That carried no weight with the constitutional court. Magistrates ordered the Ministro de Justicia, and its officials to come up with an internal plan to handle these situations within one month.

19 Latin nations, others
want Zelaya back in office


Leaders from 19 Latin America countries, Spain, Portugal and Andorra are calling for the reinstatement of ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya. The group issued a statement Tuesday after taking part in the Iberoamerican Economic Summit in Portugal.

The statement said returning Zelaya to power would mark a fundamental step toward returning Honduras to democracy.  The statement did not say whether the group recognizes Sunday's election in the Central American country.

Voters elected Porfirio Lobo, a wealthy rancher from the conservative opposition Partido Nacional. Neither Zelaya, nor the man who helped oust him in a June 28 coup, Robert Micheletti, took part in the poll.

Major Latin American countries like Brazil, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela have refused to recognize the results.

The United States said Monday the election was an important step forward, but was not enough to restore democracy to Honduras. Officials in Honduras say that Zelaya violated the constitution by attempting to hold a public vote on eliminating term limits. The congress there is expected to vote today on a negotiated agreement that would return Zelaya to office as the head of an administration of conciliation. His term ends in January.

The Iberoamerican summit primarily focuses on economic policies and technology, but it also has served as a platform to address other issues.