NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs articles from February 2002

NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs archives from February 2002

COSTA RICA: INSURGENT THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE OTTON SOLIS FORCES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION INTO RUNOFF.
February 7, 2002... For the first time in a Costa Rica election, voters will go to the polls a second time to elect a president. The Feb. 4 election was not only indecisive, but the sudden rise of the insurgent Partido Accion Ciudadana (PAC) candidate Otton Solis...

GUATEMALA: CIVIC GROUPS & FORMER GUERRILLA ORGANIZATION DEMAND COMPLIANCE WITH 1996 PEACE ACCORDS.
February 7, 2002... Guatemalans are debating the government's record on compliance with the 1996 peace accords, which attempted to restructure the social, economic, political, and military shape of society. During observations of the fifth anniversary of the...

NICARAGUA: GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL AGAIN INVESTIGATE FORMER TAX COLLECTOR BYRON JEREZ AFTER U.S. REVOKES HIS VISA.
February 7, 2002... Byron Jerez, former head of the Nicaraguan tax revenue agency (Direccion General de Ingresos, DGI), is under investigation in the US for possible money laundering. After US authorities revoked his visa, the Nicaraguan government's auditing arm...

CUBA COOPERATES WITH U.S. ON PRISONER TRANSFER TO GUANTANAMO NAVAL BASE.
February 14, 2002... A surprise move by the Cuban government to cooperate with the US in its transfer of Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners to the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay has led to speculation that a thaw in bilateral relations in underway. Though the State...

NICARAGUA: PRESIDENT ENRIQUE BOLANOS IS IN LEGISLATIVE CONTEST WITH ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ARNOLDO ALEMAN.
February 14, 2002... Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos completed his first month in office Feb. 10. During that time, he moved quickly to place his legislative agenda before the National Assembly, as former President Arnoldo Aleman, now Assembly president,...

GUATEMALA WINS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN WASHINGTON CONDITIONED ON COMPLIANCE WITH 1996 PEACE ACCORDS.
February 21, 2002... Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo's administration took home from Washington a commitment from the international donor community for US$1.3 billion in credits and donations--US$800 million less than expected. While the administration tried...

EL SALVADOR: FMLN REFORMERS CONTINUE STRUGGLE AGAINST ORTHODOX FACTION FROM OUTSIDE THE PARTY.
February 21, 2002... Defeated in the battle for leadership of the Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN), the party's reformers (renovadores) find themselves outside the party as six reform deputies explore an alliance with minor parties within the...

CUBA: MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX STIRS CONTROVERSY BY MEETING DISSIDENTS DURING FENCE-MENDING VISIT TO CUBA.
February 28, 2002... During a one-day visit to Cuba Feb. 3, Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada and Cuban President Fidel Castro attempted to repair relations damaged in recent years. From all accounts, both leaders were satisfied with the progress made in...

PANAMA: OPPOSITION ASSAILS ADMINISTRATION FOR SIGNING TWO AGREEMENTS WITH U.S.
February 28, 2002... The major opposition party is criticizing the administration of President Mireya Moscoso for negotiating two agreements with the US. One opens the nation's banking system to US inspection and the other extends US rights to engage in...