NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs articles from March 2001

NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs archives from March 2001

NICARAGUA: HIGH-PROFILE LEGAL CASES HINT AT POLITICAL MOTIVES & BRING JUDICIAL SYSTEM INTO DISREPUTE.
March 1, 2001... Ever since the two major political parties agreed in a formal pact to divide power in the judicial system (see NotiCen, 1999-12-31), the courts have shown an increasing tendency to act on political motives. Several recent court cases have shown...

HONDURAN CONGRESS ENDS 16-MONTH POLITICAL CRISIS BY ALLOWING RICARDO MADURO TO REGISTER AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
March 1, 2001... The National Assembly voted unanimously Feb. 22 to approve Ricardo Maduro's registration as a presidential candidate for the Partido Nacional (PN) in the November elections. The move appeared to end the 16-month political crisis caused when...

HONDURAS: U.S. CANCELS VISA OF HONDURAN DIPLOMAT.
March 1, 2001... In late February, the US cancelled the visa of Honduran diplomat Luis Alonso Discua Elvir and ordered him to leave the country by the end of the month. Discua, a retired general, is former head of the armed forces. He was appointed to his...

GUATEMALA: RUMORS OF A MILITARY COUP RE-EMERGE AS PRESIDENT ALFONSO PORTILLO FACES POLITICAL INSTABILITY.
March 15, 2001... Rumors of an impending coup to overthrow President Alfonso Portillo began last October and continued into March of this year. While some analysts suggest the rumors originated inside the administration, Portillo blames them on unnamed...

PANAMA: PRESIDENT MIREYA MOSCOSO ASKS LEGISLATURE FOR TAX REFORM, BUT PROSPECTS ARE DIM.
March 15, 2001... In her report opening the current session of the Legislative Assembly, President Mireya Moscoso addressed the issue of tax reform, which she regards as a crucial measure if the legislature is to correct one of Panama's chief economic problems:...

COSTA RICA: PRESIDENT MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ PRESSES SOCIAL AGENDA.
March 15, 2001... President Miguel Angel Rodriguez has moved aggressively this year with a batch of proposals for social legislation and has reversed the decline in his approval ratings that has dogged his administration. The spurt of activity in the social...

REGION: DONOR GROUP MEETS WITH CENTRAL AMERICAN LEADERS, CALLS FOR MORE REGIONAL INTEGRATION.
March 22, 2001... Central American representatives met in Madrid March 8, 9 to discuss development plans and aid funds with the Consultative Group for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America. Unlike previous meetings with the donor group, this...

REGION: FREE-TRADE TREATY BETWEEN MEXICO & NORTHERN TRIANGLE COUNTRIES GOES INTO EFFECT.
March 22, 2001... After a 10-year effort, the northern triangle countries of Central America will ease into free trade with Mexico between March 15 and April 15. Economy officials in the three countries--Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador--say their economies...

PRESIDENT MIREYA MOSCOSO SAYS PANAMA WILL NOT EXTRADITE TERRORIST LUIS POSADA CARRILES TO CUBA.
March 22, 2001... The Panamanian government has rejected Cuba's request for the extradition of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles and three others whom Cuba accuses of conspiring to assassinate President Fidel Castro. On Nov. 17, 2000, during the tenth...

CUBA: MIAMI WOMAN WINS JUDGEMENT IN SPY CASE, IS AWARDED MONEY FROM FROZEN CUBAN ASSETS.
March 29, 2001... Ana Margarita Martinez, a Miami women who married an alleged Cuban spy, has won a judgment of US$27 million against the Cuban government. The award is to be paid out of frozen Cuban funds, which has raised serious questions about US...

GUATEMALA: GOVERNMENT BAILS OUT THREE BANKS, MINISTER RESIGNS IN BANKING SCANDAL.
March 29, 2001... In less than a month, the government took over three private banks that had fallen into financial crisis. The subsequent investigation has led to accusations against close associates of President Alfonso Portillo and government officials who...

REGION: STATE DEPARTMENT & OTHER REPORTS PAINT A DISMAL PICTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2000.
March 29, 2001... The year 2000 was not a good one for human rights in Central America, according to year-end reports from human rights organizations and the annual evaluation by the US Department of State. Although some regional governments disputed the...