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Costa Rica: Allegations of financial mismanagement, homosexual activities, narcotics trafficking and collusion with OIJ officers made by Parmenio Medina against Father Calvo

Sources consulted by the Research Directorate report that Parmenio Medina, host of the popular radio show "The Kick" (La Patada), publicly questioned the acquisition and fiscal management of Radio Maria by Father Calvo (EFE News Service 20 July 2001; CAR 12 Sept. 2002; RSF 3 July 2002). RSF also stated that Medina claimed to have seen Father Calvo "...in the company of a young man in a park frequented by homosexuals" (6 Nov. 2001).

According to RSF, Medina revealed unidentified new information about Father Calvo on his radio show in May 2001 (ibid.). Medina was assassinated on 7 July 2001 (RSF 3 July 2002). In August 2001, La Prensa Libre (quoted in RSF) reported that:

according to a source in the courts, Medina had been caught in the middle of a war between drug traffickers. While he was investigating a well-known individual, the journalist had uncovered information on the laundering of money by an important drug cartel. Medina was allegedly killed after the cartel realised that he was receiving information from a rival mafia organization (6 Nov. 2001).

No specific reports that Medina accused Father Calvo of narcotics trafficking or colluding with OIJ officers could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Central American Report (CAR). [Guatemala City]. 12 September 2002. "Costa Rica: Financial Questions Threaten to Add to Scandals Rocking the Catholic Church." (Inforpress Centroamericana 12 Sept. 2002)

EFE News Service. 20 July 2001. "Costa Rica: Press Suspects in Murder of Journalist in Costa Rica are Released." (NEXIS)

Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF). 3 July 2002. "7 July 2001-7 July 2002: First Anniversary of the Assassination of Parmenio Medina." <http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=2862> [Accessed 8 Oct. 2002]

______. 6 November 2001. "Protest Letter: Four Months After Journalist Parmenio Medina's Murder, His Assassins Are Still At Large." <http://www.rsf.org/rsf/uk/html/ameriques/cplp01/lp01/061101.html> [Accessed 8 Oct. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection (WNC)

Latin America Press

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International (AI)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

El Heraldo

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)

La Nacion

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)