PANAMA Noriega Loses Appeal

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away the imprisoned former leader of Panama in his effort to fight pending extradition to France to face money-laundering charges.

The justices were Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega's last legal hope, and their refusal to intervene likely clears the way for his overseas transfer.

The onetime dictator of the Central American nation remains behind bars in a federal prison in Miami, Florida. He had been scheduled for release two years ago after his 1992 conviction on cocaine trafficking, racketeering and money-laundering charges, but France also has sought to try him on similar charges in that country.

Noriega's attorneys argued that under international law, his status as a prisoner of war should mean he can immediately return home to Panama or another country.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia dissented from the court's decision to stay out of the Noriega case.

A federal appeals court in Atlanta, Georgia, six months ago refused his petition for habeas corpus, noting a 2006 federal law does not allow Noriega to invoke the Geneva Conventions "as a source of rights" to demand his release from custody. Those treaties deal in part with repatriation of POWs after hostilities end.

Representing the 73-year-old Noriega, attorneys Frank Rubino and Jonathan May said that lower court ruling "undermines protections that apply not only to prisoners of war in the United States but to our own men and women who find themselves prisoners of war of other nations."

U.S. forces removed the ex-dictator from office during Operation Nifty Package, the 1989 invasion of Panama. Noriega had fled his offices and tried to seek sanctuary in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City. U.S. troops set up large speakers around the compound, blaring music at all hours, a psychological ploy to rattle the general. He eventually surrendered on January 3, 1990, and was quickly escorted to the United States for civilian trial.

After his drug conviction, Noriega was given POW status. His federal sentence, originally for 30 years, ended in September 2007 after time off for good behavior. But months earlier, the United States agreed to send Noriega to France. The Justice Department had ordered him held pending the resolution of his appeals.

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 prohibits anyone -- including U.S. citizens -- from going to federal courts and using treaties to secure their release or to block an extradition.

The final decision on when Noriega leaves the United States will rest with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Panama also has sought their former leader's extradition, but the United States has not honored that request.

Panama Martinelli approval rating remains high

Martinelli approval rating remains high
President Ricardo Martinelli has maintained a strong approval rating according to the results of a poll commissioned by La Prensa.

The poll found that 66.8 percent of Panamanians found that Martinelli's management is "good," and another 9.1 percent described it as "excellent." The poll found that 20.2 percent of those asked considered his management to be "bad" or "very poor."

The survey, which took place between March 12 and 14, also asked whether or not they agreed with the president's management style. The poll found that 61.6 percent of those asked agreed with his style, while 33 percent said they disagreed.

The poll found that 69.5 percent of those asked would vote for Martinelli if the election were held today, and 10 percent regretted voting for him. About 20 percent of those asked decline to answer.

When asked if they considered the government to have a clear agenda, 50.2 percent agreed, while 37.4 percent said that the government "was not ready and is improvising."

The survey polled 1,219 people throughout the country in face-to-face interviews that lasted an average of 25 minutes.

Panama Boarder with Costa Rica Two policemen face allegations of enaging in human trafficking at border

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff


Two Fuerza Pública officers are facing allegations that they helped smuggle Colombian women into the country.

The arrest of one policeman identified as Montoya Gómez was made by fellow officers at a control station in la Unión de Sabalito, said the Poder Judicial. Montoya was off duty but usually works at the control station himself, said the Ministerio de Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Pública.

The ministry said Montoya was in a vehicle heading north from the border with Panamá when he was pulled over. He and the two women passengers fled into the brush but were captured, officers said.
Later, the Poder Judicial said that a second officer, identified by the last names of Mora Otoya was detained with the allegation that he was the one who actually helped the two women cross the border. The woman carried passports that did not have the appropriate entry stamps, said the Poder Judicial.

Two women also were detained. They were identified by the last names of Muñoz González and Fonseca Moya. They are facing allegations of assisting in the trafficking of persons.

The two Colombian women were identified by the last names of Vargas Olarte and Vásquez Zapata, said the ministry.

Costa Rica Postal officials honoring those who died in Holocaust

Postal officials honoring
those who died in Holocaust

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Holocaust is not a myth in Costa Rica. The postal service has come out with a commemorative stamp honoring the millions who died under the Nazi yoke.

The stamp was issued on the International Day of the Victims of the Holocaust. The emission was done in conjunction with the Costa Rican Jewish community and the Yad VaShem Hebrew Holocaust martyrs organization.

The stamp is a simple Star of David outlined in barbed wire, evoking memories of the concentration camps where Jews and others were herded. The design is by Cristian Ramírez Vargas. The duotone background of the stamp contains stripes of the same colors of the uniforms worn by the concentration camp inmates.

Face value is 500 colons, about 92 cents.

The emission is a bold move by the Correos de Costa Rica because the executive branch is trying to repair relations with Muslim states, and some of the Muslim leaders deny that the Holocaust took place.

Hookers being recruited as intelligence operatives

Hookers being recruited as intelligence operatives
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The statement may seem very obvious, but customers of prostitutes should not provide a lot of personal information.

Some of San José's more expensive call girls report that they have been approached by individuals they think are Mexican with offers to purchase information regarding their customers.

In México, officials have discovered that the Zeta narco military force has made offers of from $400 to $800 to working women and men for information that may be useful in a crime. The narcos are interested in infiltrating public institutions, finding out which potential kidnap victim has ready money and a whole list of personal information on large groups of persons.

Costa Rican prostitutes say that similar efforts to obtain personal information have been made here.

Mostly unknown to the sex tourists who visit some of the local hotels is another tier of prostitutes who are involved with the movers and shakers of Costa Rican society. It is at this level that attempts have been made to obtain information
No one has admitted accepting the offers, and one individual said that $400 to $800 is not enough to destroy her business. She is one of those women who works from noon until 8 p.m. in places where the average expat cannot go. Patrons are mostly top businessmen, diplomats, judges and politicians. Discretion is the rule.

Sought are a whole list of information ranging from locations of bank accounts to the names of minor children. The questioners also are interested in the names of corporations in which the individual may have an interest. In addition to pillow talk, the questioners most certainly have taken advantage of the country's public record system that lists corporate ownership, vehicle titles, deeds and family relationships.

Some of the women who have been approached said that the volume of information that they receive is incredible because frequently their customers either simply want to talk or seek to feed their ego.

One woman said that she believed similar offers are being made to domestic employees who are situated much better to provide floor plans of homes and hourly schedules.