Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANJOSE2808
2005-12-08 22:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTRY REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO

Tags:  PGOV PREL CS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002808 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO
SHOOTING OF COSTA RICAN NATIONAL


UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002808

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO
SHOOTING OF COSTA RICAN NATIONAL



1. On Thursday, December 8, post received a letter from the
Costa Rican Foreign Ministry regarding the December 7
shooting death of Costa Rica-born Rigoberto Alpizar in Miami
International Airport. Alpizar reportedly is a dual U.S. and
Costa Rican national.


2. Translated text of the letter follows. Begin text:

San Jose, December 8, 2005
DVM 219-05

Excellency,

I have the honor to address Your Excellency to refer to the
death of a Costa Rican citizen, Rigoberto Alpizar-Medina, who
passed away yesterday in Miami, Florida, as a consequence of
an action by the security staff assigned to the city's
international airport.

This event has caused grief to the Costa Rican public; on
behalf of the Government of the Republic, I request,
Excellency, official information on the circumstances of the
tragedy. Likewise, the Government of Costa Rica expects that
the proper procedures will take place to establish what
happened and to assign responsibilities.

I thank you for Your Excellency's attention to this note, and
avail myself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of
my distinguished consideration and esteem.

//signed//
Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira
Minister a.i.

His Excellency Mark Langdale
Ambassador of the United States
San Jose

End text.


3. The shooting featured prominently in all local media,
including front-page coverage in four of the five national
daily newspapers. Costa Rican press has been objective in
its coverage of the shooting, so far sticking to reported
facts and interviews with family members resident in southern
Costa Rica. Post will continue to monitor local media for
editorial and/or critical commentary on the event.


4. Late Thursday morning, President Abel Pacheco, a
psychiatrist by training, was quoted on the Web site of the
leading daily newspaper, La Nacion, as saying he would seek
an investigation into Alpizar's death. He is quoted as
saying that Alpizar's death could be attributed to
"collective paranoia" in the United States.
LANGDALE