Costa Rica: A gang called "Los Sitio" and protection available to victims of this gang (2003)

No information about a gang called "Los Sitio" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to a 7 February 2002 article that appeared in La Prensa, Francisco Ruiz, an official with the Judicial Investigation Organization (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial, OIJ) stated there has been an increase in youth gang violence in Costa Rica. The OIJ official added that, in his opinion, this increase has resulted from the "massive presence of foreigners, especially Nicaraguans" (resultado de la presencia masiva de extranjeros, especialmente nicaraguenses), "who have a more aggressive profile" (tienen un perfil mas agresivo) (La Prensa 7 Feb. 2002).

Walter Navarro, the director of the Civil Police (Policia Civil) stated that the problem of youth gangs is complex because of the national and international legal framework that protects and provides various rights to minors (ibid.). In Navarro's opinion, these rights "have served to create impunity" (han servido para crear impunidad) because minors know that they can commit crimes without receiving the same sort of penalties that adults would receive (ibid.). Navarro also noted that the problem of gangs has been aggravated by the increase of alcohol and drug consumption, and that gang activity has increased in areas of where poverty is prevalent (ibid.).

In an article of 10 September 2002, La Nacion reported two separate attacks on young people by "youth gangs" (pandillas juveniles) in Ciudad Quesada, San Carlos. Furthermore, Edgar Hernandez, regional director of the Public Force (Fuerza Publica), stated that there were at least five youth gangs operating within the neighbourhoods of Angeles, Cedral, Gamonales, San Juan, La Margarita, and Cruz of Ciudad Quesada (La Nacion 10 Sept. 2002).

According to an article of January 2003, two women vacationing at the Hotel Arbolea in the town of Manual Antonio were allegedly attacked by a gang of youths known as the "Teletubies" (AM Costa Rica 8 Jan. 2003). The gang is reportedly well known in the community of Quepos, a town located near Manuel Antonio, and its members "have been terrorizing the streets for years, and usually target tourists or foreign residents" (ibid.). In addition, Denis Chinchilla Araya, also known as "Nene," is generally referred to as the leader of the gang and "inspires fear in most people in the community" (ibid.). Although Chinchilla and seven other youths were questioned and released by police with regard to the attack, an official with the OIJ said "he is optimistic that justice will be carried out in this case" (ibid.).

For more information on gang violence in Costa Rica, please refer to CRI38217.E of 22 January 2002. Please also refer to CRI40288.E of 7 November 2002 for general information about state protection available to victims of crime, and CRI40796.E of 21 January 2003 for information on witness protection in Costa Rica.

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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

AM Costa Rica [San Jose]. 8 January 2003. Garett Sloane. "Gang Beat, Bit and Nearly Dorwned Women." [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

La Nacion [San Jose]. 10 September 2002. Carlos Hernandez. "Pandillas juveniles asaltan a ninos en San Carlos." [Accessed 19 Feb. 2003]

La Prensa [Tegucigalpa]. 7 February 2002. Serapio Umanzor and Carlos Giron. "150 mil pandilleros han sembrado el terror en Centroamerica." [Accessed 19 Feb. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites:

Bufete Umana y Asociados

Casa Alianza

Comision para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CODEHUCA)

Tico Times [San Jose]

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