01 March 2012

COSTA RICA / GUATEMALA : Prez. Chinchilla Changes Tune On Drug Legalization; Bonds Rise Under Perez.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-01/costa-rica-calls-for-debate-on-drug-legalization-amid-record-trafficking.html

      Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla...once strongly opposed to drug legalization...now says it merits 'serious' discussion as crime and violence soar in Central America...and in her Costa Rica.
      Even the new president of Guatemala...former general Otto Perez Molina...who campaigned on 'a strong hand' platform...surprised many when he supported drug legalization.
    (For More:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-01/drug-crackdown-fuels-guatemala-bond-rally-as-ex-general-s-taxes-fund-fight.html )
     Chinchilla said yesterday: "If we keep doing what we have been.. when the results today are worse than 10 years ago, we'll never get anywhere and could wind up like Mexico or Colombia."
     A new report shows that cocaine seizures in Mexico in the past 3 years are way down...from 53 tons in 2007 to only 10 tons in 2011...as narcos move their business to Central America because of stiffer Mexican enforcement and gang infighting.
     Costa Rica dismantled its army...in 1948.
    The USA strongly opposes any drug legalization.