The Ethics Attorney’s Office of Costa Rica is investigating a possible case of corruption involving the vice-president, Alfio Piva. The Coordination Network on Biodiversity and COECOCEIBA- Friends of the Earth Costa Rica filed a claim against Piva for suspecting that the official used his public position to fundraise for the National Institute of Biodiversity (INBIO). This institution is dedicated to bioprospection, and it is accused of biopiracy in indigenous territories.

In May Piva visited South Korea in his capacity as a public official, where he obtained a 1 million-dollar donation for INBIO. The institute, which is linked to biopiracy transnational corporations such as Merck and Biodiversa, was founded and chaired by Piva for many years.

“INBIO’s name is used to provide environmental support to private business”, activist Grace Garcia, of Coecoceiba- Friends of the Earth Costa Rica told Real World Radio’s correspondent and member of the same organization, Henry Picado.

In a joint press release issued yesterday, the Coordination Network on Biodiversity and Coecoceiba and Coecoceiba say this “the attitude of Vice-president Piva is regrettable, as he is using his public position to help his friends”. “The business or friend relations with top officials re used to take advantage of public resources for private interests. And all this happens at a time when the government of which Piva is a part of, claims to be undergoing an economic crisis”, says the release.

Meanwhile, the Costa Rican courts are investigating former president Oscar Arias and former Minister of the Environment and Energy, Roberto Dobles, both accused of having issued a decree in 2009, which enabled mining transnational corporation Industrias Infinito to cut down several hectares of forest in Crucitas district, in Alajuela province. That decree declared open-pit gold mining a “national convenience and public interest” activity.

The ongoing investigation has information that Industrias Infinito, favored by the former Costa Rican administration’s resolution, donated funds in the 2006 elections to Fundacion Arias para la Paz, of former President Arias.

Dobles was also the main responsible in late 1990 -2000 of all the hydrocarbon concessions granted in the country, which cover up 20% of the national territory.

Photo: http://www.patriagrande.com.ve