Costa Rica seeks UK help on missing journalist

LONDON, England – Commenting on the case of missing British journalist Michael Dixon, Costa Rican foreign minister Rene Castro has said: “We will welcome the co-operation of the [British] police and we will be open to share whatever clues we have and we will not hesitate in opening the door to the specialised and very well equipped police to work with us.”

He noted that “Costa Rican police is ill-equipped… it doesn’t have proper training. It doesn’t have modern techniques.”

The minister added that unless the country takes action on the increase in organised crime in the region, Costa Rica will “lose the tranquillity and the security for which we are known.”

Castro made the statement in an interview with the Brussels-based news agency EUobserver in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on 31 May. His remarks were reported by the BBC on 7 June http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9485099.stm

The Dixon family has written to British Prime Minister David Cameron asking for his help to send a Metropolitan Police Authority mission to Costa Rica.

Michael’s brother, David Dixon, said: “We are still waiting for the response from Downing Street. In the past, the British police have told us they cannot get involved unless they are invited by Costa Rica. Now we have an invitation at the highest possible level. We expect Prime Minister Cameron and the British authorities to react positively in the coming days.”

Michael Dixon vanished after leaving his hotel room in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, on 18 October 2009.

Twelve other foreign nationals have either gone missing or were murdered in Costa Rica in the past 18 months. Most of the cases have gone unsolved.

TRANSCRIPT of RENE CASTRO INTERVIEW: http://www.helpfindmichaeldixon.com/update/euobserver-interview-costa-rican-foreign-minister