Unions Say NO To CAFTA

Costa Rican unions reconfirmed their strenuous opposition to a free trade treaty with the United States, on the grounds it is a corrupt, neoliberal plan that will damage their society.

Speaking to reporters, the head of the powerful Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos (Anep), Albino Vargas, warned that what is in play is "the country´s politics," and so, he said "We will give our hearts, souls, and lives, and more, so that the TLC does not pass."

Vargas declared that the opposition to this Washington-pushed agreement, against Latin American national interests, is diverse, extensive and multi-sectored.

The union leader made it clear they were not condemning trade with the US, Costa Rica´s principal economic partner, but rather this particular negotiated "extreme" agreement that does not safeguard Costa Rican socio-historic and economic interests.

He commented also that he considers the recent reelection of ex President Oscar Arias as a media fraud and a technical coup.

The president-elect, an entrepreneur, who defeated economist Otton Solis by a margin of only 18,000 votes, comes to office under a cloud of misgivings by much of the citizenry, the union leader averred.

The trade deal with the United States is known locally as the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) and was negotiated by the current government of Abel Pacheco and supported by president-elect Oscar Arias.

The trade deal - CAFTA-DR - has been ratified by all the other Central American countries (Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador) and the Dominican Republic. Costa Rica is the only country yet to ratify CAFTA.

Earlier this week, president-elect Arias made the comment that it would easier to renegotiate the "Ten Commandments" than the trade deal with the U.S.