Students Charge: Costa Rica Represses
Costa Rica is applying a strategy of systematic and indiscriminate violence against those who object to Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - (the free trade agreement with United States -  the Student Alternative Movement denounced Friday.

The student report asserts that, desperate to legalize the agreement despite opposition from the majority of Costa Ricans, including religious, civilian, political institutions, an undercover dictatorship was established.

In his message to the public, previously published by Tribuna Democratica daily, university student leader Luis Paulino Vargas suggested an evaluation of the most effective method to face the government of Oscar Arias in whatever space.

The promoters of the treaty are using all possible violence, and becoming more recalcitrant and "feverish," denounced Vargas.

The university student leader noted the criminality implicit in the intransigence of the government by ignoring any sign of rejection, and the police violence against those university students who are members of the anti-TLCmovement.

The trade agreement is expected to be tabled in the Legislature this coming week. The government is looking to have the document approved by a majority of legislators and put in place by next month.

Costa Rica is the only Central American signatory country that has yet to ratify the agreement. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have all put their agreements into action.