Social Groups To Protest
Tomorrow For the
Independence Of the
Courts From the
Executive Branch
Dozens of organizations
of the Movimiento Social
(Social Movement)
will be convening on
Tuesday in front of the
Poder Judicial de Costa
Rica, in downtown San
José, to demand the
magistrates of the Corte
Plena (Full Court) its
independence from the
powers of the State and
reject its alliance with
the Poder Ejecutivo
(Executive branch of the
government).
Rodrigo Cabezas and
Gerardo Fumero, two of
the main opponents of
the Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States - and
neoliberal policies,
explained that this is a
national "autoconvocatoria"
where all social
organizations will
participate.
Fumero regretted that
the Sala Constitucional
or Sala IV
(Constitutional Court)
has given a favourable
opinion on
laws that clash with the
Constitution, despite
the serious analysis of
Costa Rican lawyers who
warne of their
unconstitutionality.
Fumero added that the
Sala IV gave its
approval to Ley 1710
which modifies the TLC
agreement from what the
public approved in the
referendum of last
October.
"The law was approved in
the referendum and can
not be changed by
legislators it can only
be amended by the people
in another referendum.
The court action
contradicts popular
will" Fumero said.
Fumero added that the
protest of September 2
is also aimed at the
lies of Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias,
who said it was easier
to change the 10
Commandments than the
TLC.
He stressed that this
falsehood was
demonstrated when the
first amendment is the
power that is granted to
the Executive of the
United States for
certifying the document.
"This government has
served on a plate its
national sovereignty to
the U.S." Fumero said.
"In Costa Rica there is
no justice, no ethics,
we live in a tyranny in
democracy. The division
of powers of the
Republic does not exist
", said Rodrigo Cabezas.
"In times past it was
said that the president
was designated in the
Club Unión (a downtown
San José club of the
elite), but now the
president is designated
by large Central
American employers, with
ties to international
corporations and Mexican
telecommunications
tycoon, Carlos Slim",
said Cabezas.
"Tuesday will also be in
support of Catholic
priests like Ronal
Vargas, for his social
work in Guanacaste in
favour of the pople, as
well as work of father
(Gerard) Vargas in
Limon, a great social
fighter" Cabezas added.
Cabezas also stressed
that the protest is
against the immorality
of a Protestant Pastor
and Congressman, who
pocketed ˘90 million
colones to change his
vote in favor of the
TLC.
Both leaders called on
all citizens to
participate in the
peaceful protest that is
expected to attract
thousands beginning at
10am. |
