"Si al TLC" Trade Supporters Demonstrate
Last week more than 20.000 took to the streets of San José to protest against the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States. Yesterday, pro TLC demonstrators took their turn.

Though thousands of people attended the demonstration supporting the TLC, an unusual event in a region better known for protests against,  it was far short of the those supporting the against movement.

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like "Yes to Jobs," and waving Costa Rican flags, the group of about 5,000 mainly workers and business owners urged Congress to approve the pact.

Costa Rica has yet to join the trade bloc with the United States. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have already joined.

"The free trade pact will create a lot of employment opportunities, more foreign investment and more choice for consumers," said Anabel Gonzalez, who served as a negotiator in trade talks and joined the demonstration Thursday.

Television and radio advertising make a point that the TLC will bring jobs to Costa Ricans.

President Abel Pacheco sent the trade agreement to Congress in October and should come up for discussion in the Legislature next month, before the Christmas break. The free trade deal is expected to go into effect in early 2006, but Costa Rica will have two more years to join.