Costa Rica S.A., TLC Documentary Draws Controversy
A documental about the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - the Central America Free Trade Agreement with the United States - called "Costa Rica S.A." produced by a Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) professor has unleashed a controversy between those pro and opponents of the trade agreement.

The controversy has reached the point where the director of local television channel 15, Carlos Freer, has come under pressure not to air the program again.

Freer said that he received a letter signed by ex-negotiators of the agreement, Anabelle González and Alberto Trejos, who promise to take legal action if the documental is aired, saying it contains insinuations  and false statements.

The 40 minute documentary was produced by Pablo Ortega, a professor of general studies at the UCR, helped by a number of the Escuela de Cine (film school) and financed by the Cinergia (Fondo de Desarrollo de Proyectos Audiovisuales en Centroamérica y Cuba).

The documentary has been aired twice already on the local channel that is not carried on cable because of the calls received by television viewers and social institutions." I don't remember when another program has generated such interest in people", said Freer.

Freer said that the documentary refers to the acts of the negotiators and does not deal into their private lives and sees no need to censor it.

"We are a university channel free to offer different points of view and topics that interest the viewing public. We have given don Ablerto and doña Anabelle to speak in favour of the TLC without editing, Everyone has had the possibility to offer their opinion and we will not be scared", said Freer.

Freer did not announce when the documentary will air again. It is however available online to anyone who has an internet connection and has space on their computer for the large 700MB file.

To documentary is available online for download at: http://costaricasa.tendenciadigital.com/

Gustavo Sánchez, one of the producers of the documentary, explained that the video is based on an investigation by professor Ortega and explains the negative repercussions that the trade agreement will have for Costa Rica. The documentary also criticizes the acts of the negotiators and the "fat" bank accounts they have following their resigning government positions.

Trejos and Gonzáles are not talking publicly on the issue.