La Nación Burned In Protest of TLC
A group of union leaders, university and high school students and activists against the Tratado de Libre Comercio - free trade agreement with the United States - participated in various protests around San José, by setting fire to copies of the Spanish daily newspaper La Nación, which they feel is defending the with "cape and spade" the trade agreement that they consider is against the Costa Rican people.

Organizations like Costa Rica Solidaria, Las Doñas, Mar y Cultura and students demonstrated in front of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS), the Club Unión, at the foor of the statue of ex president León Cortés Castro, in La Sabana, in the park San Pedro de Montes de Oca, and other locations.

The TLC has brought a lot of controversy since it was first announced some two years ago. The Costa Rican population is divided on the issues, some feel it is a promise to better things, while others see it as the government selling of Costa Rican to foreign interests.

The private sector for the most part, along with the government support the trade deal, while the Partido Acción Ciudadana PAC) and the Partido Frente Amplio, along with unions and students have been very vocal against its passing.

The division, according to experts, was clear in the February 5 presidential elections. And to add to the controversy, the leaders of the Catholic church in Costa Rica have spoken of the problems that the agreement could bring to the country, especially for the small and medium sized farmers.

President Oscar Arias asked the Vatican for its support and to intervene in local church affairs.

Presently the trade deal is in the hands of the Comisión de Asuntos Internacionales de la Asamblea Legislativa (Legislative commission on international affairs). Arias has indicated to the commission the importance of the ratification of the agreement and to the country's economy.

Opposition to the trade deal vow that they will, again, next week begin with protests, though no details were announced. In the past, truckers slowed down traffic on the highways, teachers cut classes and students and government workers filled the streets in protest.

Costa Rica is the only signatory country to the agreement that has yet to ratify.