Legislator Questions Possible Arms Factory
Legislative deputy, Oscar López, of the Partido Accesibilidad Sin Exclusión (PASE), is questioning the eventual establishment of an arms manufacturing plant in Costa Rica.

According to the legislator, the company has already purchased land in Puntarenas and is finalizing plans for setting up shop.

The legislator says that the Raytheon Company pretends to establish an arms production factory in Costa Rica to produce war arms in Paquera, Puntarenas, and is waiting on the approval of the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States - to being production.

López assures that the international company, manufacturer of the "Patriot" and "Tomahawk" missiles used by the U.S. armed forces, has already registered the property and is currently registering its trademark in the country.

The legislator assures that the company will be manufacturing arms for use in war, including computer programs to be used by the U.S. armed forces.

In a press release, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, assures that he will ascertain what the aspirations of the company are and if in fact they will be manufacturing arms, the government will deny them permits.

The president, in addition, is insisting that the Legislative Assembly approve laws to prohibit arms production and distribution in the country.

However, López is not easily convinced by the president's words of assurance and is asking why then did the official government publication, La Gaceta, recently published regulations over the operations of factories, including arms manufacturing factories, and signed by the Ministra de Salud (Health Minister) and President Arias.

López said he will be making a motion for a legislative commission to investigate the installation of such a factory in Costa Rica.

"Costa Rica, a country without an army, and of a Nobel Peace prize winner who is speaking of world disarmament and negotiated a deal with the United States (TLC) to allow arms manufacturing. I will not allow this in my country. I will be the first with my stick and mallet to tear down such a factory", said the legislator.

López is also questioning the law firm of Gutiérrez, Hernández y Pauly who should give explanations of how they took the obligation to register the arms factory and that Rubén Hernández is a close advisor to the government on Constitutional matters and how Alberto Pauly, a partner in the law firm, was also the owner of the land that was sold to Raytheon for us$125.000.

López is asking for an immediate intervention by president Arias.

"If Oscar Arias doesn't take matters in the case, he will be the most cynical president in the history of the country because in one hand he goes to the UN to talk about disarmament, while on the other he allows the installation of a giant warm arms production facility. It is not right he remains with his arms crossed", said López.

For his part, the Ministro de Comercio Exterior (Foreign Trade minister), Marco Vinicio Ruis, assures that no one has informed his ministry of any installation of an arms factory in Costa Rica.

"I have no knowledge of the arrangements, at least none has been brought forth before my ministry. We cannot control what the parts manufactured here are used for, however, I see no company establishing itself here to produce arms for war", said Ruiz in a press statement.

"On a personal level, I say we are not a country to facilitate that type of business. If we are asked for an incentive to use a free trade zone (zona franca) for such use, they will be denied", added minister Ruiz.