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Environmentalists Get OK
To Collect Signatures
For A Referendum
"Muni" Planning
Street Parking Along Paso Colón
Frontier Offers Cheap
Seats To Costa Rica
Cheaper Gasoline
In January
Sole
Mating Grounds |
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Environmentalists Get OK
To Collect Signatures
For A Referendum
Costa Ricans may soon be
subjected to another
referendum if
environmental groups are
able to obtain the
133.000 signatures
required following
authorization by the
Tribunal Supremo de
Elecciones (TSE).
The environmentalists
are asking for a popular
vote to either approve
or reject the "Ley de
Protección de las
Obtenciones Vegetales"
and the "Convenio
Internacional para la
Protección de las
Obtenciones Vegetales"
that is currently before
the Legislative
Assembly.
Both proposed laws aim
to protect platn variety
in the country and form
part of the group of
laws that required
before the
implementation of the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States.
The TLC was decided by
referendum last October
7 and will be in place
by March 1, 2008,
allowing for time to
pass a dozen "parallel"
laws that aim to
strengthen state
institutions and
environmental concerns
in the face of foreign
competition.
Luis Antonio Sobrado,
president of the TSE,
announced yesterday the
decision that was made
by the Tribunal last
December 21.
The authorization allows
the environmental groups
to develop a form that
will be used to collect
the signatures of Costa
Ricans who support
holding a referendum on
the environment issue.
Each person's name and
cedula number must
accompany the signature.
According to the "Ley de
Regulación del Referendo"
(referendum law) passed
in 2006, any person or
group can ask the TSE to
hold a referendum. If
the TSE approves the
request, at least 5% of
the registered voters
must sign the petition
to hold a referendum.
The current number of
registered voters is
2.670.907, meaning at
least 133.545 signatures
are required before the
TSE can convoke a
referendum. |
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Fabián Pacheco, son of
former president Abel
Pacheco, forms part of
the environmental group
that will be collecting
signatures for a
referendum. |
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