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Costa Rica Fears Chávez'
Interference
The Costa Rican government
launched Tuesday night an
official campaign to endorse by
means of referendum the Tratado
de Libre Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the United
States, Central America and the
Dominican Republic (CAFTA) and
warned against the potential
meddling of Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez.
"As a citizen and president, I
decided already to say 'yes' to
the TLC. I will do it not
because it is faultless, but
simply because it is good for
most Costa Ricans," president
Oscar Arias said.
Arias initially purported to
approve the TLC. However,
the Tribunal Supremo de
Eleccciones (TSE) - elections
tribunal - ruled three weeks ago
that the issue should be taken
to a referendum.
Arias' presentation to the
Legislative Assembly on Tueday,
May 1st, was followed a speech
by Mayi Antillón, the head of
the parliamentarian section of
ruling Partido de Liberación
Nacional (PLN).
Antillón expressed outspokenly
her fear about the potential
funding by the Venezuelan
government of a campaign in
Costa Rica against the
referendum.
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