Solís Knocking On Doors To Convince People To Vote "NO" To TLC
The leader of the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), Ottón Solís, who oppose the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States - will pressure Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, to public debates on the trade deal before Costa Ricans take to the voting booth in September.

According to Solís, Arias and his government have not explained the basis for their support of the trade agreement.

"They have promoted the TLC like someone who sells soap or any other product", said Solís.

Solís stressed that the debates do not have to be face to face with Arias but can be with any of the many "personalities" that make Arias' point, naming people like the Rector del Instituto Tecnológico, Eugenio Trejos, Román Macaya, members of the Cámara de Productores de Genéricos and other politicians like Rolando Araya.

"President Arias should put his face forward to defend his ideas. If he cannot accept, then the country will know that he cannot defend the TLC", said Solís.

During the 2006 presidential campaign, Solís stood firm on his position on the TLC and insisted on many occasions that presidential candidate Arias debate the trade issue publicly which never occurred.

The Solís comments were made yesterday in Hatillo with the kick off a a PAC campaign against the TLC, handing out a 17 page brochure on the negative points of the trade deal and a promise to visit some 300.000 homes between yesterday and referendum day, September 23, to inform the people on why they should vote no.

In a show of leadership and motivation, Solís personally knocked on 50 homes in Hatillo, an upper low to lower class neighbourhood on the south side of San José.