Anger in Costa Rica Over Deal To ‘invite’ 46 US Warships They Suspect Ulterior Motive

Costa Ricans suspect ‘ulterior motive’ in permitting large numbers of US troops

Opposition leaders in Costa Rica are up in arms over an agreement between the country and the United States that reportedly allows 46 US warships and 7,000 US Marines to enter the country as part of an anti-drug effort.

According to several Costa Rican news sources, the government there signed an agreement with the US last week to extend an 11-year-old cooperative program aimed at eradicating the maritime drug trade.

But opponents say this year’s deal differs from previous ones in that it allows US warships to enter the country. Previously, opponents say, only US Coast Guard vessels were allowed to enter Costa Rican territory. The new agreement expires on December 31 of this year.

A committee of the People’s Movement political party said the deal turns Costa Rica into a “US protectorate” and brings the country into “a new phase of military occupation,” according to the Costa Rican newspaper El Pais.

Google Translation

San Jose (elpais.cr) – The presence of 13 329 soldiers and civilians from the United States in an alleged fight against drug trafficking, mobilized 46 ships of the Navy, and with the support of more than 200 helicopters has led to the rejection various sectors Costa Rican politicians. 

To this end, members of the National Liberation Party (PLN), Costa Rican Renovation (CR), and co-ruler Libertarian Movement (ML), approved on Thursday a berthing permit the greatest naval force the United States in Costa Rica, since 1821, the year of the independence of this nation. 

The presence until next December of the fleet in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, off the economic zone of Costa Rica is severely compromised in this country, warned the National Liaison Committee, People’s Movement. 

He added that this commitment involves Costa Rica on many levels, especially because it adheres to the plans and the government’s war agenda of the United States and incidentally makes our country into a military objective. 

“The comic sold by the government of Laura Chinchilla military outpost that is to combat drug trafficking and that the Marines are to build schoolhouses no one believes anyone,” said the Commission. 

He said: “This new phase of military occupation, is a direct result from the commitments made in the security chapter in the context of NAFTA, signed by Oscar Arias, now Costa Rica was turned into a U.S. protectorate.” 

On the other hand, said that with this action, the government openly Laura Chinchilla is added to the Plan Colombia and the agenda of aggression and war against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and other South American countries openly threatened the United States. 

Meanwhile, the fraction of the opposition leader of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), Juan Carlos Mendoza, told local radio that although not all of the contingent will arrive in Costa Rican waters, opens a “range” of possibilities. 

Mendoza says the agreement with the United States is to police operations in the fight against drug trafficking and not for military ships. 

“The type of weaponry suggests that these operations are military in nature to fight drug trafficking,” said the deputy. 

The permit deputies agreed by the states that “United States personnel in Costa Rica you can enjoy freedom of movement and the right to carry out the activities it deems necessary in carrying out its mission.” 

This point has also been criticized by opposition deputies, seeing it as a threat to sovereignty. 

“We give them the right to do what they please in the country where they feel that is necessary to fulfill its mission,” said the legislator of the opposition Partido Frente Amplio, José María Villalta. 

“The Government of Costa Rica waives any claim for damage, loss or destruction of property of another, personal injury or death arising out of both activities,” said Villalta in the legislative session that discussed the permit. 

Carlos Gongora, the only government deputy who spoke after the vote said he supports the initiative, “and that Venezuela is buying arms from Russia, and to prevent drug traffickers sell drugs to little kids in front of schools.” 

Meanwhile, a citizens group calls for all Costa Ricans to sign a note that will be sent deputies to cancel the permit. 

“We believe that the authorization given is excessive and disproportionate in the agreement for international cooperation to combat drug trafficking, and goes against the militarist and pacifist spirit that has characterized our country for over 60 years, when he made the right decision to abolish the army, “says the text. 

It considers that the experience of recent years indicates that the drug not only violate the national sovereignty, to disrespect the airspace and sea in Costa Rica, and the corrupt politicians and members of the public authorities, but also, and much greater extent, so do the bodies of U.S. security, both when working to combat drug trafficking as when they decide to promote or at least tolerate it, for alleged national security requirements. 

To subscribe to the paper can look at the following link: www.petition online.com / noarmycr / petition. html

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