Costa Rican Social Groups Oppose CAFTA

http://www.plenglish.com


Costa Rican Social Groups Oppose CAFTA

San Jose, Sep 21 (Prensa Latina) Social groups of Costa Rica maintained their disapproval Wednesday of the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), in spite of Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco's decision to submit it to Congress.

Thousands of Costa Ricans peacefully demonstrated Tuesday against CAFTA at the presidential residence, where a report on CAFTA was being discussed.

Pacheco said he would send the treaty to Congress because it was his duty and the legislature would make the decision.

Albino Vargas, National Association of Public Employees leader, said CAFTA would imply indebtedness to the Inter-American Development Bank.

CAFTA was signed on May 28, 2004 at the Organization of American States in Washington, and three months later the Dominican Republic joined.

As of now it has been ratified by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the United States.

hr/ccs/ymr/ mbz