As the Legislative Assembly yesterday was abuzz electing leaders and preparing to hear President Oscar Arias' annual address, a traditional Labor Day march outside drew a few hundred participants, many of whom sounded off against the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).
Arias and a majority of legislators support this controversial trade pact, which is likely to be voted on in a public referendum later this year. Security at the assembly was tight throughout the day, with scores of police officers blocking off the surrounding streets.
The crowd that remained on the steps across from the assembly after marching from La Merced Park on the other side of town was more bohemian than boisterous. Young people in T-shirts with anti-CAFTA slogans played bongo drums and danced while others mingled and smoked cigarettes.
“We're marching to hold up the tradition, but this year the message is to call on citizens all over the country to oppose CAFTA,” said Roger Alcides, 35.
“We want to make people conscious of the harm that a poorly thought-out trade agreement can do. That's what happened in Mexico,” said 29-year-old Sergio Corona, from Mexico, referring to the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In addition to anti-CAFTA groups, union members and environmentalists participated in the march. |
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