Celebrating Sí: Alfredo Volio (second from right) and other supporters of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) last night celebrated what appears to be a victory as results came in from a nationwide referendum held yesterday on this controversial trade pact.

Three masked invaders armed with automatic weapons hog-tied the only guard protecting the municipality of Osa, in the Southern Zone, before breaking in and stealing 16 computers and a vehicle Thursday night.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate Closed
In honor of the U.S. Columbus Day holiday, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Costa Rica will be closed today and will reopen with their normal office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Dance Show
With Habacuc Guillermo Vargas, 7 p.m., Sala Teatro Calle 15, Ave. 2, Calle 13/15, south side of Plaza de la Democracia, San José.

Mundoloco Concerts
Featuring Native Culture, Roots and more, 9:30 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro.

Tico Times Staff
editorial@ticotimes.net

President Oscar Arias and other supporters of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) declared victory last night as results rolled in from a popular referendum, showing a likely win for the “yes” vote.

Nationwide, with 95% of votes counted, 51.6% of voters chose in favor of the controversial trade pact, while 48.4% voted against it. About 60% of eligible voters turned out yesterday, exceeding the necessary 40% necessary for the vote to be binding.

The “yes” camp turned into a celebratory dance party early in the evening, and pro-CAFTA campaign head Alfredo Volio ventured to thank Costa Ricans for the CAFTA victory before all votes were counted.

“Today we're following the resolve of the TSE (Supreme Elections Tribunal) and trying as of this moment to unite Costa Rica,” he said. “From this moment, we are simply Costa Ricans.”

President Oscar Arias called the decision “time to listen attentively to the message of our country and... Today we have witnessed the birth of a new era in our democratic life, a birth in which we have all taken part and of which we all have the right to feel proud.”

At the “no” headquarters, leader Eugenio Trejos scarcely mentioned the results, instead assuring supporters that “every vote would be scrutinized and recounted.”

Amid angry chants of fraud from the fringes of the crowd, Trejos urged patience, and calm, and called for supporters to look to their community organizations, or cómites patrióticas, to voice their frustrations.

Ottón Solís, another “no” leader, said he was impressed with the outcome and the turn out, and refused to concede, citing investigations of possible fraud and constitutional violations.

“Everything is on hold for now,” he said.

Results varied by province. The “yes” vote won in San José, Cartago, Limón and Heredia, while the “no” won in Alajuela, Guanacaste and Puntarenas.

The breakdown: in San José, 51.67% “yes,” 48.33% no; in Cartago, 56.47% voted in favor of CAFTA and 43.53% voted against it; in Limón 55.42% voted “yes” and 44.58% voted “no;” in Heredia, 52.38% voted yes and 47.62% voted “no;” in Alajuela, 48.92% voted “yes” and 51.08% voted “no;” in Guanacaste, 47.31% voted “yes” and 52.69% voted “no;” and in Puntarenas 49.37% voted “yes” and 50.63% voted “no.”

Tico Times Staff
editorial@ticotimes.net

Relative calm, a few incidents of mischief and a strong turnout marked Costa Rica's first ever national referendum yesterday as Ticos around the country came out to vote “yes” or “no” on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

No major incidents of violence were reported, but in the eastern suburb of San Pedro a group of opponents of the trade pact began ambushing cars bearing “yes” stickers and flags to rip them off. Behind the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) building, another group of young CAFTA opponents burned a “yes” banner before National Police came and broke them up.

At polling places, opponents and supporters of this controversial trade pact rallied side by side, both waving flags, wearing T-shirts and stickers and eager to talk to anyone who came to question them about their views.

The country took on a festive air as both sides made final pushes to win over undecided voters, with cars honking horns and waving banners reading “Yes” and “No” rolling down the streets.

Long lines outside polling places were evidence of a good turnout. Preliminary vote counts showed that about 60% of eligible voters came out yesterday, exceeding the necessary 40% for the vote to be binding.

“I feel very happy to have voted,” said Adrián Pacheco as he walked out of Buenaventura Corrales School with his wife and two children. “It's a very important exercise of the freedom and the liberty we have.”

In shorts and sandals, convicted drug trafficker Francisco Angulo filled out his vote and slipped it into the ballot box in San Sebastián prison in southern San José.

He's one of 5,578 convicts in Costa Rican jails - about two-thirds of inmates nationwide - who were eligible to vote in the referendum, according to Justice Ministry spokesperson Emilia Segura.

On the Quitirrisí indigenous reserve, southwest of San José, voters had to walk up a dirt and clay road made slippery by the drizzle and fog shrouding the mountain. The mood was calm, with a steady stream of voters joking and greeting each other as they walked into the classroom to vote

By Blake Schmidt
Tico Times Staff | bschmidt@ticotimes.net