Hunger Strike: Rashida Jenny Torres is on a hunger strike outside the courthouse in San José. She wants the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) to reunite her with her husband, an Argentine who was recently denied entrance to Costa Rica by Immigration officials because he lacked proper papers.

Costa Rica's first ever referendum went off without problems, according to the mission of observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) in Costa Rica Sunday for the popular vote on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

“Una Noche para el Bolero”
Directed by Flor Urbina, with dancers, singers and a mariachi group, 8 p.m., Melico Salazar Theater, San José . Info: 224-0834.

“Tinta”
Play by PLUIE Group, 7 p.m., Spanish Cultural Center, Ave.13, Calle 31. Info: 257-2919, ext. 118.

Tico Times Staff
editorial@ticotimes.net

As groups supporting the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) yesterday celebrated its victory in Sunday's nationwide referendum, the government extended an olive branch to its opponents.

Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias sent a letter to the leaders of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), opponents of CAFTA who have promised to stall legislation needed to implement the agreement. Addressed to PAC faction head Elizabeth Fonseca, the letter says the government of President Oscar Arias wants to “build bridges... in benefit of all Costa Ricans.”

Fonseca accepted the Arias brothers' invitation to meet Wednesday and discuss the CAFTA implementation agenda as well as consensus projects to improve education, security and benefits for small businesses.

Fonseca told the press that the 13 CAFTA implementation laws go beyond what the treaty requires, and that PAC legislators will pass motions to lesson their impact. Even then the party will not vote for the laws, considering them “harmful to the country.”

The five legislative factions that support CAFTA are working with the Executive Branch on a strategy to pass the 13 laws before Feb. 29, the deadline for Costa Rica to comply with the treaty.

A victory for the “yes” side appeared certain as the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) continued counting votes yesterday. At press time, with about 98% of votes counted, 51.6% voted “yes” and 48.3% voted “no.” The election saw about a 60% turnout, more than enough to satisfy the 40% voter turnout requirement for the results to be binding.

Heavy rains are finally easing up in the eastern province of Cartago, but a low-pressure system has moved over the Pacific coast and Central Valley, leading the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to declare a green, preventive alert for these areas.

Residents of the Pacific coast and Central Valley should remain alert, as water levels could rise and cause flooding if rains intensify, according to a statement from the commission.

The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) is monitoring a low-pressure system currently over Belize in the Caribbean Sea, which is bringing a constant flow of humidity from the Pacific Ocean toward Costa Rica. Early yesterday morning, the system began kicking up rain in the Central Valley and Pacific.

-Tico Times

Costa Rica's first ever referendum went off without problems, according to the mission of observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) in Costa Rica Sunday for the popular vote on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

OAS yesterday congratulated Costa Rica for its “elevated civic spirit, tranquility and massive participation,” in the referendum.

In a statement, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza expressed his “satisfaction over the high level of citizen participation and the peaceful development of the electoral process.”

Ninety-three OAS observers spread out around the country to evaluate Sunday's vote and reported that “the process has been carried out in a satisfactory manner and that a consistent majority of citizens have behaved in an orderly, transparent way,” the statement said.

The observers also called for Costa Ricans to “democratically respect the results emitted by the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE),” which continues to count votes and had counted about 98% at press time.

The OAS mission plans to stay in Costa Rica a few more days preparing a report on the vote to present to the organization's Permanent Cabinet.