Global Voices Online

The Tico Bloggers are posting on two main subjects this past week: the two day long Anti-CAFTA protests and the bill the government is writing which would ban weapon production in Costa Rican territory. Other topics are political corruption up high and the power of a musical request.

Let's begin with the bill. The proposed bill would prohibit the fabrication of weapons in free trade zones and is geared mostly for handguns and gunpowder based weapons. A loving thought that goes hand in hand with Costa Rica's image as a peace loving company. However, the interesting aspect of the bill is what it doesn't mention: it says nothing about making components for Raytheon Company, “an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business aviation and special mission aircraft.” (taken from their About Us page).

Why a peaceful country in Central America which abolished the army more than 50 years ago and has a Nobel Peace Price winner as a president would allow a company that builds missile systems and war planes is a mystery.

In her blog, Julia Ardón copies the official inscription record as it appeared on the national paper “La Gaceta” on October 19th 2006

She also brings out a good point that would make all the debate around this bill useless:

Además, sería muy bueno que también nos expliquen cómo harán para que esa nueva ley no sea superada por el TLC, cuando dice la Constitución que ninguna ley puede estar por encima de un tratado internacional.

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