Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANJOSE2051
2005-09-01 20:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:  

SECURITY OFFICIALS' CONFIDENCE GROWING AS CAFTA-DR

Tags:  ETRD ECON PREL SOCI CS 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 002051 

SIPDIS

WHA/CEN FOR MKOPOLOW
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS, LGUMBINER
EB FOR WCRAFT, BLAMPRON
E FOR DEDWARDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL SOCI CS
SUBJECT: SECURITY OFFICIALS' CONFIDENCE GROWING AS CAFTA-DR
DEBATE LOOMS

REF: A. SAN JOSE 2038


B. SAN JOSE 2037

Classified By: CDA Russell L. Frisbie for reasons 1.4 (b&d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 002051

SIPDIS

WHA/CEN FOR MKOPOLOW
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS, LGUMBINER
EB FOR WCRAFT, BLAMPRON
E FOR DEDWARDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL SOCI CS
SUBJECT: SECURITY OFFICIALS' CONFIDENCE GROWING AS CAFTA-DR
DEBATE LOOMS

REF: A. SAN JOSE 2038


B. SAN JOSE 2037

Classified By: CDA Russell L. Frisbie for reasons 1.4 (b&d).


1. (C) During an official call August 31 on President
Pacheco by General Craddock of U.S. Southern Command, the
head of Costa Rica's national police said that as a result of
growing public support for the U.S.-Central America-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR),police officials
are less worried about their ability to respond to threats of
violent street protests and a general strike. Walter
Navarro, head of Costa Rica's "Fuerza Publica" or national
police, said that recent public opinion polls have shown a
decided shift in favor of the free trade agreement. (Note:
While ref B documents a real shift in public opinion over the
past nine months, there has been little change recently.)


2. (C) According to Navarro, the shift has caused union
leaders and others who have been planning and threatening
disturbances if the President sends the agreement to the
Assembly for ratification to reconsider their strategy. As a
result, Navarro is increasingly confident that security
officials can maintain order and preserve critical
infrastructure in the face of what he expects will be smaller
and shorter demonstrations.


3. (C) Interestingly, Pacheco did not turn to his Minister
of Public Security, Rogelio Ramos, who was present at the
meeting, for confirmation of this assessment. Ramos is
rumored to have recently threatened to resign his post if
Pacheco submits CAFTA-DR for ratification--supposedly due to
his belief that Costa Rican security forces would be
incapable of enforcing and maintaining order in the face of a
violent or sustained general strike.


4. (C) Comment: This is the latest in a string of generally
positive developments related to CAFTA-DR (reftels). If
Pacheco accepts Navarro's assessment as accurate, as he
appears to have done, this would reduce one of the primary
obstacles to Costa Rican ratification of the free trade
agreement--Pacheco's fear of a violent backlash. However,
Minister Ramos remains the most influential voice on security
matters, and Pacheco told General Craddock as the meeting
ended that he would send the agreement for ratification "in
due time."
FRISBIE