ANTI-CAFTA PROTEST IN COSTA RICA: TACTICAL VICTORY

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002431 SIPDIS (C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - MODIFIED PARAGRAPH MARKING) SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND DS/IP/WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV CS SUBJECT: ANTI-CAFTA PROTEST IN COSTA RICA: TACTICAL VICTORY FOR GOCR REF: A. SAN JOSE 2320 ¶B. SAN JOSE 2312 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 23 and 24, a two-day strike and associated demonstrations against CAFTA ratification took place throughout Costa Rica. The peaceful demonstrations fell short of organizers, expectations and disruptions in basic services and transit were largely avoided. Costa Rican security forces were mobilized and successfully maintained transit while avoiding clashes with demonstrators. Union leaders proclaimed the event a success and planned to strike and protest again in November. The Arias government downplayed the size and influence of the demonstrations, and again called for dialog as a better way to address the issue. The GOCR was pleased with its performance during the two-day event and upbeat about its ability to face future protests. The anti-CAFTA movement cannot really be satisfied with the outcome of this protest. The GOCR took the high ground, respecting the right of the strikers to protest, but maintained order and avoided direct confrontation. Upcoming CAFTA votes in the legislature may spark renewed action "in the streets." END SUMMARY. -------------- ANTI-CAFTA STRIKE FAILS TO MAKE BIG IMPACT -------------- ¶2. (U) The long-planned two days of protest October 23 and 24 saw a few thousand people (peacefully) rally and march around the country, but fell far short of the "referendum of the street" hoped for by anti-CAFTA forces (Ref A). Although the broad and loose anti-CAFTA coalition of public employee unions, parastatal workers, university students, opposition legislators, and other groups mustered protestors around the country, most of the action was in San Jose. Basic services such as electricity and telecommunications were not affected. State-run emergency medical care functioned, though many appointments for non-critical care were canceled. ¶3. (SBU) On the first and heaviest day of protests, some rural roads were temporarily blocked by protesters in parts of Costa Rica. In San Jose, marchers temporarily blocked roads as they trooped to the legislature in the city center. On the second day, which featured smaller but more aggressive protests in some areas, a roundabout in front of the University of Costa Rica on San Jose's "beltway" was blocked for most of the day and there were reports that motorists trying to pass were harassed. Attempts to block major roads near the airport were foiled, without incident, by security forces (keeping the airport road open was a prime objective of the GOCR.) There were no reports of clashes between protesters and security officials. ¶4. (U) The cab of a tractor trailer was burned by protesters in the port city of Limon on October 24, but that disturbance was more related to the on-going strike by port workers regarding a collective bargaining payment issue and the possible concession of the government-run ports (Ref B). The Arias government had vowed beforehand to respect the rights of the protesters to march peacefully, but requested in turn that protesters respect Costa Ricans' basic rights, including the right to free transit and the right to work. -------------- THE NUMBERS? NOT HISTORIC -------------- ¶5. (U) Size estimates of the crowds varied. Protest leaders claimed 100,000 demonstrators marched through San Jose the first day. A methodical estimate of crowd size commissioned by leading daily "La Nacion" suggested that the real number at the legislative assembly gathering point was closer to 9000 demonstrators, putting this round of protests on a par with previous anti-CAFTA actions. Our police contacts estimated the turnout to be closer to 6000. Both sides agreed that turnout the second day was smaller although more tense around traditional flashpoints, such as the university. At 3:00 P.M. on October 24, poloff saw no protesters at the legislative assembly, but dozens of police officials scattered throughout the downtown area. Students maintained a blockade outside the university campus until after dark, however. Media coverage was much lighter for the second day, with reporting overall highlighting the much smaller-than-expected crowds and the lack of violence. -------------- BOTH SIDES DECLARE VICTORY -------------- ¶6. (U) Protest organizers publicly declared success. Union leader Albino Vargas described the event as an "extraordinary advance toward the defeat of CAFTA." Organizers vowed to continue monitoring CAFTA progress in the legislature, pledging to return to "the streets" in November (no date set). Poloff discussed the strike with Gilberth Brown, Secre tary General of the Rerum Novarum labor union, on October 26. Brown stressed the variety of interests that participated in the strike as well as its nationwide scope. He stated that the unions could mobilize ten times the number of protestors in future strikes, but did not commit to any future strategy. He said that changing one or two votes in the legislature against CAFTA would be enough to defeat it. ¶7. (U) President Arias announced October 25 that he would not withdraw the CAFTA legislation, as demanded by the protestors, but would make good on his campaign pledge to ratify CAFTA. The president also reiterated his call for dialog as a preferable way to address the issues. In a press conference on October 24, Minister of the Presidency Rodrigo Arias pointed out that the strike and protest did not enjoy widespread support, with only two percent the employees from the social security administration and 28 percent of teachers participating (no doubt affected by the GOCR,s threat the week before to dock striking employees, salaries). The protests seem to have had little effect in the legislature, where staffers evinced surprise to us at the lower turnout, and CAFTA debate continued as scheduled -- neither slower nor faster -- in the International Relations Committee. ¶8. (SBU) The Ministry of Security requested Post,s assistance in renting four buses which were used to transport police and their equipment around San Jose October 23-24. Police contacts told us this behind-the-scenes help (all the GOCR asked of us) had proved invaluable. Overall, the GOCR was pleased with how events unfolded. Minister of Production Alfredo Volio told the Ambassador and Econ Chief on October 26 that preparing for and dealing with the protests had been a "good teambuilding exercise" for the cabinet, which left the GOCR "more confident" about dealing with future protests. -------------- COMMENT: OPPOSITION LOST THIS ROUND -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Victory declarations aside, the anti-CAFTA movement cannot be satisfied with the outcome of this latest round of protests. Turnout was low and the opposition did not appear to have gained any new public support. The GOCR seems to have prepared and reacted fairly skillfully by docking striker's pay, mobilizing large numbers of unarmed police and avoiding direct confrontation with the harder-core student protestors. By making clear that violations of the law would not be tolerated but that people had the right to protest peacefully, the Arias government took the high ground and came out ahead of the protestors. The anti-CAFTA crowd is in a difficult position, having repeatedly failed to mobilize large enough crowds to make a lasting impact, nor having found significant resonance for the "right to rebellion" philosophy espoused by Vargas and some of the other leaders. We would not rule them out just yet, however. The upcoming CAFTA votes in the legislature, starting with the International Affairs Committee's report, scheduled for November 30, may spark renewed action "in the streets." LANGDALE