COSTA RICA: MINOR DEMONSTRATIONS PROTEST

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000054

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, DS/IP/WHA, and DS/TIA/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CS KPAL PGOV PREL XF
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: MINOR DEMONSTRATIONS PROTEST
LATEST GAZA VIOLENCE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Costa Rican reaction to the
recent violence in Gaza was limited to small
demonstrations in front of the Israeli embassy (on
January 9) and the U.S. Chancery (on January 20).
Although the fighting drew heavy (and mostly anti-
Israeli) coverage in the local media, the NGO and MFA
reactions were more muted (and more even-handed). The
small, but well-amplified protest on Inauguration Day
struck us as an attempt to find new relevance by a
nearly-defunct splinter party and the local
Palestinian community. The two demonstrations were in
keeping with the Tico tendency to protest domestic
developments (e.g., CAFTA) more vigorously than
international events, but they highlight the extent of
the concern about the IDF incursion into Gaza, even in
out-of-the-way Costa Rica. END SUMMARY.

LITTLE, LATE AND LOUD
--------------


2. (U) On January 20, a group of approximately 50
people peacefully parked themselves in front of
Embassy San Jose to protest the (by then ended)
violence in Gaza. The RSO had been notified by host
country security services and all appropriate measures
were in place, albeit unnecessary for the small and
peaceful event. The organizers, the Solidarity
Committee with the People of Palestine, appeared to
have had obtained permission to demonstrate.


3. (U) The group remained in front of the Embassy for
nearly two hours in the late afternoon, at times
giving speeches over a loud speaker system and
chanting in support of Palestine and against Israel.
The protestors seemed a little confused; they
criticized both the (by then out of office) Bush and
incoming Obama administrations. The mellow
participants waved flags of the PLO and the virtually-
defunct Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT) of Costa
Rica; a few faded anti-CAFTA stickers were in evidence
as well.


4. (U) The protest followed a larger (and more timely)
gathering in front of the Israeli embassy in downtown
San Jose on January 9. On that date, over 200 people
gathered to burn the Israeli flag, paint graffiti on
nearby buildings, wave placards and call for a "free
Palestine." The protestors also called on President
Arias to break diplomatic relations with Israel.
Unlike the small event in front of the U.S. Embassy,
the event on January 9 drew some media coverage.

HR COMMISSION, MFA ISSUE STATEMENTS
--------------


5. (U) Although the latest round of Gaza fighting drew
heavy (and mostly anti-Israeli) coverage in the local
media, the NGO and MFA reactions were more muted (and
more even-handed). The Costa Rican International
Human Rights Commission, for example, issued a
statement on January 8 expressing "profound concern"
about the violence, and in particular about the "grave
humanitarian impact" on the people of Gaza. The
Commission called for both sides to end hostilities,
for humanitarian assistance to flow again immediately,
and for a return to dialogue and the search for a
peaceful solution.


6. (U) The Commission's statement followed (and
echoed) the MFA's release of January 5, which
similarly called for an immediate end to the
hostilities, blamed both sides for the violence,
insisted on the immediate resumption of international
humanitarian assistance, insisted also on a return to
dialogue, and called for "quick and decisive" action
by the UNSC (as a Council member). The MFA's
statement (the only official GOCR reaction to the
violence) concluded that Israeli-Palestinian peace
would only come from a political, two-state solution.
(Full text emailed to WHA/CEN.)

COMMENT
--------------


7. (SBU) The well-amplified protest on Inauguration
Day struck us as an attempt to find new relevance by a
nearly-defunct splinter party and a few members of the
very small Palestinian community here. This second
event seemed almost an afterthought to the "main"

protest, which targeted the Israeli embassy earlier,
but even that was not significant. Both
demonstrations were in keeping with the Tico tendency
to protest domestic developments (e.g., CAFTA) more
vigorously than international events, but they
highlight the extent of the concern about the IDF
incursion into Gaza, even here in out-of-the-way Costa
Rica. We were pleased the MFA statement struck a
balanced tone. Given Costa Rica's recognition of
Palestine in 2008 (and the regional Palestinian
ambassador - the Permrep in New York - visiting to
present his credentials on January 19),we half-
expected more criticism of Israel.

CIANCHETTE