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### Viewing cable 06SANJOSE2431, ANTI-CAFTA PROTEST IN COSTA RICA: TACTICAL VICTORY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06SANJOSE2431 | 2006-10-31 23:11 | 2011-03-03 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2697430.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2697496.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697489.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697532.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697535.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2701964.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/Relacionados/Investigacion2701965.aspx

`

    VZCZCXYZ0019
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #2431/01 3042351
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD4143FF MSI9789 538)
    P 312351Z OCT 06
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6493
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

` `

    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

`