The call of the bishops with regard to the referendum on the FTA

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, April 17, 2007

Today the government of Oscar Arias asked the congress of Costa Rica to call a Taxi Heathrow Airport referendum to determine the future of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. The agreement has caused confrontation among the Costa Rican society during the past three years. The referendum will take place if it is approved by 29 of the 57 national representatives.

For their part, the social organizations that have been fighting against the implementing of the FTA have reiterated that should the initiative be approved they will form a united front for the “No” in the referendum. This would be the first referendum to be held in the history of Costa Rica, despite its long democratic tradition and political stability.

In a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Conference of Bishops of Costa Rica, the bishops express their satisfaction with the use of a clearly democratic process such as the referendum. The bishops have called on the people to turn out to vote on such a sensitive issue as the FTA, and so strengthen the representative system.

In turn, they have asked of the news media that there be “pluralism” in the reporting and expressing of opinions on the FTA, and have offered the church as a space for dialogue and consultation during the period leading up to the referendum.

On October 9, 2006, in an appearance before the Commission on International Matters of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly, the Conference of Bishops expressed its points of view on the FTA. In their appearance they stated that: “We the bishops are neither against or in favor and neither are we on the sidelines of the FTA. We are here to enlighten with criteria that will facilitate an objective and impartial analysis, overcoming what is purely ideological and personal and group interests and thinking more in terms of what is best for the common good and social peace of Costa Rica.”

The statement by the bishops ends by asking “that the light of Christ’s resurrection which dispels all darkness, enlighten the understanding of all the Costa Ricans for the building of a society of justice and solidarity.”