ISDS Case Map
Costa Rica
Just over half way through the stipulated time period before certification of the referendum on CAFTA will take place, a meticulous counting of every vote is happening in front of TV cameras, accompanied by a detailed accounting process. For the uninitiated, this provides the illusion of squeaky transparency; how could there be voter fraud here? However, the fraud was committed long before the voting even started - and so far, there is no institution or mechanism willing to name that.
Trade unions from the Costa Rican Electricity Institute announced a strike against the complementary agenda of CAFTA, so that the company continues to govern in the fields of electricity and telecommunications.
Costa Rica's recent referendum was supposed to decide once and for all whether that country should enter into the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Instead, the Oct. 7 vote polarized and politicized this small country of four and a half million people more than anything since neighboring Nicaragua's war between the Sandinistas and the Contras two decades ago. And even though supporters of the treaty prevailed by a slim margin, CAFTA opponents still have a few cards to play and may yet block its implementation.
China and Costa Rica said they will conduct a feasibility study on a free trade agreement -- four months after the two established formal diplomatic ties.
Democracy in Costa Rica was undermined after several violations to costarrican law.
Costa Rica's top electoral court confirmed the results of an Oct. 7 referendum on a free trade agreement with the United States, saying a recount showed the 'yes' votes only slightly lower than preliminary results had indicated.
While free trade proponents cheered, opponents called foul in Costa Rica's 51.5 percent vote Oct. 7 in favor of ratifying the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
The vote was barely 24 hours away when President Bush's aides held an emergency conference call at 10:45 p.m. last Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid had sent a letter that could sink a US-led free trade agreement up for referendum in Costa Rica. The Bush team decided to put out its own statement to save it. The trade pact went on to pass narrowly Sunday, but the last-minute drama capped a furious few weeks in which the White House and Congress fought a proxy war in the tiny Central American nation.
Take action from October 15-20 to demand that the Costa Rica referendum results NOT be certified by the OAS
US intervention, corruption, and an internationally financed fear campaign provoke questions about referendum process
