Costa Ricans protest trade with U.S.

[Doondoo]

Tens of thousands of students and teachers opposed to a free-trade pact with the United States marched in Costa Rica's capital on Monday, while the deal itself remains bogged down in Congress.

The protesters, part of a coalition of hundreds of unions, student, environmental and community groups, said the march was a show of strength to be followed by a nation-wide strike.

Costa Rica is the only participant of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA, not to have ratified the measure and the government hopes to have a deal passed by the end of the year.

The treaty is in Congress, slowed down by a legal battle over whether President Oscar Arias can use a fast-track system to limit debate.

Smaller protests also took place across Costa Rica and several people were arrested when police broke through a protesters roadblock in the town of Siquirres.



http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2633519120070227

[Heidi]

1. Locking.

Duplicate of: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2747451

Heidi,
DU Moderator