Costa Rica Occupied: Congress Surrenders Sovereignty to U.S. Army

For the first time since it abolished its Army in 1948, Costa Rica decided to allow the invasion of United States ships into its harbor and effectively renounced to its sovereignty. In an illegal move, the Costa Rican Congress approved the arrival of the American troops which include 46 US warships and 7,000 Marines. All troops will have freedom to move about the country in their full gear, and will be allowed to police the Central American land. The Congress' illegal approval is in direct violation of the Costa Rican Constitution, as it was established after 1948 that the country would would not create or maintain an official army and that all the monies would instead be invested in social reform programs such as education and housing.

Although the US army is supposed to only stay in the country until December 2010, many citizens and political parties declared their opposition to the move, due to the fact the U.S. has never actually left a country it has taken possession of. The newspaper Prensa Latina reported that the leaders of three parties in Costa Rica called the decision a "violation of sovereignty". The move, according to those who support it, is justified in order to empower the effort to eradicate drug trafficking in the region. According to PressTV, the Costa Rican government argues that the approval is disproportionate to the threat caused by drug smuggling in the country and the Central American area. Besides the 7,000 troops and the ships, the U.S. also added helicopters to the massive contingent.

Luis Fishman, the leader of the Social Unity Party (PUSC) said that the permission is a blank check to the U.S. to station its forces on the coast line of the country. Others have warned that this position will allow the American forces to launch attacks against targets like Venezuela, whose government opposes the American Imperialistic policies. Before the arrival of the 7,000 troops, ships and Helicopters, the U.S. already counted with two bases in Costa Rica, which were directed by SOUTHCOM, or Southern Command, a paramilitary American group -disguised as a drug trafficking combating force- which maintains a Naval Base in the port of Caldera in the Caribbean and another one in the northern province of Guanacaste. "We cannot support an illegal act, we won't allow the Constitution to be broken," Fishman added.

More complaints were heard from other political leaders. Legislator Jose Maria Villalta said the permission will allow U.S. troops to "enjoy freedom of movement and the right to carry out the activities needed to fulfill their mission." Villalta added that the Washington government sees Central America as being within an area of influence which it intends to use to force its dominance. Previous to letting the American military forces in, Costa Rica already had agreements with the United States to allow the presence of Coast Guard vessels to remain in its waters, but never before did it permit the arrival or permanence of a military ships, helicopters or any other major war contingent.

Even if these military forces leave Costa Rican soil, as they are supposed to on December 31, 2010, the country will remain occupied by the flotilla of military soldiers who operate out of Caldera and Guanacaste under SOUTHCOM. However, many believe that the U.S. Army is there to stay. Let's see if the Costa Rican people honor what their National Anthem says: "Whenever someone tries to stain your glory, you'll see your people strong and virile."