Heavy Police Presence
Promised For Cartago
Friday For Independence
Day Ceremonies
Costa Rican authorities
said yesterday that they
will not accept disorder
and disturbances by
groups both in favour
and against the Tratado
de Libre Comercio con
Estados Unidos (TLC) on
Friday night when the
Arias cabinet meeting
will be held in Cartago.
The cabinet will session
in Cartago and at night
in commemoration of
receiving the
"independence torch",
which is expected to
arrive at Peñas Blancas
tomorrow morning and
make its way to San José
and the Old Metropolis (Cartago)
by Friday night.
Rafael Ángel Gutiérrez,
vice minister of
Seguridad, said during a
press conference
yesterday, that the
Fuerza Pública (police)
will act in the event of
any disturbances by
demonstrators of either
side of the trade deal
question.
Gutiérrez, with Rolando
Rodríguez, mayor of
Cartago, and monseñor
José Francisco Ulloa,
Bishop of the Diócesis
de Cartago, made a call
to all Costa Ricans who
will be participating in
the patriotic
ceremonies, to respect
their ideals within the
framework of peace,
order and tolerance.
The same call was made
by the Comisión
Organizadora (organizing
committee) for the
Friday event, asking
those in favour and
against, not to repeat
the violent acts of the
past year.
Vice minister Gutiérrez
said that members of the
Fuerza Pública will
cordon off the area of
the municipal building
and the Ruinas de
Cartago (Cartago ruins).
The police officials
will be unarmed and
women officers will be
used to stand guard on
stage of the president
and his cabinet.
In addition to the heavy
police presence, the
Cartago mayor added that
the government officials
and invited guests that
include diplomatic
officials will use a
different entrance and
exit point that the
students, cultural
groups and press.
The roads leading into
and out of Cartago will
have restricted access
beginning at 2:00pm,
that will include
complete closure of all
roads around the Palacio
Municipal and the Plaza
Mayor.
At 6:00pm, president
Oscar Arias and his
cabinet will begin the
official act with the
playing of the national
anthem and by 6:30 the
cabinet session is
expected to commence.
The independence torch
is expected at 7:45pm
and be received by
Arias. |
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