Legislators
Appeal To
Constitutional
Court To Stop
U.S Warships
From Entering
Costa Rican
Waters
The decision
authorizing the
patrol of Costa
Rican waters by
U.S. warships is
being contested
by a group of
legislators,
headed by Gloria
Bejarano, who
filed an action
of
unconstitutionality
with the Sala
Constitucional
(Costa Rica's
constitutional
court).
The legislators
believe the
authorization
that was voted
on and granted
last week for
the entry of 46
naval warships,
200 helicopters,
war planes and
7.000 Marines as
confirmed by the
president of the
Legislative
Assembly,
Gerardo
Villanueva,
violates Costa
Rica's Political
Constitution.
Villanueva
confirmed that
there are errors
in the
authorization,
explaining that
the co-operation
agreement
between the
United States
and Costa Rica
signed 11 years
ago was never
published in La
Gaceta.
The legislators
argue in their
filing that
since the decree
was never
published it is
null and void
and in addition
was for a 10
year period and
would have
expired in 2009.
Villanueva,
however, argues
that the
agreement does
not have an
expiry date and
the publication
of the decree
can be made any
time.
The agreement
signed in 2009
establishes a
joint patrol of
Costa Rican
waters by the
United States
and Costa Rican
Coast Guards.
Last week the
United States,
as is customary
and required
under the
agreement, filed
for
authorization of
the U.S.
warships and
personnel, that
would be under
the control of
the Costa Rican
Coast Guard, to
enter Costa
Rican waters to
combat drug
trafficking in
the country and
the region.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
