Q COSTA RICA — Various social organizations, labor unions, and citizen groups in Costa Rica have called on the public to participate in the “Sit-ins for Democratic Justice,” a demonstration to be held this Thursday, August 6, simultaneously in San José and Liberia, Guanacaste.
The purpose of the demonstrations is to express support for the rule of law and to reject what they consider an escalation of attacks against the country’s democratic institutions.
The ruling party is pushing a package of reforms that seeks to change the election of judges, reorganize the judiciary, and expand extradition in Costa Rica.
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The call to action was issued by the Autonomous Collective for Social Resistance and the Communication and Logistics Commission of the Decentralized Organization for the Defense of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) – State power and telecom, who invited social organizations, associations, unions, student movements, public institutions, activists, and the general public to join the event.
The organizers indicated that the objective of the mobilization is to defend Costa Rican democracy, the Political Constitution, and the independence of the branches of government, as well as to express support for public institutions and the rights of the working class.
The call to action also includes an appeal to those who defend human rights, freedom of the press, the separation and independence of powers, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
“Today, more than ever, the defense of our democracy, our public institutions, and the rule of law requires the unity, solidarity, and commitment of all of society,” the organizations stated.
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The event will take place between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at two locations in the country: Democracy Plaza in San José and Mario Cañas Ruiz Park in Liberia.
The organizers also expressed their rejection of political violence, disinformation, and what they describe as constant attacks directed against public institutions and various sectors of the country.
In addition to the institutional component, the movement seeks to highlight concerns related to the cost of living and the impact of budget cuts. In their statement, they maintain that it is necessary to halt the reductions in resources that, they claim, affect areas such as justice, security, education, health, and social welfare programs.
They also called for guaranteeing the population’s access to basic necessities and maintaining the protection of public services, natural resources, and state assets.
The organizations also requested financial, logistical, and material support for the event, although they emphasized that the main form of support will be citizen participation during the day.
The organizers state that the event aims to send a message of support for democracy and rejection of the attacks against public institutions expressed in comments made by the President and Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica. Credit: Screenshot from the Presidency of the Republic broadcast.
The organizers state that the event aims to send a message of support for democracy and rejection of the attacks against public institutions expressed in comments made by the President and Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica. Credit: Screenshot from the Presidency of the Republic broadcast.
The demonstration comes amid growing political confrontation between the Government and the Judiciary, following a ruling by the Constitutional Chamber on the appointment of substitute magistrates that provoked strong criticism from the ruling party and the subsequent announcement of a series of constitutional reforms related to the functioning of the judicial system.
Although the call to action doesn’t directly reference a specific event, the organizers maintain that the current moment demands broad citizen participation to protect democratic institutions and preserve the rule of law.
The event is open to the public, and the organizers hope for participation from various sectors of society under the slogan: “Because democracy isn’t inherited: it’s defended.”