AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Bishops' appeal: a "frank, transparent and fruitful" dialogue to overcome social tensions

Tuesday, 13 October 2020 human rights economy poverty area crisis violence

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San José (Agenzia Fides) - We want to reaffirm once again the appeal to the President for a frank, direct, transparent, multisectoral dialogue that leads to concrete results. It must be a fruitful dialogue for the benefit of the common good of the whole country". These are the words of His Exc. Mgr José Manuel Garita Herrera, Bishop of Ciudad Quesada and President of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (CEFR), delivered after a meeting with representatives of the State. The meeting was convened by the Bishops to express their concern, offer a contribution to address the social tensions that the country is currently going through and propose a dialogue capable of helping to overcome the problems at the base of the crisis.
"The current critical moment that our country is experiencing – reads the Bishops' statement sent to Fides - concerns us a lot because tensions have increased and the degree of polarization is extreme, which prohibits social and civil coexistence". The statement follows the events that at the beginning of the month led to protests by the Rescate Nazionale Movement, along with the Association of Public and Private Sector Employees and various unions through demonstrations and clashes in the streets and roadblocks by the police.
Among the demands, the demonstrators refuse further tax burdens such as those proposed by the government as part of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), they want State assets not to be alienated and demand the effective resignation of senior government officials.
Yesterday evening, President Alvarado announced on a national channel the establishment of multisectoral negotiations within the framework of which, from October 17, solutions will be sought for the country's fiscal and economic problems, aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The establishment of these negotiations will take place under the aegis of the National Council of University Rectors. The work will last four weeks and will focus on finding solutions to the country's tax problems and, in a second phase, will tackle issues such as economic growth and jobs. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 13/10/2020)