On October 23rd and 24th, a popular movement, owners of small companies, former Presidents of the Republic, businessmen and the major opposition political parties, public universities, environmental and labor unions, students, womens and all kinds of social organizations all over the country, demonstrated in a national journey and strike demanding the government the immediate removal of CAFTA from Congress.

With these national days of protests and struggle, "our final objective is to end up with this catastrophic agreement" said José Antonio Barquero, President of the largest teachers' association, in a country where education is very important and 96% of alphabetization is a pride.

A paradox is taking place in Costa Rica, where former president Oscar Arias, who was awarded the Peace Nobel Prize in 1987 became Costa Rica's President a second time: his security forces' violent, repressive actions against social demonstrations have increased; these actions were meant to jeopardize people from demonstrating against CAFTA. Instead, thousands of citizens are doing just the opposite as a reaction against the government.

Another contradiction is that CAFTA includes importing without taxes and duty-free war weapons and all kinds of arms into a country that abolished the army almost 60 years ago. People in Costa Rica reject such type of business, and are not prepared to become another weapon manufacturer.

On one hand Arias visits the UN claiming weapons should disappear, on the other hand he is fostering its production and has systematically signed laws that will enable corporations like Raytheon that already has bought land to build a factory on Costa Rica's west coast. Peaceful citizens of Costa Rica are upset and demonstrating against what they call a President with a "double standard". "We fear having a Chernobyl here" says Hilda Chen Apuy, an 84 year-old peace activist.

This type of behavior from the authorities has rendered a climate of social effervescence and discomfort, during the last few days.

The situation has become worse due to the new government's intention to approve CAFTA before this December.

Furthermore, the use of an old-fashioned "anti-communist" speech (has linked social movements with a pseudo conspiracy from Caracas and Havana), as well as the permanent and systematic media campaign, promoted by the utmost conservative wings have created a very dangerous and unusual social polarization in Costa Rica.

People in Costa Rica, a peaceful, hard working third-world country, are aiming towards a positive development, improving well-being and justice for its people, not an agreement that goes the opposite direction, destroying its economic democracy, family-owned companies, protection of small landowners in the agricultural activities and ecotourism small businesses that help distribute income, rather than corporations that export wealth leaving nothing but prostitution and the country in a decadent situation.