The Congress condemned the arms race in Nicaragua and supported the Government of Costa Rica for exercising the right that it has to protect national security in relevant international organizations.
The proposal, which was driven by the Libertarian Movement, received 27 votes in favor.
However, it was rejected by the legislative faction of the Frente Amplio and 5 members of the Citizen Action Party (PAC): Henry Mora, Epsy Campbell, Otton Solís, Franklin Corella and Marcela Guerrero. In all, 13 lawmakers voted against the proposal.
The motion states that the Congress “condemns the arms race started by Government of Nicaragua with the purchase of weapons, vehicles and possibly warplanes, with offensive purposes, which we interpret as an act of intimidation and a threat to the sovereignty and peace of the Costa Rican people.”
According to the approach, Nicaragua decided to unjustifiably rearm its army with the purchase of 50 T-72tanks and possibly a fleet of Russian warplanes.
I think this rearmament by the Government of Nicaragua is a clear and obvious threat to the sovereignty and peace of the Costa Rican people. If they did it by digging in Calero Island, they can also do it with tanks of high offensive capability,”
said deputy Otto Guevara, head of the libertarian bench.
Ligia Fallas, from Frente Amplio, argued that she voted against this because it is an interference in the internal affairs of another country and that is practically a declaration of war on Nicaragua.
Corella, on the other hand, does not believe the purchase of war weapons is a threat from Nicaragua.