An article published in the official Cuban Communist Party daily Granma yesterday accused President Oscar Arias of “remilitarizing” the National Police to quiet his detractors and opponents of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

The article, which came from the Cuban press agency La Prensa Latina, said Arias “is pushing for the remilitarization of police” and “using his power anytime he feels like it to try to silence his opponents.”

It goes on to call Arias a “representative of the Costa Rican agro-industrial bourgeois,” who has increased military police presence since he took office in May.

Arias’ tactics could “increase the continuing repressive strategy in vogue of violating unions’ freedom, citizens’ rights and even the representative democracy this Nobel Peace Prize winner has always touted as a leader.” (Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, during his first presidency.)

The article, however, appears to be based on a statement released last week signed by a group identified only as the Frentes Comunitarios de Lucha Contra el TLC “Generales Mora y Cañas,” [The Generals Mora and Cañas Community Front for the Struggle against the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA)]. The statement and the article included almost all the same information and even some identical wording criticizing Arias for increasing military presence and accusing police of abusing and repressing protestors.

Meanwhile, the Executive Branch yesterday released a statement expressing concern about recent calls to action by social groups and allegations by the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) that the government is using repressive tactics to stop demonstrators who oppose CAFTA.

-Tico Times and ACAN-EFE