Court Blocks Ambassador Change
by Rod Hughes
The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court has prevented the Arias Administration from reassigning Javier Sanchez, ambassador to the Organization of American States, to other duties.
After being notified that he would be relieved of the post July 15, Sanchez filed a recurso de amparo, a writ seeking prevention of the government executing a decision based upon caprice or arbitrary abuse of power.
Sanchez, a career diplomat, has served two years in the post but a curious Foreign Service Code specifies that a career diplomat spend a minimum of three years in a position and four if it is abroad.
Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno told the daily La Nacion that he would defer to the court decree but admitted he could not see how a transfer or rotation of posts could effect a career diplomat, reminding the court that the Constiitution gives the Cabinet the right and duty to remove or appoint ambassadors.