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Costa Rica: The Union of Small-scale Farmers (UPAS), and treatment of its members or affiliates by the authorities (2000-2002)

A report from the Association of Services for the Promotion of Labour (Asociacion Servicios de Promocion Laboral, ASEPROLA) describes the UPAS [no full name found] as an agricultural union for small and medium landholders consisting of 3,898 members (n.d.).

No further information regarding the UPAS or information on the treatment of its members by authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following provides information about the National Union of Small and Medium-scale Farmers (Union Nacional de Pequenos y Medianos Productores Agropecuarios, UPA Nacional) (HIVOS n.d.) and its opposition to a national government plan to inspect motor vehicles (Tico Times 24 May 2002; La Nacion 27 May 2002).

According to the HIVOS), UPA Nacional is the largest agricultural union of small and medium landholders in Costa Rica (n.d.). The Costa Rican Coffee Institute (Instituto Costarricense del Cafe, ICAFE) stated that UPA Nacional was established on 13 May 1981 and is reported to have 19,000 members (n.d.). In addition, UPA Nacional

comprises about 70 divisions (seccionales), organised in five Consejos de Seccionales [Sectional Councils] that cover virtually the entire country. Production, including marketing improvements, has been a central concern at UPA thus far. Providing small and medium farmers with access to the decision-making organs is another important issue for UPA (HIVOS n.d.).

A number of articles have reported the opposition by UPA Nacional (among other groups) to the national government's plan to impose a "rigorous vehicle technical-inspection test" (Tico Times 24 May 2002; La Nacion 27 May 2002; ibid. 13 July 2002; ibid. 16 July 2002; ibid. 17 July 2002). More specifically, the Tico Times stated that:

Taxi drivers, small farmers of the UPA Nacional lobby group, public employees and old-car owners have pledged to strike and stage massive street protests if the inspections prove too rigorous (24 May 2002).

Rafael Cambronero, a representative of UPA Nacional, explained that small farmers are worried that their old vehicles that were built in the 70s and 80s will not pass the inspection (La Nacion 27 May 2002). The Tico Times further noted that small-scale farmers do not have the resources to "bring their vehicles up to passable condition" (24 May 2002).

Confronted with threats to blockade major highways, the national government yielded its decision to enforce the motor vehicle inspection in favour of consultation with opposition groups such as UPA Nacional (La Nacion 13 July 2002). Nevertheless, articles in La Nacion of 16 and 17 July 2002 reported multiple blockades, clashes with the Public Force (Fuerza Publica), injuries and arrests. The report of 16 July 2002 stated that a number of blockades went up around the country and that in one case anti-riot police (policia antimotines) dispersed a blockade with tear gas and clubs (La Nacion). In San Ramon, protestors burned an old bus, and in San Jose, 10 cars had their windshields broken (La Nacion 16 July 2002). At the end of the day, police reported that they arrested 78 persons and that 111 others were taken into custody (afectadas)-of which 40 were taken to medical centres to be treated for injuries (ibid.). A group called the National Patriotic Committee (Comite Patriotico Nacional) identified itself as being a collective of mechanics, unionists, neighbours, and others opposed to the motor vehicle inspection (ibid.).

The article of 17 July 2002 reported that after more confrontations and arrests by the police, the blockades had diminished in intensity (La Nacion). Over the two-day period of blockades, 175 persons were arrested and charged with a number of crimes such as aggression towards police, aggravated resistance, and the possession of molotov cocktails (La Nacion 17 July 2002). In light of the use of molotov cocktails, Rogelio Ramos, the Minister of Public Security, did not rule out the participation of "foreign consultants" (asesores extranjeros) (ibid.).

During these incidents, UPA Nacional was in negotiations with the government concerning the new motor vehicle inspection policy (La Nacion 13 July 2002; ibid. 16 July 2002; ibid. 17 July 2002). Subsequently, the Public Works and Transport Ministry (Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes, MOPT) accepted that agricultural machinery be exempt from inspection, and vehicles used for agricultural purposes be granted subsidies to bring them up to the governmental standard (La Nacion 17 July 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Asociacion Servicios de Promocion Laboral (ASEPROLA). n.d. "Violacion de disposiciones laborales por el gobierno de Costa Rica." <http://www.aseprola.org/documentos/denuncia_libertad_sindical/denuncia_libertad_sind3.htm> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Humanistic Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS). n.d. "UPA."

<http://www.hivos.nl/nederlands/partners/zoeken/partner/index.php?org_nummer=CR008> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Instituto Costarricense del Cafe (ICAFE). n.d. "National Union of Small and Medium-scale Farmers of Costa Rica." <http://www.icafe.go.cr/icafe/UpaNacional_eng.htm> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

La Nacion [San Jose]. 17 July 2002. Hazel Feigenblatt. "Fuerza Publica abrio todas las calles - Revision tecnica: Los bloqueos perdieron fuerza." <http://www.nacion.co.cr/ln_ee/2002/julio/17/pais1.html> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

____. 16 July 2002. Hazel Feigenblatt. "Disturbios por revision tecnica - Revision tecnica: Dificil control de bloqueos." <http://www.nacion.co.cr/ln_ee/2002/julio/16/pais1.html> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

____. 13 July 2002. Hazel Feigenblatt and Fernando Gutierrez. "Beneficio a sectores: Gobierno cede en revision de autos." <http://www.nacion.co.cr/ln_ee/2002/julio/13/pais1.html> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

____. 27 May 2002. "Taxistas y campesinos protestan en Costa Rica por revision tecnica de vehiculos." <http://www.nacion.co.cr/ln_ee/2002/mayo/27/ultima1.html> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Tico Times [San Jose]. 24 May 2002. Christine Pratt. "Reforms Seek to Avoid Revolt by Motorists." <http://www.ticotimes.net/archive/05_24_02_5.htm> [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Internet sites:

Comision para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Centroamerica (CODEHUCA)

Costa Rica, Casa Presidencia

Servicio de Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ) Costa Rica

World Trade Net

Search engine:

Google