Political Memory Day Bill Fails in Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly
Proposed legislation to commemorate political killings in 1948 rejected by key political parties.
In a significant legislative development, a proposal to establish December 19 as the 'Day of Political Memory Against Oblivion and Impunity' has been dismissed by members of the National Liberation Party (PLN), the Progressive Social Democratic Party (PPSD), the New Republic, and a member from the Liberal Progressive Party (PLP).
This initiative, put forward by former legislator Paola Vega, aimed to commemorate the political assassinations that occurred on this date in 1948 during the aftermath of Costa Rica's civil war.
The proposed law seeks to honor the memory of political prisoners, including Tobías Vaglio Sandí, Federico Picado Sáenz, Octavio Sáenz Soto, Lucio Ibarra Aburto, Álvaro Aguilar, Fernando Aguilar, and Narciso Sotomayor, all of whom were summarily executed by victorious forces.
These killings took place when the prisoners were misled under the pretext of being transported by train from Limón to San José, ultimately being murdered at a site known as Codo del Diablo in Siquirres.
Following the execution of these individuals, a judicial investigation was initiated.
Although three accused of the homicides were sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, their political connections allowed them to evade justice, permitting them to leave the country without facing repercussions.
This situation resulted in a legacy of impunity surrounding the Codo del Diablo killings, attributed to the dominance of the Figuerista militia and its political authority.
The legislation was introduced on April 8, 2021, and required a simple majority to advance.
However, only legislators from the Broad Front (FA), the Christian Social Unity Party (PUSC), and one from the PLP (Luis Diego Vargas) voted in favor of sustaining the initiative.
The PLN, a party founded by José Figueres Ferrer, who was in power after the civil war and was implicated in the orders for these assassinations, voted unanimously against the bill.
The voting outcome stood at 16 in favor of extending the initiative and 25 against it.
Despite appeals from leaders within the FA and PUSC, including calls for reconsideration directed at the PLN, the latter maintained its opposition to the initiative.
This initiative, put forward by former legislator Paola Vega, aimed to commemorate the political assassinations that occurred on this date in 1948 during the aftermath of Costa Rica's civil war.
The proposed law seeks to honor the memory of political prisoners, including Tobías Vaglio Sandí, Federico Picado Sáenz, Octavio Sáenz Soto, Lucio Ibarra Aburto, Álvaro Aguilar, Fernando Aguilar, and Narciso Sotomayor, all of whom were summarily executed by victorious forces.
These killings took place when the prisoners were misled under the pretext of being transported by train from Limón to San José, ultimately being murdered at a site known as Codo del Diablo in Siquirres.
Following the execution of these individuals, a judicial investigation was initiated.
Although three accused of the homicides were sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, their political connections allowed them to evade justice, permitting them to leave the country without facing repercussions.
This situation resulted in a legacy of impunity surrounding the Codo del Diablo killings, attributed to the dominance of the Figuerista militia and its political authority.
The legislation was introduced on April 8, 2021, and required a simple majority to advance.
However, only legislators from the Broad Front (FA), the Christian Social Unity Party (PUSC), and one from the PLP (Luis Diego Vargas) voted in favor of sustaining the initiative.
The PLN, a party founded by José Figueres Ferrer, who was in power after the civil war and was implicated in the orders for these assassinations, voted unanimously against the bill.
The voting outcome stood at 16 in favor of extending the initiative and 25 against it.
Despite appeals from leaders within the FA and PUSC, including calls for reconsideration directed at the PLN, the latter maintained its opposition to the initiative.