OPINION Page 4 Saturday, January 29, 1983 The Michigan Daily The facade of democracy in Costa Rica 4 C 1 By Matthew P. Levine SSpecial to the Daily ., SAN JOSE, Costa Rica-Democracy is a mighty system, but it basically consists of only two things: The right of the majority to choose its leaders, and the right of the minority to fun- -. ction legally in the attempt to become the majority. * There are two structural reenforcements to ,,,,,these foundations. One is the ability to par- ticipate in free and honest electins. The other are the inalienable individual rights to think, speak, print, and organize. TO HAVE a blossoming democracy is to have a rich life, but to lack it is to lose not only our in- dependence but our interdependence. And denied our freedom of acquaintance we are dulled into forfeiting the only means of restoring our vitality. 31 Nobody would bother to contest that in early 1982 here in a cheerful Costa Rica, as compared to many of its Latin American counterparts. Luis Alberto Monge was elected president by a 58 percent majority in a fair and unfettered election. Since 1949, this expost republic roughly the size of West Virginia has enjoyed a seemingly sparkling record of paving the was a for these essential democratic operations. However, two recent events have cast a telltale haze over these easily glossed-over guarantees. They have generated an em- bryonic interest in taking a closer look at whether the quintessence of Costa Rica's political process is a sturdy and thriving in- frastructure or simply a shallow simulation. at THE POST OFFICE'S refusal to dispatch a previously little-known publication during the Christmas holidays, and the trial of an American journalist early this month have sent Edited and managed by stude Vol. XCIII, No. 98 Editorials represent a majoritye F- subtle shockwaves through the usual everyday calm. Although the erosion of public confiden- ce was ever so slight, the latest uncovering of alleged censorship and unconstitutional en- croachments on personal freedoms has bared some cracks in the system. There is a crucial distinction between an in- scribed right of free speech and thought and the actual ability to do so. Where people are unorganized and mal-informed, and im- penetrable corporate-type command can become entrenched and the "free press" can be used to mold public opinion and prudently distribute privileges. All this is done in a way diametrically opposed to the principles of democracy. And a brief glance down this renumerative avenue at these sobering images can help us distinguish the real face of Costa Rica's political institutions. Political pluralism here takes the form of four major political alliances. But two of them, Monge's National Liberation Party (PLN) and the Christian Democratic Unity Coalition (UNIDAD) hold over 90 percent of the 57 seats in the Legislative Assembly. "VERY MUCH akin to your own Democratic and Republicans parties," said a slightly balding political science professor, "these two factions are made out by the press to be fighting like cats and dogs. But in reality, they are the very same species." Although alternative parties are legal-like the United Peoples Party (PU) and the National Movement Party (MN)-"they gain little support," the professor, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "The press is tightly controlled and geared away from initiating truly independent thinking." To work as a journalist here, you have to be a product of the University of Costa Rica and certified by the Colegio de Periodistas, a government-sanctioned professional journalist association. The association arbitrarily denies certification to writers from outside the university regardless of their qualifications. To work without certification is to subject yourself to government harassment or two years in jail. AS SATIRIC as it sounds, Stephen Schmidt, a. New York native and former employee of the weekly English language paper the Tico Times, stands accused of the "illegal practice of the profession." Carlos Morales, the president of the Colegio, has announced that they will demand the maximum two year penalty for. this "unsan- ctioned" reporter. And the Costa Rican press-a vital artery of democracy-is doing nothing to uphold its rights. Juan Echeverria, a former minister of the Legislative Assembly and former minister of public security, has declared that the "media has been working hard to manipulate public opinion. The media owners are sufficiently conservative here, and are staunch defenders of the status quo." THE MONGE administration seems equally paranoid about minority viewpoints. The flow of information is also being disrup- ted. The present administration has invoked a little-known postal regulation that permits government authorities to "burn or return" material which is determined to be "seditious or pornographic." The semi-monthly magazine Aportes (Con- tributions), a publication of the non- denominational Pastoral Center for National Action, had its postal franking denied pending investigation, according to Vice Minister of In- terior Enrique Chacon. He proclaimed the magazine "subversive," and said that it first came under scrutiny last October when it published an article that was "highly insulting to the government." "THE MATTER was discussed at a cabinet. meeting, and the Ministry of Interior was ordered to investigate the magazine, its editors, and its policies," Chacon said. But holding up the distribution of information on the grounds that it might constitute a threat to national security because the government found an article insulting or even subversive is without precedent here. It has sparked fireworks of controversy and debate. In an open letter to Minister of Interior Alfonso Carro, over 100 well-known Costa Rican writers, artists, professors, and editors protested the official action against Aportes. "We know this magazine well," the letter read, "and we can testify that it is an organ of the press that is serious, critical, and respon- sible." On Jan. 5, Aportes was cleared for distribution by the National Security Agency, but not until a crumbling facade had revealed some prominent cracks in Costa Rica's poorly reenforced framework. The emerging outlines of a predominated press and a paranoia of minority viewpoints are instilling serious soul- searching and instigating some much needed inquiry. Democracy necessitates free choice. And to be able to ask the right questions and make the best decisions we must have a press that's serious, critical, responsible, and independent. Here too, democracy is a mighty high ideal. 4 'To have a blossoming democracy1isto have a richlife, but to lack it is to lose not only our independence but our interdependence.' 4 4 Levine, on special assignment for the Daily, is traveling in Central America. He will be a frequent contributor to the Opinion Page. loan at ents at The University of Michigan Sinclair l- iAt 4 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board r . F A useless aid program r N. B Y k 4 k i r 4 t iAONG PRESIDENT Reagan's latest round of economic ,proposals is a plan which would en- ;courage low- and middle-income - families to set up special funds for rtheir college-bound children. These 4,education savings accounts would earn tax-free interest. Reagan's plan has several serious flaws, however, that will keep it from - -ever being a worthwhile program to -.help financially strapped families send 0:,their children to college. 'The first problem is that the only tax- :: free family earnings is interest from : such accounts. Thus, a family that is ::-able to put $2,000 in one of these ac- " counts will only be able to earn $105 in non-taxable interest. The $2,000 would still be subject to taxes - taxes that P would eat up most of the interest the accounts earn. ° But the real problem is that most families cannot afford to put money in- to such accounts. Reagan's plan is aimed at low- and middle-income families - the families with the least amount of disposable income to put in- to such a program. In these difficult economic times, it is hard to imagine a family of four ear- ning $20,000 a year being able to save even $1,000 specifically for a college- bound child. Low-income families just don't have enough income to set aside to make such an account worthwhile. The president chose this plan over another which would have allowed parents to set up education accounts very similar to individual retirement accounts. The original plan, which also had flaws, would have made all money placed in the accounts tax-free until it was used. The Reagan plan may provide jusitification for further cutting into more traditional and successful forms of financial aid which dispense to students money to use for their educations. These tax incentives will not be sufficient in themselves to send financially needy students to college. And they should not be used as justifications for further cuts in student aid programs. 2 - "tt1.- - - -.ems .0900 0 4 -0 LETTERS TO THE DAILY: What now for the nuclear freeze ? To the Daily: The message has been sent to the president that we've had enough of the nuclear arms race. No doubt he already knew that the vast majority of Americans would support the nuclear freeze movement. The president has acknowledged the concern of the people, a concern he says all Americans share. But, the president and his cabinet cam- paigned against the freeze in California before the November election. / End PIP GIM's windfall 'A TINt "-=. °-- To the Daily: From the tone of Ms. John- ston's letter in Friday's Daily ("SCRAP Petition is Counter- productive," Jan. 28th.), it would seem that the writer may possibly be an apologist of PIRGIM if not outright sup- porter of the group. Therefore, she sees nothing wrong with a private group, one she approves of, using University facilities- registrar's office, financial operations to keep it afloat -all because PIRGIM is "...the most famous and successful of student social reform and progress groups". Who determines what group, reformist, elitist, whatever, can lock into the kind of windfall deal PIRGIM has? If PIRGIM is as suceessful as the claims would group, allegedly looking out for the interests of those who have failed to read the fine print. But inspect how PIRGIM wants its funding. It is a system whereby a fee is automatically assessed, and if, and only if, the student is so unprogressively in- clined as to desire a refund, she or he must apply for one. This of course would nickel and dime to death the University's accoun- ting department. However, most students do not read the fine print that the fee is not mandatory, it is too much trouble to apply for a refund, and most bills go to the parents anyway. Cui bono? PIRGIM! Not a very consumer-oriented method of operations, is it? Unless, of course, you are of the opinion that the ends justify the Despite the efforts of Reagan and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger to stop it, the freeze passed in eight of nine states. Now we must ask ourselves what effect the election results will have on the judgments of those men. Will these proposals do any good, and if not, what can we do to force the administration to take legitimate action? The general concensus seems to be that the success of the freeze proposals will have no ef- fect on the administration's defense posture. There is no obligation for the administration to do so. This situation will con- tinue for Reagan not to change course. The nuclear freeze movement is capable of becoming that force. However, the movement needs help. True, it is a growing popular movement with a broad base of support. Its organization- al network is spreading and so is its influence. That is important but it is not enough. What the movement needs is real political clout because clout is the only thing Reagan understands. The way to get that clout is through spoken in favor of the freez about setting up a coalition i Congress to work toward the realization of that goal. This coalition should transcend party lines to eventually gain enough strength to invoke a resolution in Congress demanding action on the part of the president. It is important to realize that this is not a politically naive or insane notion. This could be movement in which politicians a the people grow together. It's time to start a new trend in American politics. The people are disillusioned with the political process, politicians, and their ulterior motives. The foun- dations of democracy are crum- bling and so is the faith of the people in their government. I hope that the creation of an ef- fective coalition could help to a complish a real nuclear freeze. so, it would be an important first step, perhaps, toward restoring some of the lost faith in our leaders. -Eric Capstick January 25 . , ..