Costa Rica News – Days before Costa Rica celebrates the 70th anniversary of the abolition of its army, the Government of President Carlos Alvarado Quesada expressed its firm support for the bill “Celebración Nacional del 1 de Diciembre como Día de la Abolición del Ejército” (National Celebration of December 1 as Day of the Abolition of the Army), presented by the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) legislators.
The Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, also announced that the Executive Branch will convene this project to extraordinary sessions, which begin in December.
The bill modifies article 148 of the Labor Code so that the day is considered a “feriado de pago no obligatorio” (non-obligatory holiday), replacing the October 12 holiday, and proposes that the Executive Branch organize events throughout the country in celebration of this important commemoration.
While the date has been officially commemorated since 1986, the current initiative would establish December 1 as a day off from work.
“The abolition of the army is one of the most politically relevant decisions of our nearly 200 years of republican existence, and it is an essential part of our national identity,” Alvarado said in a press statement, which he also shared on Twitter.
Celebrations this Saturday, December 1, include a series of official activities in the National Museum, former Bellavista Barracks, across from the Legislative Assembly.
At the Centro Cultural e Histórico José Figueres Ferrer (CCHJFF), located in San Ramón, will celebrate this historic event with a special cultural agenda, which began on Tuesday and runs until Saturday.
The activities at the CCHJFF include music, film, history, activities for children, exhibitions, dance and educational programs.
Casa Presidencial has been posting on the social networks an audiovisual campaign with testimonials from Costa Ricans and foreigners about the importance of this date and what would have been the course of the country if this historic decision had not been taken.
From QCostaRica
