Legislator Denounces Proposed Arms Factory

LEGISLATOR Laura Chinchilla, ofthe National Liberation Party, hasdenounced a proposal to open an armsfactory in Costa Rica, the LegislativeAssembly announced.Chinchilla last week called on theassembly to remember Costa Rica has“bannered an international policy in favorof disarmament” and said every 30 seconds,someone in the world is killed bygunfire, and every 40 seconds someonecommits suicide with a firearm.She said the request to construct theplant is being handled by the law officeBufete Echeverría. Among the owners isJohnny Echeverría, an advisor to SecurityMinister Rogelio Ramos, she said.Chinchilla said that because no lawprohibits the installation of such a plant,she plans to propose legislation to thatend.She said she has sent letters to thePublic Security Ministry, the FinanceMinistry and the Foreign Trade PromotionOffice (PROCOMER) to inquire whetherauthorization for the plant’s constructionhas been granted and to ask for its closure.