A Popular Rejection

Costa Rica expels the Contras. Having had decades of peace and stability, Costa Rica and Honduras became the bases for the CIA-formed counterrevolutionary rebels, known as the Contras, in a proxy war against the Sandinistas. By now, the Contras had been engaged in the smuggling of cocaine and guns, once the CIA had begun funding them through illicit means after Congress officially cut their financing. They had offices in Costa Rican cities, and military bases on its side of the border with Nicaragua. Tens of thousands of Costa Ricans took to the streets to demand their country's disentanglement from the war, and President Oscar Arias Sanchez had participated in the five nation Contadora talks. On January 14th, Arias demanded Contras in his country retire from the war and belligerent organizations or leave the country.