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    Photo via Ministry of Public Culture.
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Published on
Sunday, December 1, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The
national holiday commemorates December 1,
1948, when the then-president, General José
Figueres Ferrer, abolished the armed forces.
Figueres
served as President of Costa Rica three
times: from 1948 to 1949, 1953 to 1958,
and 1970 to 1974.
Following
a civil war won by Figueres' soldiers in
1948, the army was abolished. According to
the Ministry of Education, before the
civil war, Costa Rica's Army existed since
the country's inception.
Figueres
demolished a wall of the army
headquarters, known as Bellavista
Barracks, in a symbolic event shortly
after becoming president. The building is
now part of the
National Museum facilities in
San José.
"On Dec. 1, 1948, I gave some blows on a wall of the Bellavista Barracks to symbolize the elimination of the military spirit of Costa Rica at another time," Figueres said.
The
New Costa Rican Republic's political
constitution stipulated the abolition of the
army in 1949.
The
new constitution permitted us to use the
funds formerly assigned to the army to
further develop the public education system.
As
part of the Abolition Army's celebrations,
the Costa Rica International Arts Fest,
organized by the Ministry of Culture, will
take place at the
Democracy Square in
San José. The
free and pet-friendly event will begin at
6 p.m. The
Festival website provides a schedule of
all free shows.
According
to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency,
there are currently 39 countries and
territories, including Costa Rica, that do
not have a military.
---------------- Have you visited other nations without an army, such as Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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