Military of Costa Rica

On December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rica after victory in the civil war in that year.^[1] In a ceremony in the Cuartel Bellavista, Figueres broke a wall with a mallet symbolizing the end of Costa Rica's military spirit. In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution.

José Figueres Ferrer breaking a wall of the Cuartel Bellavista symbolizing the abolition of the Military.

The budget previously dedicated to the military now is dedicated to security, education and culture; the country maintains Police Guard forces. The museum Museo Nacional de Costa Rica was placed in the Cuartel Bellavista as a symbol of commitment to culture.

In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1 as the Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military abolition day) with Law #8115.

Unlike its neighbours, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war since 1948.

Costa Rica maintains small forces capable of law enforcement and foreign peacekeeping, but has no permanent standing army.

Ministry of Public Security's Public Force

During 1996, the Ministry of Public Security established the Fuerza Pública or Public Force which reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counter-narcotics, and border patrol functions.

Outside the Fuerza Pública, there is a small Special Forces Unit, the Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) or Special Intervention Unit, which trains with special forces of Israel, and its namesake in Spain and other democratic nations, but is not part of the main police forces. Instead it is part of the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS) which reports directly to the Minister of the Presidency.

Weapons and equipment

Rifles:

• M16 Rifle 5.56x45
• M4A1 5.56x45
• M14 7.62x51 NATO
• Galil 5.56x45
• FN-FAL 7.62x51 NATO

Sub-Machine Guns:

• Heckler & Koch MP5 9x19 Parabellum
• Beretta Model 38 9x19 Parabellum

General Purpose Machine Gun:

• M60 7.62x51 NATO

Pistols:

• M1911 .45 ACP

Aircraft inventory

There are 11 aircraft on government support, law enforcement, and civil duties.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2]	Notes
Aero Commander	United States	utility transport	695	1
Cessna 206	United States	utility	206G	2
Cessna 207	United States	utility		1
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou	Canada	tactical transport		1
MD Helicopters MD 500	United States	utility helicopter	MD 500E	2
Piper PA-31 Navajo	United States	utility		3
Piper PA-34 Seneca	United States	utility	PA-34-200T	1

See also

• List of countries without armed forces

References

1. ^ El Espíritu del 48. "Abolición del Ejército". http://www.elespiritudel48.org/docu/h013.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-09.  (Spanish)
2. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.

External links

• Fuerza Pública de Costa Rica.
• Ministerio de Seguridad Pública.
• El Espíritu del 48: Abolición del Ejército A brief history of the abolition of the military in Costa Rica.
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