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Bizarre Peace
Speaking of free speech, there's this really bizarre free speech fight going on in Costa Rica.
In 1980, the UN mandated a "University for Peace" to be formed, and it's in El Rodeo, Costa Rica. In 1987, a shortwave radio station called "Radio for Peace" was founded and it is housed in the University. The station built transmitters and a studio on the Univeristy grounds. The radio station is self-funded (I think through membership drives and donations), and as far as anyone knows, there's never really been a conflict between the University and the Radio Station, until earlier this year.
Anyhow, on July 21, the University sent an eviction letter (signed by a lawyer whose affiliation with the University is fuzzy) to the radio station, and told the radio station that they had two weeks to get out. No explanation (as far as anyone has reported) was given, and the same day armed guards and locks were put at the gate of the radio station. Some people who were inside were let out, but most have stayed inside, getting supplies from supporters on the outside. Everyone inside is a little shocked that this came from an international peace organization.
A plea was sent out to figure out a "peaceful resolution." There was a negotiation period, until October 31, and both sides agreed not to release any further information until after the negotiation period ended.
Negotiations apparently didn't go well for the radio station, because yesterday, the University cut the power at noon, and the telephones at 4:00. Reporters and cameramen are turned away by the guards. The University claims that it is subject to no law since it is owned by the UN.
Everyone else in the peace community is baffled by the whole turn of events.
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"In the olden days before the internet, you'd take this sort of person for a ride out into the woods and shoot them, as Darwin intended, before he could spawn."--Will the Vampire People Leave the Lobby? pg 79
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