Costa Rica President Defends State Secret Decree for Security Agencies

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández has defended a recent decree that designates information from three key security agencies as state secrets. Fernández asserted that the decree is solely intended to shield information that could be detrimental if known by criminals, emphasizing that public information related to national security will remain accessible. "What will not be freely accessible is information that could put national security at risk," she stated during her weekly press conference.

The president elaborated that the decree aims to "shield national defense actions" to prevent sensitive data from reaching criminal elements. Examples of such sensitive information include strategies for combating organized crime and the identities of individuals or companies contracted for polygraph tests on security personnel. Revealing these details, she argued, could expose them to pressure or threats from organized crime.

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Public information related to national security will always be freely accessible. What will not be freely accessible is information that could put national security at risk.

However, the decree has drawn criticism from political opposition sectors and the Inter American Press Association (SIP). These groups have voiced concerns about potential infringements on the public's right to information and the freedom of the press. The decree, published in the official La Gaceta newspaper, covers the Directorate of Intelligence and National Security (DIS), the National Security Council, and the 'Fuerza Élite' inter-institutional task force.

It encompasses details on organized crime operations, police intelligence and deployment tactics, operational capabilities, special procedures, technological resources, intelligence mechanisms, reliability assessment protocols, and public procurement processes for these security bodies. The government's justification for the decree cites the risk of compromising ongoing or future operations, endangering public officials and third parties, undermining international security cooperation, and diminishing operational effectiveness.

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everything that could be dangerous for criminals to know