News stories by Oscar Arias Sanchez

SAN JOSÉ, Sep 20 (IPS) - I have put a great deal of thought into whether or not to return to politics. Groups from different political parties, and without party affiliation, have expressed their concern over the current situation in the country and have offered me their support. And the opinion polls indicate that I would have a chance at a third presidential term.

SAN JOSE, Aug 23 (IPS) - Twenty-eight years ago this month, an indigenous woman stood in the plaza in Guatemala City, watching as the presidents of Central America walked out into the street after signing the Peace Accords that would end the civil wars in our region. When I reached her, she took both my hands in hers and said, "Thank you, Mr. President, for my child who is in the mountains fighting, and for the child I carry in my womb."

Certain Latin American governments have fallen into the trap of believing that being democratically-elected gives an official the mandate to modify the rules of democracy to advance a given political project. If a government restricts individual liberties, limits the freedom of expression, and scales back the freedom of commerce without justification, it is subverting the very bases of democracy that brought it to power, writes Oscar Arias Sanchez, ex- president of Costa Rica (1986-1990/2006-2010) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 1987.