Chinchilla also stepped up her criticism of Ortega and his government, said: "I want to remind 'esos señores del norte" (the gentlemen of the north) that only 'cobardes' (cowards) are courageous against the defenseless", without mentioning Ortega by name, in her speech during a ceremony of the 62nd anniversary of Costa Rica abolishing its army.

"See don't they do this in Honduras...", said Chinchilla.

The police reinforcements ordered by Chinchilla are to reinforce the mouths of the Colorado and San Carlos rivers, both in Costa Rica. The Tortuguero canals and the areas of Barra de Colorado will also see more police presence.

During her speech, the presidenta asked the Ministero Publico to accelerate border police training and assured that the added police presence does not violate the resolutions adopted by the OAS in mid November.

During the conflict, Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega has repeated that the troops are there to stay despite an order by the Organization of American States (OAS), to continue their anti drug smuggling efforts in the area.

Costa Rica relies on its police force for border security, public order and to defend national sovereignty.

A meeting of the Foreign ministers at the OAS is scheduled for December 7 and Costa Rica has filed charges for environmental damage against Nicaragua with the International Court at The Hague.

Ortega, while preparing his country's defense at the International Court, has continued with his troops on the disputed territory and continued dredging operations and completed the creation of a canal to diver the San Juan.

December 1 was declared Military Abolition Day in 1986 by the president Oscar Arias. The day is to commemorate Costa Rica's abolishing of its army in 1948 by former president José María Figueres Ferrer, known to Costa Ricans as Don Pepe and the "father" of Costa Rica.