Troublemakers from Tuesday’s student march could face jail

October 12^th, 2012 – Celso Gamboa, vice-minister of Security, estimated $3,000 in costs to the Fuerza Publica , and approximately $13,000 in damages to the Legislative Assembly, caused during the march held on Tuesday, in protest of the President’s veto to a law which would grant students and universities an exception under the country’s new intellectual property laws, allowing them to photocopy schoolbooks and education material.

 

Gamboa and high-ranking officials in the Fuerza Publica filed a report before the District Attorney yesterday, in which they complained against the group of protestors that banged on doors, kicked, and threw rocks at the Legislative Assembly building, as well as the police, towards the end of the march.

 

Gamboa also filed a formal complaint against those protestors who injured police officers.

 

“We have complete videos in which about 10 people can be identified. We want them to be identified, and we want penal and civil actions to take place, as they must pay for the damages caused,” de said.

 

So far, one person has been arrested, however, there is a group of protestors that, despite the existence of several photos, have not yet been identified.

 

In the photos and videos, the actions of the protestors are clearly seen, and according to Gamboa, “the judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ, in Spanish) must take upon the task of identifying them.”

 

“These people will be charged with resistance to authorities, serious injuries to Fuerza Publica officers, property damages, and any other (charges) that the Public Ministry considers valid,” he said.

 

The clashes resulted in injuries to 8 police officers, who had to take sick leave, as well as damage to state assets.

 

According to the vice-minister, identifying these individuals will not be difficult, and authorities will be utilizing both traditional and social media as part of the process of identifying them.

 

The one person arrested so far is a male by the last names Espinoza Moreira, is   currently being processed. He is being charged with aggravated resistance, which can carry from 1 to 5 years in jail.

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