|
Government Will Not Permit
Blockades Next Monday
The government said yesterday it
will guarantee the rights of the
protestors against the Tratado
Libre de Comercio (free trade
agreement with the United
States) that will be out on the
streets next Monday, but ti will
not permit blockades, said the
Ministro de Seguridad, Fernando
Berrocal Soto.
The minister added that the
right to protest is a
constitutional right and an
obligation of the Feurza Pública
(police) to guarantee that
right, however, there must be a
difference between a protest and
a blockade, which the government
will not permit.
"It is the responsibility of the
government to maintain public
order, but this is a
responsibility that belongs to
the citizens and the Fuerza
Pública", said Berrocal.
Berrocal said that the
government is confident that
Monday's protest will be
peaceful and has ordered the
members of the Fuerza Pública to
be on patrol without firearms.
Berrocal added that a group of
women officers will be placed in
the first line guaranteeing
peace.
For his part, the ministro de
Trabajo (labour minister),
Francisco Morales, is making a
call to all public employees not
to abandon their jobs so as not
to disrupt public services,
adding that all public employees
who participate in the protests
will have their pay docked for
the missed hours.
The Defensoría de los Habitantes
(Ombudsman's office) will assume
an observation role, keeping an
eye on the rights of the
citizens. Lisbeth Quesada
Tristán, head of the Defensoría,
said that the public must be
assured that their rights are
not violated and that the
Defensoría, an institution
trusted by the public, will be
out in full force at schools,
hospitals and other public
institutions, and will be making
a full report. Quesada added
that the main attention will on
San José, where the largest
protest is expected, but also in
regional centres like Liberia,
Limón, etc.
Quesada is asking officials of
public institutions to do all
they can to ensure that public
services are not disrupted and
is asking all those will partake
in the protests to do so in a
responsible manner and respect
democratic principles.
|
|
