Yesterday’s protests crippled much of country but remained mostly peaceful (updated with photos)

HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

Editor’s note: Scroll to the bottom for more photos!

June 26^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Thousands of people took to the streets yesterday to protest against the government of President Laura Chinchilla, as part of a national day of strikes and protests called by unions and civic groups.

The protests took place throughout the country, including the capital city of San José, the port city of Limón, and dozens of other cities and towns throughout the country.

San José and other cities suffered heavy congestion yesterday. Some tourists, stuck in traffic as protestors blocked the highway leading to the Juan Santamaria International Airport, decided to exit vehicles and walk the remaining distance so as not to miss departing flights.

Most public schools throughout the country were closed, and dockworkers in Limón stopped work at the busy port.

A massive demonstration in the capital marched through the city center before reaching the Legislative Assembly.

Some small groups that police called anarchists threw stones at members of the media covering the protest, though the protests remained mostly peaceful throughout the entire country. Authorities say only six people were arrested, several of which were minors.

Most hospitals in the country were forced to operate half-staffed as healthcare workers also protested in the national strike, including a group of 200 employees of Hospital Mexico who blocked the General Cañas highway.

Protestors were also able to completely block routes leading in and out of the city of Heredia for a period of time.

Meanwhile, striking dockworkers in the port city of Limon went on an 8-hour work stoppage expected to cost shipping companies thousands of dollars. According to source, every hour that a ship waits to dock at the port costs shipping companies $1,000, meaning that the work stoppage came at a cost of $8,000 per ship.

The strikes and protests included The National Forum, the Caja Workers Union, teachers unions, dockworkers, healthcare workers, various public and private institutions, private transport drivers, motorcycle owners, community organizations, and the Frente Amplio political party, amongst others.

The various groups said they were protesting against a host of issues affecting the country, including corruption and impunity of public officials, controversial concessions, the killing of environmentalist, Jairo Mora, which Vice President Alfio Piva called an “accident,” the case of lawmaker Jorge Angulo (accused of extortion), the controversial Chinese-funded oil refinery planned for Moín, the case of the Crucitas open-pit goldmine, President Laura Chinchilla’s use of a private jet linked to a Colombian businessman who was investigated for drug trafficking, the border road with Nicaragua known as “La Trocha,” privatization of ports, the closing of a health clinic in Montes de Oca, social inequality, deteriorating public services, and more.