Fotos of Yesterday's Protests Is Riteve a Private Monopoly?

ICE offices were closed yesterday as workers decided to join the protests that began on Monday.

Only the offices of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and department of Licencias del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) in San José were completely closed, while hospitals and other public institutions counted with only a small staff.

Many requiring medical treatment at hospitals in San José found long waiting lines, while others with appointments with medical staff were rescheduled.

Schools held no classes, as both teachers and students participated in the march.

In San Pedro, university students blocked off the rotunda La Hispanidad in front of Mall San Pedro with rocks and tree branches, completely holding off all vehicular traffic while Transit police watched.

President Abel Pacheco met with his advisers to discuss solutions to the demands of the "populace".

He restated that Costa Ricans have the right to protest, however, public employees who take time off work to protest will be have their pay reduced.

Pacheco also stated that he feels for the truckers who have been misled by union organizers into thinking that the government would buckle to their demands. The government has been open to dialogue at all times.

Comptroller Passes the Buck
Pacheco was counting on the Contraloria de la Republica (Comptroller's office) to render a decision on the Riteve contract - a major point of the protestors - however, the new Comptroller, Alex Solís, pointed out that his office could only provide the government an opinion, pretty much passing the buck back to the President.

Union leaders on the other hand are blaming the government and Pacheco directly for all the problems. Some are very angry at the police response Wednesday morning, when in the early hours of the morning, members of the Unidad Intervencsion Policial (UIP) dressed in riot gear descended on the blockades and used force to clear the roads.

Some 85 truckers and protestors were arrested, trucks were confiscated and heavy equipment was used to move some vehicles that were abandoned by their owners. Police used tear gas to remove drivers refusing to exit their trucks.

The UIP is specially trained anti-riot force that is armed only with police batons and shields. They are not allowed to carry fire arms during a confrontation.


The March
The march began about 11am as ICE workers met up with teachers, nurses, doctors and other protestors at the park La Merced and moved along Avenida Segunda to the Legislative Assembly building on Avenida Central, east of the Boulevard.

Meanwhile protests were going on in all other parts of the Central Valley and the country. In Alajueal, a group of college students completely blocked the intersection east of the Juan Santamaria airport. They stayed in place until 3pm.

In San Ramón, the blockades by truckers continued, completely chocking the Interamerican highway that leads to Puntarenas. Students from the University of Costa Rica joined in the blockades.

In San Carlos, the route between Florencia and Cuidad Quesada remains blocked.

In Pérez Zeledón, the roads are completely blocked, no traffic is moving to an from the area.

In Grecia, the areas of La Argentina and Tacares reported problems with blocades. Truckers were blaming police for causing blockades, while police say they were stopping any organized effort by truckers to move their blockades onto the highway.

In Liberia, a march was held on the Internamerican highway, completely choking it from 9am to 11am.

In Heredia, students from the UNA blocked passage into the city for more than three hours.

In Pococí, college studens blocked route 32, the route to Limon.

Then the rains came. It started about 3pm, light rain and scattered showers broke up most of the manifestations around the Central Valley. By 5pm, the rains became heavy and all protests were suspended for a time.