Squatters In Clash With Police In Pavas
At least 38 people were detained, 17 of
which were minors, and 10 injured yesterday
in a clash between police and residents of
Pavas in an action to remove some 150
families squatting on municipal property, in
Rincon Grande de Pavas.
Armed with rocks and with precision aim, the
squatters pelted the some 400 police
officers sent to control the situation while
municipal officials carried out the
evictions.
The disturbance began in the early hours of
the morning to remove some 70 families of
squatters who decided to make the local
public park their home after last week's
eviction of their shanty homes.
The squatters, the majority young, appeared
organized and ready for the clash.
Police responded with tear gas which
resulted in the injury of 12 municipal
police and 3 Fuerza Pública officers during
the skirmish.
The Cruz Roja (Red Cross) reported that the
police officials suffered injuries from
rocks thrown at them, which were treated at
the Pavas clinic nearby.
In the end, police were able to regain
control of the public park and by 3pm, about
the time Pavas was inundated with a rain
storm, the uprising was calmed and the 38
individuals detained taken to the Tribunales
de Justicia where they will face charges of
public disorder and disobedience.
The police action, with little violence,
also evicted some 80 families from the
nearby area known as Metrópolis 2 and public
areas of Libertad 1 and 2, Managüita and Los
Laureles.
Rafael Arias Fallas, assistant to San José
mayor, Johnny Araya, explained that the
squatters had divided up the Rincon Grande
park into 240 individual lots, which
municipal authorities believe they were
going to be sold or leased out to others.
Heavy machinery was used remove debris from
the impromptu construction of "ranchos" and
create mounds to avoid reconstruction by the
squatters.
Local retailers and businesses decided to
close for the day during the disturbances in
fears of rioting and looting.
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