|
The
union of truck drivers,
addressed an apology to
Costa Ricans for the
damage caused by the
blockades.
/ Presidential House
courtesy photo.
|
Truck's drivers
will get no punishments
by the government in
exchange for stopping
the strike
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The government announced on
Wednesday an agreement with
truck drivers who, since last
Thursday, blocked roads and
highways in the country.
The government and the truckers'
union set 15 working days to
hold meetings and reach more
agreements in exchange for which
no reprisals will be taken
against the drivers who
participated in the protest, the
government said.
"We have signed a commitment to
dialogue with the will of both
parties to achieve goals and the
termination of the blockades,"
said Rodolfo Piza, minister of
the Presidency.
Marvin Castillo, leader of the
union of truck drivers,
addressed an apology to Costa
Ricans for the damage caused by
the blockades.
"We apologize to the people of
Costa Rica and the productive
sector for the damage caused,"
Castillo said. "We reached this
agreement for the good of our
country, we hope that things are
handled in the best way and that
we do not have to return to
these circumstances."
Tuesday 10 protesters were
arrested by the anti-riot police
during operation to clear roads.
At midnight riot police of the
Ministry of Public Security
began the operation of clearing
roads that had been blocked by
truck drivers who are protesting
the new value-added tax that
went into effect Monday.
According to the police report,
during the operation nine
persons were arrested in the
area of Pérez Zeledón*
and one in the area of Matina*.
All were detained as
consequences of putting up
resistance to police removing
the blockades, police said.
Of those 10 arrested, two are
under 18 years of age. Police
did not identify them but said
they were taken to Juvenile
Criminal Prosecutor's Office of
Pérez Zeledón, under accusations
of causing disturbances on
public roads and obstruction of
free transit. They will remain
in custody until a judge decided
on pre-trial measures against
them.
The seven adult detainees in
Pérez Zeledón were identified
with the surnamed Godínez,
Molina, Álvarez, Madrigal,
González and two with the same
surname of Rojas. One more
detained man was identified by
the surname Murrillo. He was
held in Guacimo near the
Atlantic Coast.
All detained adults were taken
to the cells of the Public
Prosecutor's Office on suspicion
of causing disturbances on
public roads, violently opposing
the arrests and obstruction of
free transit. All of them must
wait for a judge to decide on
pre-trial measures for them.
According to Article 263 of the
penal code, a penalty of 10 to
30 days in prison faces anyone
who, without authorization from
the competent authorities,
prevents, obstructs or hinders,
in some form, vehicular traffic
or the movement of passers-by.
In addition to the arrests, the
Traffic Police confiscated five
license plates of trucks that
were obstructing the public
road. In addition, fines may be
levied against the truck
drivers.
According to the police report,
the special road control
operation was carried out in
several sectors of the country,
mainly on the routes to Limón on
the Atlantic Coast and Pérez
Zeledón in the south.
Police had to use special
equipment and gas bombs to
control the areas where there
were still truck drivers
blocking the roads. Meanwhile,
the president personally was in
communication, monitoring the
operation and the application of
protocols to guarantee the order
in the country, said the
Ministry of Security in a
statement.
During the day, there were more
actions to control roads and
remove of obstacles in the areas
of Guanacaste, Puntarenas, San
Carlos, Limón and Pérez Zeledón
in the south of the country.
Involved in the special recovery
operation to eliminate blockages
in the roads were police
officers of each zone, special
riot police know as the Police
Intervention Unit, the
specialized intelligence police
know as Linces, the special riot
control patrol unit known as the
Special Support Unit, border
police officers, officers of the
Air Surveillance Service and
officers of the Traffic Police.
--------------------------------
Do you agree on
non-punishments for truck
drivers' union as an exchange to
stop the strike? We would like
to know your thoughts on this
story. Send your comments
to: news@amcostarica.com
|
|
|
