Road blockades may continue today

Protests might also delay traffic, so for people traveling out of the two main airports, Juan Santamaria or Daniel Oduber , it is recommended
to calculate extra time of at least one hour in advance, to avoid missing any flights. - Movimiento Rescate Nacional photo -

Published Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Road blockades may continue today

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

On Monday, former deputies José Miguel Corrales and Célimo Guido, who created the group Movimiento Rescate Nacional (National Rescue Organization in English), met with José Rafael Quirós, bishop of San José and representative of the Catholic Church, who participated as a mediator between protestors and the government.

According to Quirós, after the meeting he was in charge of delivering a letter with a list of demands for the government. Depending on the final resolution of the authorities, the roadblocks would be stopped.

Furthermore, the Union of public high-school teachers, known as APSE, will be marching today, in support of the protests, from La Sabana Canton to the Congress. They are demanding the deputies for no more tax approval. The majority of the deputies of the Congress announced that they will not support the so-called government tax plan.

Since the government announced a new tax plan, the protests took place as a way of rejecting the plan to increase taxes and create new taxes as part of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, for a loan of $ 1.75 billion.

However, following the announcement by President Carlos Alvarado on Sunday, that the tax plan to the IMF was withdrawn, the protests have not ended.

According to former deputy Guido the list of demands are several proposals to move the country forward. Among the demands would be the definitive cancellation of any negotiation plan with the IMF, the control of tax evaders, and as the main request the reduction of government spending.

Until an agreement is reached between the government and protesters, the leaders warn that the blockades in the streets may continue, they said.

Videos of the protest can be seen at Movimiento Rescate Nacional Facebook page.

According to the government report on Monday, at least 45 blockades were organized by the group of protesters.

"Despite the government's call for a national conversation, the Ministry of Public Security with a cutoff at 7:00 am on Monday, that the blockades persist in 45 areas, also, on 10 roads vehicles continue allowing a traffic intermittently and 2,172 people are blocking the streets in various in the country," the government said in its statement.

Over the weekend, the Chamber of Tourism, Canatur, called on protesters to suspend the blockades, especially during the weekend. The call is to avoid worsening the distressed tourism situation.

According to Canatur, the protests and blockades could have negative effects on the tourism sector such as cancellation of reservations, loss of activities and scheduled tourist tours due to not being able to transport travelers in the middle of the blockades.

The chamber fears that the few international tourists already in the country will be harmed by delays caused by blockades or even lose their flights.

As a result of the protesting in several zones around the country, there has been obstructed access to many tourism destinations, a situation that is causing complications for national and foreign tourists who need to move within the national territory, Canatur said in its statement.

"We fully understand the discontent and the struggle that you undertook (referring to the protesters), and like you, we also reject the measures contained in the proposal to negotiate with the IMF," Rubén Acón, president of the Chamber said. "However, preventing the free transit of other citizens who must work and provide income for their families, is not the most assertive way to be heard, to continue with the protests the damage would be for the Costa Ricans themselves and against the image of the country.”

During the demonstrations that took place on Saturday night, 16 police officers were injured by protesters, these in several zones of the country, reported Daniel Calderón, director of the police.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, during the first two days of protests, losses in the agricultural sector were calculated at $37 million.

Protests might also delay traffic, so for people traveling out of the two main airports, Juan Santamaria in Alajuela Province or Daniel Oduber in Guanacaste Province, it is recommended to calculate extra time of at least one hour in advance, to avoid missing any flights.

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What have you experienced in the streets due to roadblocks in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com