Protests Cause Traffic Snarls
On Tuesday, 60 individuals protesting the CAFTA caused major traffic jams from 4 - 8 pm. They blocked the traffic circle in front of Mall San Pedro as the final point in day long protests in which several thousand students, workers and educators participated.
According to the Traffic Police, the routes to Guadalupe, Moravia, San Pedro, Curridabat y Zapote were the most affected. The Minister of Security, Rogelio Ramos claimed that the Constitutional Court (Sala IV) has prohibited police from clearing roadblocks in past findings.
Constitutional lawyers consulted by the local media indicated that this was not true. The Sala IV has condemned police for using excessive force in clearing roadblocks, but not for clearing them. The individual’s rights (to protest) cannot supercede the public’s rights (to freely transit).
In related news, organized labor leaders threatened a general strike if the president sends the CAFTA to congress for a vote. Pacheco said that the country won’t grow through “strikes, road blocks and mob scenes”. Carlos Ricardo Benavides, of the PLN explained: “Here we have 57 congresspeople, who represent the people, so violence is not justified”. Lilliana Salas, of PUSC, said “the syndicates will be heard when we analyze CAFTA. I don’t understand the violence”. Rodrigo Carazo, of PAC stated: “It is not good, or prudent. Here discussion should rule”.