COSTA RICA: Costa Ricans furiously protest privatization of piers

Record ID: 321382

  • Title: COSTA RICA: Costa Ricans furiously protest privatization of piers
  • Date: 30th April 2010
  • Summary: MOIN, PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA (APRIL 29, 2010) (REUTERS) RIOT POLICE WALKING IN FRONT OF TRUCK IN FLAMES PEOPLE TRYING TO OUT OUT ANOTHER TRUCK ON FIRE RIOT POLICEMEN WALKING TOWARDS BLOCKED ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED TRUCK DRIVER, SAYING: "They are throwing stones at us, they are setting fire to trucks, they are throwing stones at us and nobody here do
  • Embargoed: 15th May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Costa Rica
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA65HU9CQ5RVA4NK41D7TPN18D2
  • Story Text: Three policemen were injured - one critically - as protesters furiously protested the privatization of piers in Puerto Limon on Thursday (April 29) in the Costa Rican district of Moin, 90 miles (160 km) northeast of the capital San Jose.
    Protesters who reject a government plan to hire private loading and unloading companies for ships in the country's main port set fire to at least seven trucks and blocked several roads in Moin.
    The police said 20 people were arrested.
    Truck drivers said riot policemen were unable to prevent the protesters from setting fire to the trucks.
    "They are throwing stones at us, they are setting fire to trucks, they are throwing stones at us and nobody here does anything about it. The police is standing here and nobody does anything, what is wrong with them? We all have to defend ourselves," said an unidentified truck driver.
    One of the policemen was seriously wounded by bullet fire.
    "Well from the start of the operative they are observing us. There are blockades, burning fires. From one minute to the next we started to receive shots from apparent fire weapons. My colleague was injured. When they examined him, he has a bullet entry and an exit in his left thigh, with another entry in his right thigh. It looks like it was the same one (bullet) which went in, out and entered the other one," said an unidentified policeman.
    Protesters said the pier privatization would affect their salaries.
    Puerto Limon is a port city that was once a vibrant shipping port for the banana trade. The city was hit by a savage earthquake in 1991 and has never really recovered.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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