Just as planned, a group of about 800 people marched peacefully this morning in the streets of Nicoya in protest to the government of Costa Rica regading now recurring themes such as housing, drinking water, roads and the Coastal Community Territories Law (TECOCOS).
The march began in front of Anexion Hospital at 9 a.m., but given the high temperature recorded in the colonial city, the march didn’t last more than half an hour, dissolving in front of Coopealianza.
A small caravan entered Nicoya’s central park, under the watch of the Public Force and traffic police.
The lightness of the march was mainly because President Luis Guillermo Solis signed a commitment earlier in the day to dialogue and give immediate attention to the problems decried by the different social groups.
Nicoyan lawyer Wilmar Matarrita, who is one of the leaders of the march and husband of the Guanacaste legislator from the Broad Front party, Suray Carrillo, was very optimistic about the position that the government took.
“This march is to keep saying that the problems have not gone away. The government has signed a document to initiate a process of dialogue, but we are not going to lower the flags and the people are going to be watching this process. We have been demanding this for more than eight years and we will continue to fight,” said Matarrita.
Matarrita delivered the document during a breakfast shared by the ministers, the president and community representatives in the morning.
The agreement was ratified during the solemn ceremony that was held at noon in the pavillion in Nicoya’s central park.
The document was signed by Carlos Segnini, minister of transportation, Sergio Alfaro, minister of the presidency, Victor Morales, minister of labor, and President Guillermo Solis.
Regarding the openness of the government, Matarrita acknowledged that this government is making a difference to others since it has shown openness and has not repressed marches and he even gave a traditional chonete hat to President Solis.
“During the different July 25th celebrations, we always had police aggression in response. The people who came to protest were, never welcomed. This president has been different. That is why this canvas hat, farmer-style that represents the farmers that protest each year, is like a symbolic tribute to the president,” said Matarrita.
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