Recently reported on The Costa Rica Star Facebook page was a video of this scuffle.

What had begun as a peaceful demonstration protesting long waiting lists for medical care in front of the universal health care (Caja) headquarters on San Jose’s Av. 2 Thursday morning turned ugly by nightfall.

Riot police confronted demonstrators, including two Citizen Action Party (PAC) lawmakers, to try to get traffic moving again but they defied police and 36 of them were arrested.

Interviewed briefly by Channel 7 TV, Minister of Security Mario Zuñiga said the motive of police was simple–get traffic moving again. He said that the situation with the bridge collapse on the General Cañas Highway just outside the capital was problem enough for motorists without jamming up Av. 2 as well.

The confrontation began around 6:20 p.m. when about 100 riot police tried to clear the way between downtown San Jose and San Pedro and Tres Rios to the east.

The situation for police was further complicated when PAC lawmakers Claudio Monge and Carmen Granados confronted police who were armed with plastic shields and night sticks.

In front of TV cameras, the bulky-bodied Monge dumped a woman cop to the pavement in a scuffle. The policewoman was sent to the hospital for medical evaluation and accused the lawmaker of assault.

All was peaceful until around noon when the march to the Caja headquarters and public gathering in front of the building had gone on for three hours. It was then that Minister Zuñiga sent in a contingent of police to try to persuade demonstrators to clear the street.

Then another lawmaker, Broad Front’s Jose Maria Villalta, criticized police for interrupting a demonstration and encouraged defiance. In that altercation, 11 persons were arrested.

They were charged with obstructing traffic, disorderly conduct and disobedience of authority. The attitude of the demonstrators, egged on by lawmaker statements, hardened then into stubborn refusal to give way.

By 4:30 in the afternoon the demonstrators moved farther south to the Plaza de Garantias Sociales around the corner where they again brought traffic to a halt.

Commentary: Although PAC tried to play the victim, even down to holding a press conference, their deputies played the part of agitators during the demonstration. Carmen Granados even climbed on to the top of a police patrol car.

The situation between police and deputies is delicate. Costa Rican law, mindful of oppressive government that once dominated Latin America, holds division of Powers in high regard. The lawmakers belong to the Legislative branch of government while police are part of the Executive branch.

However, the PAC lawmakers apparently thought their membership in the Legislative Assembly gave them complete immunity from the laws that govern the rest of us. Moreover, they seemed completely ignoring the example they should provide citizens in the street.

What should the impressionable youth conclude from this? That it is perfectly permissible to defy authority? Or that if they want to break the law they should become politicians? Deputies, maintain your dignity! The nation is watching.