Tuesday’s protests by several hundred motorcyclists demanding negotiations with the government to lower the price of the marchamos (circulation permit that must be renewed annually) boiled over.

The demonstration lasted most of the day and resulted in five arrested and the windshield and driver’s window of a minivan broken out. It is presumed that a helmet and a barrel were used in breaking the glass.

The minivan was carrying 46 passengers from Heredia to San Jose but spokesmen for the owner, Busetas Heredia, said none were injured. The incident occurred in front of the Crown Plaza Hotel on the Sabana Park.

An obviously unhappy Eugenio Badilla, coordinator of the National Civic Committee of Motorcyclists and of the demonstration, told the national newspaper La Nacion that those attacking the bus were “infiltrators” in the parade.

Although the parade of two-wheelers did not start until mid-morning, by afternoon they began to get out of hand, blocking streets, until police gathered, and causing frequent traffic jams.

One man was arrested for the vandalism against the bus and other four for obstructing traffic. In late morning, the motorcyclists migrated to the Presidential Offices in Zapote where Vice Minister Francisco Marin refused to receive them.

Marin did, however, come out in the afternoon to receive a petition from public employees union general secretary Albino Vargas. His organization supports the demonstrators.

Source: Fijatevos.com