So far, there have been 11 days of protest after hearing that the Special Fund for Higher Education was to be used for capital expenditures instead of grants, scholarships, and fundamental expenses as it usually is.
Some students pointed out that those making the decisions have likely never had the need for a scholarship or had to choose between paying for food or paying for the bus fare to get to school.
What started as peaceful marches, with the National University supporting them and even providing buses for students to get from one protest location to the next, has gotten out of hand on a number of occasions.
On Thursday, there was a multi-hour attempt at dialogue that went nowhere and it turned violent, with people throwing large rocks, wood, and metal. Then seven people were detained for throwing gasoline at Police officers and trying to light them on fire.
Prior to this, I was proud to live in a country that has peaceful protests that actually change things. This, however, is insane.
President Carlos Alvarado referred to spraying gasoline and threatening the lives of Police officers who protect us as “inadmissible.”
The people detained were taken to the second judicial circuit where after collecting the evidence and testimonies their legal status will be determined.
