NewsWhore
10-21-2010, 04:00 PM
An editorial in today's Listin Diario speaks of the consequences of the government having gradually allowed unionized transport owners to take control of the urban transport routes and impose their dominance on these routes by using violent methods and vandalism. "What has happened in San Cristobal, where there are frequent brawls that end in deaths and injuries, is an episode that should awaken the state of indifference and lack of firmness of the authorities that are permitting these cases," writes the newspaper.
The writer recalls how a bus owner and a bus fare collector were shot dead in Sainagua, San Cristobal "because the unions Conatra and Fenatrano" think they own that route and clashed once again for the control of the route.
The column goes on to describe how this also happens in the city. Men armed with pipes, guns and other weapons wait at certain bus stops, threatening to use violence against the drivers of any non-union "pirate" taxis that invade their routes.
"Authorities have been weak and incapable of putting an end to the system of terror in public transport and apparently are so blind that they do not see that the lives of the passengers who have nothing to do with the conflict between the unions are in danger. These are the innocent victims of their clashes," reports Listin Diario.
Yesterday, Police chief Major General Jose Armando Polanco Gomez and San Cristobal Governor Gamaliel Montas met with the union leaders and they once again agreed to end their violent clashes. Deputy Juan Hubieres, president of Fenatrano and Rene Mora, representing Conatra, pledged to put violence aside in their struggle to dominate the routes.
They agreed to wait for the Office of Ground Transport (OTTT) to issue a resolution regulating routes A and B in the province. The chief of the Police said that an investigation would be launched to find out who was responsible for the deaths and injuries.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
The writer recalls how a bus owner and a bus fare collector were shot dead in Sainagua, San Cristobal "because the unions Conatra and Fenatrano" think they own that route and clashed once again for the control of the route.
The column goes on to describe how this also happens in the city. Men armed with pipes, guns and other weapons wait at certain bus stops, threatening to use violence against the drivers of any non-union "pirate" taxis that invade their routes.
"Authorities have been weak and incapable of putting an end to the system of terror in public transport and apparently are so blind that they do not see that the lives of the passengers who have nothing to do with the conflict between the unions are in danger. These are the innocent victims of their clashes," reports Listin Diario.
Yesterday, Police chief Major General Jose Armando Polanco Gomez and San Cristobal Governor Gamaliel Montas met with the union leaders and they once again agreed to end their violent clashes. Deputy Juan Hubieres, president of Fenatrano and Rene Mora, representing Conatra, pledged to put violence aside in their struggle to dominate the routes.
They agreed to wait for the Office of Ground Transport (OTTT) to issue a resolution regulating routes A and B in the province. The chief of the Police said that an investigation would be launched to find out who was responsible for the deaths and injuries.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)