NewsWhore
11-15-2011, 04:30 PM
Although the strike promoters and the government have provided contrasting accounts of the success of yesterday's strike, the general perception on the streets was that while sales declined, it did not cause any major inconvenience. On the whole, businesses in the capital opened their doors, and the average of closed locales was estimated at one in three, but customer flow was minimal. The streets looked less congested than normal. Many public cars did not provide services, and the vehicles that did come to work on the routes, as well as the so-called "pirates" and cars from other routes, moved about with few passengers during the morning hours. Also, in some schools classes were interrupted because not many students showed up, and in some cases children who did go to school were sent home. "Things are slow today" was a common complaint from drivers, traders and motorcycle taxis who, opposed to the strike, decided to spend yesterday as if it was a normal day.
According to spokesmen for the Alternative Social Forum (FAS in Spanish), which called the strike, it was 80% successful. They stressed the level of civil obedience shown by the population, which protested peacefully and without any major incidents. Up until the early afternoon hours yesterday, there were very few incidents, mostly small clashes between demonstrators and police and burning tires in places like Capotillo, Barahona, Moca and Salcedo. Nonetheless, no injuries or arrests were reported, according to National Police spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar, who emphasized that the policemen were on the streets (as could be seen on every corner) in order "to fulfill their duty and put a stop to any incident." The demonstrators, on the other hand, described the large number of policemen as militarization and provocation of the popular leaders, and they complained that some of their comrades' homes had been over-flown by helicopters, searched and that Tamboril leader Georgelina Morel's house had been sprayed with pepper spray. According to drivers' union leader Ramon Perez Figuereo, on Sunday night, before the strike, some 30 people were detained. The Police spokesman could not disclose the exact number of people detained, but he stated that they had all been questioned and released. Some injuries were reported in Santiago and a few other places but no deaths or major incidents were attributed to the strike.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
According to spokesmen for the Alternative Social Forum (FAS in Spanish), which called the strike, it was 80% successful. They stressed the level of civil obedience shown by the population, which protested peacefully and without any major incidents. Up until the early afternoon hours yesterday, there were very few incidents, mostly small clashes between demonstrators and police and burning tires in places like Capotillo, Barahona, Moca and Salcedo. Nonetheless, no injuries or arrests were reported, according to National Police spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar, who emphasized that the policemen were on the streets (as could be seen on every corner) in order "to fulfill their duty and put a stop to any incident." The demonstrators, on the other hand, described the large number of policemen as militarization and provocation of the popular leaders, and they complained that some of their comrades' homes had been over-flown by helicopters, searched and that Tamboril leader Georgelina Morel's house had been sprayed with pepper spray. According to drivers' union leader Ramon Perez Figuereo, on Sunday night, before the strike, some 30 people were detained. The Police spokesman could not disclose the exact number of people detained, but he stated that they had all been questioned and released. Some injuries were reported in Santiago and a few other places but no deaths or major incidents were attributed to the strike.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)