As promised last night by student federations of the different public universities, a large group gathered in San Pedro and is marching this Thursday morning towards the Presidential House in Zapote, members of the labor unions are taking advantage of the student movement and joining the demonstration.

All academic activities were suspended today and are expected to resume at 1 p.m. at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), as well as other public universities with the purpose of allowing the student community to take part in the “peaceful” march to protest the actions that took place Wednesday evening when a the public police force entered the UCR’s campus chasing after a group of students that had been blocking roads and reportedly threw rocks and other objects at the police, students are defending the “autonomy” of the University and condemning what they consider was unnecessary police violence against students.

Fabian Volio, attorney, who specializes in constitutional law, gave his point of view this morning to radio show Nuestra Voz and clarified that the “autonomy” or independence of universities refer to the independent control these entities exercise over their day to day operations, academic matters and curriculum. However, according to Volio, the police has the right and the duty to enter the campus when necessary, and do not need permission to do so, when their duties require it.

Whether the public police force used or not excessive violence or abused their authority is something that will have to be investigated thoroughly and the respective actions must be taken in this sense independently of where the situation took place.

Labor unions that continue in strike protesting the fiscal plan decided to join the student movement.

The group reached the Presidential House at 10:30 a.m.

President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado will be meeting with the UCR dean Henning Jensen this morning. Jensen has publicly expressed his support to the union labors’ movement. Alvarado stated last night that the government is respectful of the autonomy of the universities and ordered an investigation of the situation, at the same time he called to maintain peace and dialogue.

The strikes today are intended to cause transit problems in different roads in the country.