Costa Rican students demonstrate against university budget cuts

Peaceful Assembly

Over five days at the end of October 2019, public university students protested against budget cuts in Costa Rica’s Special Fund for Higher Education (FEES) and blocked roads near the National University (UNA) in Heredia. Groups of protesters occupied university facilities, while some marched from the University of Costa Rica to the Presidential House. On 22nd October 2019, security forces used tear gas against protesters in an attempt to clear the road and remove students from campus. Following these clashes, the Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional (National University Student Federation – FEUNA) condemned the repression of protests and demanded the resignation of UNA's rector, Alberto Salom, stating that he had criminalised students demonstrating.