Pedro Navarro He lived on a particular Wednesday, April 22. The referee analyst Teletics and former referee had to take charge of coordinating security, in the University of Costa Rica, before the seizure of the rectory building of the educational organization.
The former referee spoke with The Nation 24 hours after what happened and explained in detail how he experienced those moments, where confusion took over the facilities due to the decision of a student group to enter the building as a measure of protest.
The origin of the situation is the failure of the negotiations between the government of Rodrigo Chaves and the public universities for the FEES 2027.
This Thursday, the takeover of the rectory continued and the students assured that what they are asking to end the measure is the departure of the rector, Carlos Araya, because they believe that he is not looking after the interests of the country’s higher education.
In addition to what happened in the university facilities, the students also carried out a blockade on the main street of San Pedro.
Navarro clarified that as Director of General Services of the UCR, one of his responsibilities is the security of the university campus, especially at this time that the person in charge of the department is incapacitated.
“I assumed leadership. The experience was interesting and new and will remain in memory, here the important thing is that the students did not try to attack or hit. By trying to enter, a crowd broke out, but I have to say that everyone protected the physical integrity of the officers, the volume made us (security) move away,” he stated.
Navarro announced that he, along with his team, stood at the doors of the building to try to control the entry of the protesters, but always with dialogue as a way to avoid acts of violence.
“There was a moment when we could no longer hold on and well the mass fell, but this was in several sectors until the windows broke. When this happens I was very worried because someone could cut themselves,” he said.
In fact, in a video that The Nation Navarro is seen yelling at the students; According to the former referee, what he was trying to do was make it understood that a cut could be caused by the glass that had been stuck to the wall.
“I run, but I notice that a very large spike of glass was left when the window broke, I just shouted: Be careful! They’re going to cut themselves! Once the window was completely broken, we let them pass,” he said.
Pedro explained that he himself looked for a way to approach the leaders of the demonstration and thus prevent the building from being taken over.
“I spoke with them, I tried to dialogue, but when they decided, we took a step back. The biggest concern was that no one cut themselves. I did not feel any blow, neither intentional, nor due to the volume of the people. It would be a lie to say that there was any aggression,” he said.
Already this Thursday the waters and tension subsided, although now the role of Navarro and his team in charge is to ensure everyone’s safety. Even from the students who are in the building.
“Today (Thursday) we had to help them turn off an alarm, now the important thing is that they are well and that the authorities talk to them. We are waiting to see if they occupy something, that’s what we’re working on,” he concluded.
The former referee declared that he himself has gone to the place, since he wants everything to be kept under control, although the negotiation for the students to leave the building does not depend on him.
Pedro Navarro even worried his family, however he quickly confirmed that he was fine and that the situation had not escalated. The former referee himself stressed that for him the taking of the building was without serious violence.
“Now I am focused on University Week and this case that we are experiencing, but everything is kept under control waiting for the conversations to bear fruit to end the situation that arose in the rectory building,” he said.
Students Break Glass During Demonstration In Rectory
