The protesters have been encamped for 11 days despite Riga's cold December weather. Photo by James Dahl.
RIGA — The small group of protesters outside Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers showed no sign of packing their tents and going home, and even appeared buoyed by the return of one of their ranks on Friday — a man who had fallen ill and required emergency medical attention.
The LETA agency reported that the 57-year-old patient, who was taken to the First Riga Hospital on Thursday, said he would call off the hunger strike but would continue to participate in the impromptu tent protest on Brīvības Avenue.
About a dozen tents of various sizes and colors could be seen Friday, with numerous well-wishers and supporters regularly visiting the protesters throughout the day.
The tent that started it all; Gints Gaikens has been camping out in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building since Nov. 30. Photo by James Dahl.
The protest was started on Nov. 30 by Gints Gaikens, an unemployed lawyer from Valmiera who wanted to demand immediate action on joblessness and improved social benefits from the government.
To drive their point home, Gaikens and other protesters declared a hunger strike, which forced top Latvia officials, including health minister Baiba Rozentale, to take the demonstration seriously.
Eventually economy minister Kaspars Gerhards himself addressed the protesters via letter on behalf of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis. In the five-page letter, which was delivered to Gaikens on Tuesday, the minister tried to explain the policies being carried out by the State Employment Agency and benefits available to the jobless. It also contained information on what the government was trying to do create new jobs.
Finally, the minister asked Gaikens to end the hunger strike and the protest. Though Gaikens did not fold up his tent and walk away, he did end the hunger strike and on Thursday began eating food again.
Gaikens said he urged all the protesters to eat, including the man who fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital.
