Victims of Coopera failure on hunger strike

Six members of the failed financial cooperative Coopera began a hunger strike Tuesday night in the Parque Carlderon glorieta. The group is demanding government action to reimburse more than 600 coop members affected by the coop’s closure.

Coopera members and supporters marched down Calle Sucre Thursday night in support of the hunger strikers.

The government says it has paid back more than 99% of Coopera depositors but needs to sell coop assets to make further payments. The unpaid coop members point out, however, that money owed the unpaid coop members amounts to more than 70% of all Coopera deposits.

Coopera hunger strikers in Parque Calderon.

The liquidator has not disclosed details of the sale or how much the unpaid members will receive once it is complete.

Several Coopera managers and board member remain in the jail awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

The hunger strikers say they will remain in Parque Calderon until they receive information about the government’s plans.