Thousands of people have marched on Wednesday in front of Congress in Buenos Aires in support of retirees. Unlike the demonstration of a week ago, and without a clear organization, this time they occupied the place of state unions, social movements and parties of extreme left. Much more structured, the groups deployed at specific points with the intention of avoiding the incidents last Wednesday, when a hundred protesters ended up prisoner and there was a dozen injured. Seven days after that demonstration, the photographer after receiving the blow of a gas pump in the head. This time, it was totally different: when the sun fell in Buenos Aires, the march dispersed peacefully.
The government, however, had prepared for war. The speech of the hard hand is the one that enjoys and better feels. He is also the one who covers the most in his electorate. Already on the eve, the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, staged a meeting with and the heads of state intelligence services. In the afternoon, he spread in networks the photos of about thirty supposed brave bars that he accused of starring incidents seven days ago. To complete the combo, the minister offered a reward of $ 10,000 to those who denounced the violent during the demonstration.
The intimidation operation began very early, with the intention of preventing people from adding to the demonstration. The screens of all train stations, the most effective and fast medium to enter the capital from the outskirts, showed a warning in capital letters from the first hour: “Protest is not violence. The police will repress any attack against the Republic.” In case any passenger was distracted, the message rang throughout the day by the high speakers.
Official warnings did not deter protesters. Some added helmets, swimming glasses and scarves to protect themselves to the possible launch of tear gas. Others arrived in the square with fear, but immediately realized that the atmosphere was very different from that of a week ago. The retirees felt relieved by the absence of tension and celebrated the massive accompaniment to their claim for decent retirements. “We will all be retired,” “His fight today is ours tomorrow,” could be read in university students and workers who joined the march. The minimum retirement in Argentina does not reach 300 dollars and three out of ten people over 65 lives in poverty.
The football fans were present again, especially those of Chacarita, the club that turned on the spark with which the protest was massified. 15 days ago, Chacarita’s fans called to mobilize to defend retirees and a week later, the other clubs repeated the gesture. The fans criticize that the government accuses the brave bars, as the violent fans are known in Argentina, having starred in the disturbances around the Congress. “What can we expect from a government that lies in every way? It is clear that what you are looking for is to criminalize the protest with all kinds of ridiculous stereotypes,” says Hugo, one of Chacarita fans who was behind the initial call.
Corted transit
The government also gave in to its obsession to guarantee free traffic and from nine in the morning prevented car access and public transport in 40 apples surrounding Congress. The protesters had to pass a series of controls to cross the perimeter, while riot police repeated with megaphones the warning that there would be repression if the march became violent. Milei, meanwhile, followed the entire operation from a pink house armored by the police.
The president had a double interest. In addition to following closely the police operation deployed to less than 15 streets from the government headquarters, it had its attention in the deputies session that finally with the International Monetary Fund. The session was evidence of the deterioration that Argentine politics suffers, with insults, screams and even a deputy of the Government Party, La Libertad advances, increasing with a megaphone the president of the Chamber, which is of the same group.
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