Protesters block Av. 9 de Julio as unrest picks up
Demonstrators take to the streets to demand greater assistance be given to poorest.
Social movements and grassroots organisations blocked Avenida 9 de Julio twice this week, cutting off the main transit artery of the City to protest the ongoing “social crisis” facing Argentina and demand steps be taken to assist those living in food poverty.
The protests are just the latest in a series of demonstrations in recent weeks, as social groups seek to pressure the government into providing more support to the poorest.
The peso’s dramatic depreciation against the dollar since the PASO primaries and rising inflation is continuing to weaken purchasing power.
Wedn es da y’ s pro test,dubbed a “national working day of struggle,” took place in Buenos Aires and cities across the country, including Rosario, La Plata, La Rioja, San Salvador de Jujuy, San Juan and Trelew.
A statement to the press issued by the organisations who participated said the rally was a protest at “the grave situation caused by the stampede of prices, which sharpens the people’s hunger and misery.”
The demonstrations were called by major political groups and labour organisations, including the Workers Confederation of the Popular Economy (Confederación de Trabajadores de la Economía Popular, CTEP), the Corriente Clasista y Combativa, (CCC), Polo Obrero, the Barrios de Pie social movement and the Darío Santillán Popular Front (FPDS).
Other labour groups, such as the State Workers Association (Asociación Trabajadores del Estado, ATE), echoed calls for the “immediate sanction of a food emergency” law to combat hunger in the country.
Wednesday’s protest marched down Avenida 9 de Julio to the building of the Ministry of Social Development. Social movements have issued several demands for the government to take “concrete and urgent measures,” including the increase of the complementary ‘social’ salary, me et ingswitht he Sala ryCouncil,a 2,000- peso bon usfor informal and un registe redworkers andan increase in retirement pensions.
“The cost of living increases each minute and few families have access to basic nutritional needs,” the union groups said in a press release.
“The government is doing huge damage,” CCC leader Juan Carlos Alderete told Perfil .“Em erg encylawsh ave be en in Congress two years ago and we are still waiting for treatment. We need those laws even if they are palliative.”
“It was a huge national day in response to a situation that is overflowing with misery, hunger and unemployment. We need an increase [in payments] in social programmes, ”said Polo Obrero leader Eduardo Belliboni.
On Friday, further demonstrations took place as social organisations and labour groups marched from the Obelisk to the Production and Labour Ministry. Groups including the CTA, ATE and Barrios de Pie called a rise in the minimum wage, given new data that shows the basic food basket can cost a family of four almost 32,000 pesos.
INJURY
On Wednesday, a demonstrator was hospitalised after falling from a height of five metres from Avenida San Juan.
The individual was treated by emergency personnel, before being moved to the Argerich Hospital.
The head of the emergency services, Alberto Crescenti, said the man’s fall was luckily cushioned by a parked car.