Demonstrators and police clashed violently in Buenos Aires on Wednesday throughout a protest towards low pensions amid austerity measures carried out by Argentina’s right-wing libertarian President Javier Milei, with a minimum of 124 individuals arrested and 46 injured.
Police fired tear fuel and rubber bullets on the protesters, who threw stones on the officers and set hearth to a police automobile and garbage bins, as reported by the newspaper La Nación. In accordance with the paper, the police arrested a minimum of 150 individuals and several other individuals had been injured within the clashes.
Argentina’s Safety Ministry spoke of 124 arrested in a press release late on Wednesday. It additionally stated that 26 members of the town safety forces and police had been injured and brought to hospital, together with one one that suffered a gunshot wound and underwent surgical procedure.
The ministry additionally reported 20 accidents amongst individuals it characterised as protesters, together with one in severe situation. Native media reported {that a} photographer masking the protest was in vital situation after being hit within the head by a tear fuel canister.
Quite a few soccer ultras had been among the many demonstrators, the ministry confirmed. The so-called “Barrabravas” have a variety of affect in Argentina and have contacts within the felony underworld.
Members of assorted left-wing teams and commerce unions additionally took half within the demonstration in entrance of the congress constructing, in accordance with media reviews.
Argentinian commerce union federation CGT condemned in a press release what it known as “savage actions” by the Milei authorities “violently, senselessly, and illegally repressed right now’s demonstration in Plaza Congreso.”
The union accused police forces of utilizing “brutality” to repress the demonstration, injuring individuals “together with pensioners, protesters, media staff, and even some unsuspecting pedestrians within the space.”
Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof additionally condemned the “ferocious, unlawful, and premeditated” repression of the protest.
“A barrage of violence towards pensioners and residents protesting towards the austerity measures,” the governor stated in a put up on X. “What occurred right now is an assault on elementary democratic rights.”
“Whereas a photographer fights for his life, authorities spokespersons lie, justify violence, and unfold hatred. This authoritarian rampage have to be urgently stopped.”
Milei took workplace in December 2023, and initiated radical reforms. 1000’s of civil servants had been dismissed, and social programmes had been massively minimize.
Whereas his austerity measures considerably lowered inflation, in addition they stifled the financial system. On this once-affluent nation, now greater than 50% of individuals dwell under the poverty line.
Soccer followers be a part of retirees demonstration demanding larger pensions and opposing austerity measures carried out by Javier Milei’s authorities in Buenos Aires. Paula Acunzo/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Cops conflict with protesters throughout an illustration by soccer followers and retirees demanding larger pensions and opposing austerity measures carried out by Javier Milei’s authorities in Buenos Aires. Paula Acunzo/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
