ARGENTINA
Mass rally hits deepening economic crisis
By Bill Hackwell and Alicia Jrapko
Cordoba, Argentina
Argentina is a cauldron of social protest as poverty and
economic chaos deepen.
As International Monetary Fund representatives met with
members of the government of Eduardo Duhalde on March 15, tens
of thousands of trade unionists and "piqueteros" converged on
Buenos Aires to protest the current economic crisis and demand
jobs.
Unemployment in Argentina is more than 20 percent by
government statistics, but the people say it is much higher.
Organizers of the protest included the Confederation of
Argentinean Workers-- a large, militant umbrella group of trade
unions with popular support because of its commitment to the
current struggle. The movement of "piqueteros," who since
December have blocked highways in militant sit-down actions all
over the country, was also highly visible in this large
demonstration.
The exchange value of the peso continues to fall.
Representatives of the Duhalde government have been pleading
with IMF officials for help, only to be told that they need to
impose further austerity measures and stop issuing local bonds
and currencies in the provinces where they have no control. The
only reason the Duhalde government has not caved in to all the
IMF demands is because of mass pressure.
The wholesale privatization taking place here is immediately
apparent. U.S. corporations like McDonald's, Ford Motor,
WalMart and Blockbuster are everywhere. The banks continue to
be guarded by shotgun-toting police. Over 50 percent of the
people are unable to get the most basic food and housing, while
a very few corrupt politicians and the rich with dollar bank
accounts overseas remain unaffected by the crisis.
These few rich are so hated they cannot be seen in public.
If a government official is recognized in a restaurant or other
public place, it is common practice for them to be booed and
force to leave. In some instances they have been physically
attacked.
On March 19, a march of over 1,000 people, primarily youth,
descended on the provincial government house in Cordoba in a
strong signal that the anti-corruption, anti-IMF movement
remains strong. This action was part of a series of protests
called "escraches." This one was against the Mediterranean
Foundation, an organization that facilitates the penetration of
U.S. capital into Argentina.
The protest began to converge at 11 a.m. in front of a hated
McDonald's restaurant. The first to arrive were members of
HIJOS, whose core is made up of children of those "disappeared"
after the 1976 military coup. Later, the youth of the
Confederation of Argentinean Workers (CTA) came and were joined
by the power and light union, Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo,
students from the Information Science University and a large
contingent from the CTA itself.
A spirited march began with large drums and chants of "All
politicians should go" and "We want justice and jobs." When it
reached an intersection, a line of police in riot gear and
shotguns blocked the march. Undaunted, the protesters
spray-painted the streets, calling for indictments of all
corrupt politicians, and drew arrows toward the police, calling
them assassins.
At one point dozens of eggs were thrown at the police,
splattering on their shields. The marchers then left to prepare
for a planned mass march on March 22 to commemorate the 26th
anniversary of the fascist military takeover.
Reprinted from the March 28, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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