IACHR expresses concern over police actions in protests and attacks on journalists in Argentina

[sandensea]

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression express concern over the inappropriate and indiscriminate use of force by federal security agents in Argentina.

According to information received by the IACHR, on December 14 the Police and the Gendarmerie violently broke up demonstrations headed toward the National Congress in Buenos Aires to express opposition to a law reforming the pension and retirement system.

On December 18, new protests culminated in violent disturbances and left more than 183 people injured, including at least 88 police and 95 citizens - among them seven members of Congress. At least 70 individuals were arrested and complained that they had been harassed during the arrests. Four protesters - including a schoolteacher - lost an eye due to rubber bullets.

In addition, purported groups of protesters used violence during the demonstrations, throwing rocks and blunt objects at the police. Numerous undercover security agents were photographed throwing rocks, and then detaining protesters.

During the protests, at least 26 journalists and media workers were reportedly attacked by police forces while they were covering the demonstrations on both days. Of this group, 18 journalists reported being hit multiple times by rubber bullets. Several journalists were also reported to have suffered the effects of the tear gas launched by the police.

The IACHR and its Office of the Special Rapporteur call on the authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the conduct of the police during these demonstrations and establish the appropriate penalties.

They also urge the State to ensure strict adherence to the general principles of legality, exceptionality, proportionality, and absolute necessity in the use of force in contexts of social protest.

At: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2017/214.asp

[Judi Lynn]

1. Edactly as it's done here: police saboteurs, plain-clothes cops posing as demonstrators,

infiltrators, etc., etc.

It' also done in Canada, as they have discovered and revealed in recent years.

This kind of practise was wide spread in the US during the Viet Nam war, and also included spying on dissident groups, just as it did in Argentina for many years, with characters like the Navy officer Astiz "blond angel of death" who spied on the relatives of kidnapped, tortured, murdered dissidents.

It surely didn't take long, did it, for Macri to dive headlong into the kind of violent oppression which marked the beginning of the Dirty War?

The world of innocent, honorable, decent people need to see this new wave of fascism end a lot sooner than the last waves have. No reason on earth, no matter how many demons infest message boards to fight about it, for any more good people to suffer at the hands of monsters ever again. May their time in power be cut far shorter this time.

In the end, we all know they will lose. It is the only justice. Too bad it takes goodness so long to outlast filth, hatred, murderous intentions, greed, and total lack of integrity.

Happy holidays to you and to yours, sandensea.

[sandensea]

2. They're calling the Macri regime the 'elected dictatorship' - and he's proving them right.

On a lighter note, I hope you and your loved ones had a great Christmas, Judi. Every best wish for 2018!