Argentina

Argentina: Poverty and the Militarization of Society (1990)

by Grupo Impulso Autogestionario

Rosario, Argentina

Received, translated and distributed April, 1990 by Charlatan Stew, Seattle, WA USA

Xinhuanet reported that travellers tossed computers in the air, shoved security guards and attacked ticketing counters at Buenos Aires' Ezeiza international airport Saturday after Aerolineas Argentinas suspended most of its flight there.

Carlos Fuentealba died in April after being struck by a tear gas grenade fired from almost point blank range. The attack took place after Jorge Sobisch, the then Governor of Neuquen and current presidential candidate, ordered police to crack down on a protest march by striking teachers.

Working class protest, popular revolt, and urban insurrection in Argentina: the 1969 Cordobazo James P. Brennan

Introduction

“You are workers, labourers, continue the strike for final victory, for a new society where there will be neither poor nor rich, a society without weapons or uniforms, where reigns joy, respect for the human being, where nobody will have to kneel because there will be neither those in cassocks nor superiors”
- Antonio Soto at the last general assembly of the Patagonian strikers.

Agreements drawn up collectively by the unemployed workers movements of Lanus, "Dario Santillan" De Alte, Brown, San Telmo y Lugano de Capital Federal, Berriso and "Oscar Barrios" de Jose C. Paz, members of the Unemployed Workers Movement "Anibal Veron"
WHY THIS MATERIAL? WHY NOW?

The strike was virtually 100% observed and shut down the entire network, which is used by over a million people every day. The workers called the strike in protest at the salary increase negotiated by the rail workers' union (UTA). Buenos Aires was chaotic with traffic jams blocking most of the city as hundreds of thousands of people tried to use the roads instead.

The trouble started when a train broke down 600 metres from Constitucion station, south of Buenos Aires. After 20 minutes a group of passengers (these trains are packed solid with no air conditioning and little ventilation) walked to the station to demand answers. When they did not get any they began to destroy the information offices.

The march on May 9th was entirely non-violent and was attempting to go to the provincal center of government to register their demands when they were attacked with tear gas, rubber bullets and according to some reports lead shot.

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Buenos Aires and other cities. Schools closed, public transport was halted and banks and many offices shut for a couple of hours. Public transport stopped for a couple hours on Monday and banks and some offices shut their doors in a protest called by the country's main trade union movement.