Kirchner sees "extorsionists" around every bend
London-based Argentine Leonardo Boix has a good commentary piece on CiF about the Argentina farmers' strike which is edging this country towards the brink of collapse again.
Ex-president Néstor Kirchner, spouse of the current president, has just held a surreal press conference in which he accused the farmers of extorsion, once again. For the first time ever, Kirchner answered journalists questions, cracking jokes and telling one reporter not "to be afraid" as his supporters jeered in the background.
In the past few days as the conflict worsened, Kirchner has replaced his wife Cristina as the face of the government. He even went so far as to join a demonstration of government supporters on the Plaza de Mayo on Saturday, moments after the same supporters drove off a group of peaceful protesters with sticks and fists.
The dispute has morphed from a relatively simple confrontation between the government and angry farmers over a tax-hike, into a conflict between "Peronists and oligarchs" charged with historic symbolism
Yesterday at around 10 pm I ran into a group of young men and women armed with sticks standing at one corner of the Plaza de Mayo. They said they were "protecting the square from golpistas" - i.e. those supposedly planning a coup d'etat. This square they said, was the historic plaza of the people, where Peronism had celebrated its most important victories.
Elsewhere in town, middle class families were marching in support of the farmers, banging pots and pans. These - the suspected golpistas - made sure to stay clear of the Plaza de Mayo after what happened on Saturday.
Negotiations, let alone a solution to the dispute seem further away than ever as we approach the 100 day-mark.
Photo Tobias Bruns - http://www.g-neun.de/ausstellung/portenidadfotos.htm
Ex-president Néstor Kirchner, spouse of the current president, has just held a surreal press conference in which he accused the farmers of extorsion, once again. For the first time ever, Kirchner answered journalists questions, cracking jokes and telling one reporter not "to be afraid" as his supporters jeered in the background.In the past few days as the conflict worsened, Kirchner has replaced his wife Cristina as the face of the government. He even went so far as to join a demonstration of government supporters on the Plaza de Mayo on Saturday, moments after the same supporters drove off a group of peaceful protesters with sticks and fists.
The dispute has morphed from a relatively simple confrontation between the government and angry farmers over a tax-hike, into a conflict between "Peronists and oligarchs" charged with historic symbolism
Yesterday at around 10 pm I ran into a group of young men and women armed with sticks standing at one corner of the Plaza de Mayo. They said they were "protecting the square from golpistas" - i.e. those supposedly planning a coup d'etat. This square they said, was the historic plaza of the people, where Peronism had celebrated its most important victories.
Elsewhere in town, middle class families were marching in support of the farmers, banging pots and pans. These - the suspected golpistas - made sure to stay clear of the Plaza de Mayo after what happened on Saturday.
Negotiations, let alone a solution to the dispute seem further away than ever as we approach the 100 day-mark.
Photo Tobias Bruns - http://www.g-neun.de/ausstellung/portenidadfotos.htm
posted by PIT @ 5:04 PM
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