The Argentine government defended police repression during protests supporting pensioners, alleging intent to destabilize the government. Amid violence resulting in arrests and injuries, officials condemned the protest’s organization by opposition-linked groups. A response from photojournalists followed, denouncing security force actions and calling for accountability.
On March 13, the Argentine government defended police actions during a protest supporting pensioners, labeling the demonstration as an attempted governmental destabilization. The protest drew participation from soccer fans, unions, and various social organizations who gathered outside Congress to demand pension updates. Following the protest, over one hundred people were arrested, and several were injured, including police personnel and photojournalist Pablo Grillo, who suffered serious injuries from a gas canister.
Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, characterized the protest as “of extreme gravity,” accusing demonstrators of being armed and prepared to incite violence. In her press conference, she deemed the police response “adequate” to disperse the violent elements and announced that a joint criminal complaint against the detainees would be filed for sedition and resistance against authority. Bullrich identified soccer fan Leandro Caprioti as the main organizer of the protest, stating that the events were orchestrated to destabilize the government.
Furthermore, Bullrich criticized opposition-affiliated officials, alleging that they facilitated the organization of violent protests in La Matanza and Lomas de Zamora. She insisted that the demonstration was coordinated by radical groups aiming for total destabilization of the government. Meanwhile, the President’s administration challenged a judge’s decision to release 114 detained protestors, arguing that it infringed upon essential constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and assembly.
In solidarity with Grillo, photojournalists held a protest called a “camarazo” outside Congress, demanding accountability from security forces and Bullrich’s resignation. Bullrich expressed her sorrow for Grillo’s condition but defended the use of non-lethal weaponry, claiming that the direction of the gas grenade was altered by a barricade set by protestors.
The Argentine government has taken a firm stance in defending the police response to the protest supporting pensioners, underscoring allegations of violence and destabilization efforts by demonstrators. The situation highlights the tension between governmental authority and civil rights, with ongoing legal implications for the arrested protestors. The protests have sparked a broader dialogue regarding the role of law enforcement in managing public demonstrations and the protection of journalists in conflict situations.
Original Source: efe.com
