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Massive March of Piqueteros in Buenos Aires
Por chegringa -
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002 at 1:19 PM
Police presence strong, few incidents
Approximately sixty thousand protestors filled the Plaza de Mayo yesterday to commemorate the one year anniversary of the December 20th rebellion last year which left more than 30 people dead.
Unemployed Piqueteros who marched into the city from all over Argentina were joined by members of leftist political parties and neighborhood assemblies.
The demonstrators were protesting the current government , the IMF and the neoliberal economic model which has left this country devastated, with an unemployment rate of 25% and half the people living in poverty.
While demonstrators banged on drums, pots and pans and shouted Que Se Vayan Todos and other slogans,a massive presence of helmeted and shielded police guarded the rose colored government administration building adjoining the Plaza with tanks, fire engines, and police dogs. A special gate was also erected to keep the demonstrators away from the Pink House.
The following are some highlights translated from the Indymedia account in Spanish:
10AM: The first demonstrators arrived in Liniers, about 300 from Liniers, and 300 from Buenos Aires. Demonstrators are members of the organizations Barrios de Pie, Polo Obrero Moron, MTL La Matanza, MTR Merlo. A strong city and federal police presence.
10:30. 1,000 people in Liniers, who cross into Buenos Aires without any problems. The police cordon opens to let demonstrators through.
First demonstrators in Constitution. Few police visible.
10:50. In Liniers the western column begins to march into Buenos Aires. In the Avellaneda train station, the group Neighborhood Union begins to gather. At around 11:30 they march to Puyrredon bridge and then onto Constitucion, in homage to Pepete Almiron and then towards the Plaza de Mayo.
11:30. About 1000 people are concentrated in front of Congreso, most belonging to CCC.
-Three thousand demonstrators cross the Pueyrredon bridge, from the CCC, the CTA and other organizations. Police presence of 500, no disturbances
13:00hs. Cabildo (plaza de mayo). Homage to the victims of the police repression during the popular rebellion of 12/20, organized by the victims families and the Direct Action Collective. Objects and flowers are placed on the plaqus where the demonstrators were killed.
18:00. The colum of the Bloque Piquetero, el MIJD, Barrios de Pie, and the MST Teresa Vive are two blocks from the Plaza de Mayo along with various neighborhood assemblies. Behind them are the MTD Anibal Veron, the United Left and verious other groups. From HBC the columns seem to end in Congreso.
"The column of the Ploque Piquetero is entering the plaza, along with Barrios de Pie and the MIJD. The remaining columns have still not left Congreso, and in the Plaza de Mayo there are a lot of people." Indymedia radio report.
A group from Ayl arrives with 300 people. There are also workers from Brukman and Zanon, arrving at Congreso, where they join with the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. On the outskirts are columns of leftist partis, the MAS, PO; PTS; and CS.
16:15 hs. In 9 de Julio and Irigoyen a police operation tries unsuccessfully to block a motorcycle protest of 500 people
18:50. The columns continue to enter into the Plaza de Mayo, positioning themselves in front of the stage. Thousands of people are still unable to enter the Plaza. The mobilization is a resounding success. Meanwhile, in Rosario, organizations that are going to perform an escrache against Governor Galvez tonight receive death threats
19:30. From Rosario a report comes in that demonstrators were able to move into the Plaza de la Madre en Villa Gobernador Galvez. They are demanding justice for the assassins of Graciela Acosta. Huge police presence, but tension is reduced. Some media speak of incidents in Cordoba, as yet unconfirmed. Radio Indymedia continues to transmit speeches, except for when its service is interrupted.
Plaza de Mayo still full.
20.45 hs. The speeches continue. Some people leave, but the demonstration is still enormous.
21.35. Incidents in the Plaza de Mayo. Some young people throw rocks, but it ends with containment by the security forces of the piquetero organizations. The police move into position, but there is no intervention. Groups of young people are singing.
11:50. A few minutes after minor incidents occur, only the security members of the organizations, a lot of journalists and a few individuals remain. Most of the organizations and people have left.
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