International
Argentine society defends its sensitive fiber before the Government: public education
Argentine society defended one of those axes that trebrate it, a sensitive fiber such as public education, before the adjustment policies of the Government of libertarian Javier Milei, who, in addition to applying his well-known ‘chainsaw’, considers it a “nest of indoctrination.”
Several hundred thousand citizens – students, teachers, university staff, in addition to unions, politicians and social organizations – demonstrated in the Federal University March through the streets throughout the country in defense of public higher education and against the policies of the Executive in that area.
Although the Ministry of Human Capital announced late on Monday what, days ago, it presented as an agreement reached with the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), the deposit of 10,075 million pesos (about 11 million dollars at the current official exchange rate) for 100% of the operating expenses of the national universities, the march went on.
According to the Ministry of Security, only in the Plaza de Mayo, where the march of Buenos Aires concluded, which took place between Congress and the Casa Rosada (seat of the Government), between 100,000 and 150,000 people gathered.
But the number of people between Avenida de Mayo, 9 de Julio and the surrounding streets could raise that number to about half a million protesters.
Argentina promulgated in 1884, under the Presidency of Julio Argentino Roca, Law 1420 on common, free and compulsory education, the basis of the current national education system, which includes free education up to higher (university) education and reaches foreigners.
“We are proud children of the Argentine public university,” proclaimed the president of the Argentine University Federation (FUA), Piera Fernández de Piccoli, in her speech at the end of the Buenos Aires march.
The university leader affirmed that “education is a fundamental human right, because it prevails over the ungrateful chance of inequality” and considered the current one as “a critical period as a result of the policies of the national government.”
In his speech, he demanded the updating of salaries and operating expenses because, he said, the public university is “in March 2024 with values of September 2022”; also the improvement of retirees and the restitution of the National Teaching Incentive Fund (FONID).
Although the call was made from civil society, several political leaders did not want to miss the call.
Among those attending the demonstration in Buenos Aires were the Peronist governor of the homonymous province, Axel Kicillof; the former Minister of Economy and Milei’s adversary in the last presidential elections, Sergio Massa; and the president of radicalism, Senator Martín Lousteau.
Before the march, the former mayor of Buenos Aires and co-founder of the Republican Proposal (center-right) party Horacio Rodríguez Larreta expressed his support; and from a balcony near Congress, former Argentine president Cristina Fernández greeted the demonstrators, who waved a university garment in her hand.
But, without a doubt, it was an event of Argentine society, which was mobilized in peace and without altercations, as the Security authorities themselves acknowledged to the television channel Todo Noticias (TN).
The events in Buenos Aires were attended by representatives of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), one of the most important in Latin America, and of other educational centers in the capital, including some private ones.
In Córdoba (center), a student center par excellence and home of the National University of Córdoba (UNC) – the oldest in the country and one of the first in Latin America, founded in 1613 – about 30,000 people were mobilized.
With a long history of student claims, the city nicknamed ‘la Docta’ was the scene of the ‘Cordobazo’ in 1969, one of the largest Latin American university mobilizations within the framework of the global protests of the late sixties, which was harshly repressed by the dictatorship that then held power (1966-1973).
During the day, there were also mobilizations in the provinces of Santa Fe, Mendoza, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Neuquén, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Misiones, San Juan, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Catamarca and Chubut.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
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