Argentine human rights groups file complaint against government in IACHR
Two human rights organizations and two press unions filed a precautionary measure before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), requesting protection after national security forces thwarted pacific protests outside Congress on Wednesday and Thursday while President Javier Milei’s omnibus bill was being discussed inside.
The document demanded protection for 35 media workers and lawyers defending demonstrators, whom the police hurt with rubber bullets and chemical agents during the January 31 and February 1 protests.
The text accused Federal Police officers of using an “illegal and abusive less lethal” weapon, referencing agents who sprayed unregistered chemical hand-held irritants on journalists and demonstrators while also beating them with batons.
The request was filed by the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), the Center of Professionals for Human Rights (CeProDH), the Buenos Aires’ Press Union (SiPreBA), and Argentina’s Photojournalist Association (Argra).
Let's make a deal
The omnibus bill, which the Lower House partially approved on Friday (leaving just 224 of its initial 664 clauses), calls for business deregulation and the privatization of more than a dozen state-owned companies — including state media agencies and outlets.
It also grants far-reaching legislative powers to the president for one year, renewable by Congress.
The margin - 144 yeas to 109 nays - was reportedly also reached after numerous private, off-site meetings in upscale hotels and lobbyists' apartments.
The bill heads to the Senate - where opposition, center-left Peronists are better poised to block its passage.
At: https://buenosairesherald.com/human-rights/argentine-human-rights-groups-file-complaint-against-government-in-iachr
Argentine protesters parade an effigy of far-right President Javier Milei in front of Congress yesterday.
Federal militarized police forces violently quashed demonstrators yesterday, as the Lower House reached agreement on passage of Milei's deregulation, privatization, and rule-by-decree bill.
Protesters and journalists alike were assailed by both rubber bullets, and an as-yet unidentified pepper spray which causes severe irritation - a chemical agent not yet approved for use in Argentina, and therefore likely illegal.
The country's already-struggling economy has collapsed since Milei was elected two months ago, as businesses began taking advantage of price deregulation clauses even before their (as-yet uncertain) passage - raising wholesale prices by an astonishing 54% in December alone.