Police violently suppressed an anti-Monsanto demonstration (photo: RNMA- Red Nacional de Medios Alternativos)
Incidents in Anti-Monsanto Protest: At least four people were injured last night as the provincial police violently suppressed a protest against the establishment of a Monsanto factory in Malvinas Argentinas, Córdoba. Protesters had gathered after 6pm yesterday and marched towards the town hall to demand mayor Daniel Arzani sign a decree banning the multinational from setting up a seed processing plant in Malvinas Argentinas. As they approached the fences placed around the town hall, police suppressed the protest using rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons. Three members of the local organisation ‘Malvinas Assembly Fights for Life’ and a journalist for the National Network of Alternative Media (RNMA) had to be taken to hospital after being beaten and shot with rubber bullets. The journalist, Javier Astrada, said that “the police shot me [in the leg] with rubber bullets from a two-metre distance.” Astrada and two of the Assembly members were released immediately, whilst one of them, Daniela Pérez, who was hit in the head, was kept under observation. After 10pm, mayor Arzani met with three members of the Assembly, however he stated that the final decision over the Monsanto plant lies with the provincial government.
Tornado Hits Greater Buenos Aires: A tornado hit the Buenos Aires town of Berazategui at around noon today, causing damages to property and widespread power cuts. The strong winds were preceded by rain and lightning, and caused roofs, signs, and even a car to blow away. The storm also affected a medium-voltage power line, causing widespread power outages in large areas of the city of Buenos Aires. Electricity companies Edenor and Edesur stated that most of the outages were resolved “within 10 minutes” and that services were normalised by 1pm. Berazategui’s Public Works Secretary, Darío Iezzi, informed that two people were injured as a result of the storm and that the local government “is working with the residents of the area to repair the damages.”
No Salary Agreement Between Government and Teachers: Chief of Cabinet Jorge Capitanich informed this afternoon that the government and the teachers’ unions were unable to reach an agreement today, after holding a first meeting to discuss wage increases for 2014. Teachers’ representatives met with Education Minister Alberto Sileoni and Labour Minister Carlos Tomada at 2pm this afternoon in order to begin this year’s collective wage negotiations. Teachers are asking for increases of between 42% and 66% from last year’s salaries. Capitanich clarified once more that these negotiations seek to establish “an initial wage”, and that final wages will be negotiated between the unions and the provincial governments. Yesterday, the Chief of Cabinet had suggested that, if an agreement could not be reached through negotiations, “there could be a unilateral proposal by the state.” Meetings are expected to resume on Monday or Tuesday.