Fabian Debesa
06/18/2020 - 16:54
- Clarín.com
- Society
Old political quarrels fueled by quarantine restrictions led to a dispute between neighboring cities and somewhat unusual. The mayor of Castelli, Francisco Echarren (FdT) was unable to enter Dolores where his wife and newborn son are hospitalized because he was prevented by a checkpoint.
The mayor had an urgent purpose: to bring milk from a wet nurse to feed the newborn and - according to Clarín - at the checkpoint a police officer informed him that he could not go through a specific order from his colleague, Mayor Camilo Etchavarren ( JxC), who considers him a "miserable Peronist".
The formal argument they gave in the municipality was that Echarren did not carry the authorizations required to cross the passage on Esteban Facio Avenue, the only one authorized after 19 to enter Dolores.
Echarren had to leave food for his newborn to a neighbor who offered to take him to the clinic where his partner remains hospitalized. But -as he reported to Clarín this morning- the "persecution" continued for a few hours. "The director of the sanatorium told me that there was an operation on the beach of the care center to control that he did not enter the trunk of a car. A real nonsense," he lamented.
Francisco Echárren in a photo with Maria Eugenia Vidal, when she was governor of Buenos Aires.
This morning he filed an appeal for protection before the Civil and Commercial judge No. 4, Marcos Val. And he would have obtained a favorable ruling to see Florentino, the newborn and the mother, Agustina, recovering from the cesarean section.
Historical dairy basin of the Buenos Aires pampa, that central western provincial region contains the districts of Castelli and Dolores only separated by 26 kilometers of route on Highway 2. Lands occupied by dairy farmers who brought their traditions and knowledge for the breeding and exploitation of friesian cows, sheep, with huge udders.
Two descendants of those Basques are at odds over ideas in two neighboring towns, and the coronavirus provided another reason for the fight. "We have restricted access because the virus can only enter the route. In 90 days, only three cases: two that came from abroad and one that was isolated outside the city. We have to take care of the population," is the explanation they offer. in Dolores.
Aligned to the Civic Coalition, Etchevarren rigorously supports social isolation. Income is only enabled for three avenues that go down from Highway 2 and Route 63. There are a series of streets blocked with mountains of earth and others with barriers.
Essential personnel and authorizations are controlled by municipal agents and the Buenos Aires police 24 hours a day. After 7pm only one of the arteries is open."We are in phase 5. All pain can move with ease, as long as protocols and preventive measures are followed. But we must be careful because any failure can make us go backwards," they say in the community.
Regarding the "Echevarren case" they clarified: "The mayor entered without problems at 7 to bring his wife and mother, who would take care of her. There were no difficulties in passing because they had the papers. At night he wanted to overcome without the permits and we prevented it because nobody can pass under those conditions, no matter what position they have ", was the explanation from the mayor.
Line continued to present other arguments: "Echarren always criticized the health system of our district. It is striking that his family is treated here," they suggested in the community.
"My right as a father has been violated. Beyond my position and due to a political revenge. Furthermore, we have noticed certain mistreatment and violence against the residents of Castelli, who have to cross every day for work or personal issues," warned Echarren
"Agustina chose to have our son in that clinic because the obstetrician she trusts works in that place. I wanted my son to be born here, but I respect the position of his mother, who on the other hand is a decision about his body", The mayor clarified that he could not pass and opened the controversy.
Dolores and Castelli are in phase 5. Almost all the activities work in a new modality of social and community relationship. With protocols, with controls, with strict supervision. The dispute of the "Basques" deepened the tense relations between the mayors who share limits in towns that for now do not regret Covid-19 victims.