Claudio Andrade
08/29/2020 - 19:53
- Clarín.com
- Society
Through the National Directorate of Judicial Cooperation and Public Ministries, the Ministry of Security headed by Sabrina Frederic presented this Saturday a criminal complaint before the Federal Justice for "the possible commission of crimes" in which the organizers of the demonstration of this Saturday to Villa Mascardi to claim for the occupation of land in that area.
According to a statement released by the portfolio, the complaint, made before the federal prosecutor of Bariloche Silvia Little, requests that an investigation be investigated whether the conveners of a so-called "Patriotic Flag" committed the crimes of "instigation to commit crimes", "apology of crime "and" illicit association ".
"The statements made in the call by the self-described 'residents of Mascardi', invite participation considering the use of homemade weapons and / or objects of various kinds that can be used as such, with the intention of generating and producing acts of violence" says the complaint.
This Saturday afternoon, the caravan of vehicles that was heading along Route 40 towards Villa Mascardi was stopped by the Río Negro Police at the entrance to Lake Gutiérrez, about 10 kilometers from downtown Bariloche. A group of protesters, however, refused to withdraw and remained on the road this Saturday night, protesting against the occupation of land.
On Friday night, it was decided that the concentration would be held at the Bariloche Civic Center to avoid confrontations, as the organizers had finally agreed after speaking with Governor Arabela Carreras. However, an important group of protesters - more than a hundred vehicles - still tried to reach the ACA of the town , which is located 35 kilometers from the city.
The premises of the Automobile Club Argentino (ACA) in Villa Mascardi. The protesters from Bariloche wanted to reach this place, but the Police did not allow them. Photo Google Street View.
"I come to ask citizens not to embark on any madness," the provincial president requested on Thursday through the local media. Carreras traveled especially to Bariloche to deactivate the caravan.
The Civic Center was filled with flags and vehicles that agreed to remain in the town. But as the afternoon progressed, several of those cars and vans also headed to the point where the rest of the caravan was on the road.
“There are a good number who wanted to move on and went to Mascardi. Anyway, they will not be able to get there through the police control, the others go to the Civic Center ”, one of the participants who is in the organization told Clarín early . "We are going to go with the family, we understand that other people did not want to join," said another of the protesters who was preparing to leave his house.
In the caravan stopped by police personnel, Argentine flags were abundant, waving between the honks . Not being able to continue, the drivers got out of their vehicles and discussed the alternatives among themselves in a day characterized by the cold - it is 5 degrees - and the wind.
In Mascardi, community members were waiting for protesters and had set tires on Route 40 . That meeting did not finally happen.
"What was sought was to prevent people from arriving, beyond the fact that they are exercising a right that is to demonstrate . But more than anything, it was to avoid some consequence or some act of confrontation that may occur there in the Mascardi area," said the Commissioner Gustavo Llanqueleo, from Regional III, to Noticiero Seis.
The government of the province of Río Negro issued a statement late in the afternoon justifying the blockade of protesters on Route 40, a federal jurisdiction.
“The Río Negro Police protect citizens against the possibility of confrontations with hooded people in the Villa Mascardi area. Despite being a jurisdiction and a national route, the provincial police force avoids confrontation with people who act illegally, ravaging this area hooded and identified with the Mapuche community, ”the statement said.
“The Government of Río Negro carries out systematic representations before the Nation requesting intervention in the protection of peaceful citizens. On numerous occasions, the Provincial Government has made this request to the Nation in search of a solution to the problem. It is the constitutional and institutional responsibility of the Provincial Government to avoid any possibility of conflict between citizens. For this reason, in compliance with this obligation, the closure of Route 40 was ordered ”, he adds.
Governor Carreras went to the place of the blockade by the Police to try to convince the protesters to return to the city, but until night a hundred vehicles were still in the place. The president had previously tried to negotiate until the last minute with the organizers to dismantle the trip to the ACA. “I look at her with concern (to the march). Not because it is not legitimate to accompany residents of Mascardi. Raising the tone of the conflict is not a solution, "he had told El Cordillerano radio. “You have to distinguish what 99% of the communities are that coexist with neighbors and dialogue with the provincial state. There is a specific and minority group that absolutely complicates the dialogue ”, she added.
Protesters with the Argentine flag, in the Plaza de El Bolsón. There was also a claim against the occupation of land. Photo News from El Bolsón
Among the protesters who were blocked on Route 40, complaints were heard against the government and the Rio Negro police , who, in their view, prevent them from demonstrating. Some of them lit bonfires in the middle of the road. "They can commit crimes there but we cannot arrive in a caravan to the sector when it is our right," said a protester on the way to Mascardi. "It is clear: the Government is concerned about a march and not the occupation of public lands, the burning of houses and attacks on tourists in #VillaMascardi," wrote PRO provincial legislator Juan Martín on his Twitter account.
On the other hand, the National Park Rangers Union sent a letter on Friday to the president of National Parks, Daniel Somma, denouncing the “institutional neglect” and the “lack of labor guarantees” for those who carry out tasks in the Mascardi area administered by the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Since 2017, the Lafken Winkul Mapu community has been annexing more than 35 hectares of private land and National Parks. Within this framework, more than 30 attacks were registered , including burning of houses, assaults, threats, usurpations and robberies, among others. On November 25 of that year, Rafael Nahuel (22) died during a confrontation between Mapuche militants and a group of agents from the Argentine Naval Prefecture.
The conflict in El Bolsón
In El Bolsón this Saturday another march was also called in Plaza Pagano and about 1,500 people gathered there. With a huge Argentine flag, the residents sang the anthem and demanded for the occupation of 60 hectares in the Federal Reserve of Mirador del Azul and Cabeza del Indio. On Friday 21, more than 100 people representing 140 families entered the property and began to build precarious homes and cut down trees.
The case took on significance when a video of the mayor , Bruno Pogliano, went viral , demanding the presence of the National Gendarmerie to vacate the land. The national government sent 22 agents of the Airport Security Police (PSA) this Thursday to guard the Forest Reserve and prevent the entry of new families and construction materials.
But this Saturday morning, a PSA vehicle was stoned by unknown persons , which caused the glass to break. It is a van that transfers the agents. They are reportedly analyzing the security cameras in the area to detect the attackers.
Bariloche. Correspondent
ACE
