After the controversy over the uncontrolled entry of Bolivian citizens, the Government reinforces the border crossings of Salta

08/15/2020 - 14:57

• Clarín.com
• Politics

After the governor of Salta, Gustavo Sáenz, showed the uncontrolled entry of Bolivian citizens through the border crossings of the province and demanded help from President Alberto Fernández, the Government ordered this Saturday the deployment of National Gendarmerie troops on the banks of the Bermejo River , in Aguas Blancas, and in its surroundings.

It was through that place that in the last hours hundreds of people crossed the river and entered the country , amid unsuccessful attempts by the security forces to prevent it.

"Today starting at 7 am, on the instructions of President Alberto Fernández, the Gendarmerie reinforced the ground controls with more troops in Aguas Blancas. Thank you President and Sabina Frederic for listening and quickly responding to the request of the Salta people," Saénz wrote in his account from Twitter.

As indicated by the president @alferdez, we ordered a redeployment of @gendarmeria on the border at the height of the Aguas Blancas pass, Province of Salta.
We reinforce security to control compliance with the ASPO and thus take care of all the inhabitants. # CuidarteEsCuidarnos pic.twitter.com/3KtRCbsiLU

On Friday afternoon, from the same social network he had launched an almost desperate request for help to the head of state: "Our borders are extensive and with many illegal steps, literally an Army is required to be able to guard them," the Salta governor warned in the last hours.

He insisted at that time that due to the "delicate" health situation in Bolivia, the citizens of that country try to enter Argentina "to collect all kinds of subsidies and seek free medical attention."

From the national government they detailed that the end of the redeployment, started during the afternoon of Friday and the early morning of this Saturday, is to improve control, in addition to limiting and ordering cross-border circulation, which increased after the decrease in the flow of the Bermejo River.

TODAY from 7 am on the instructions of the President @alferdez Gendarmería reinforced the ground controls with more effective ones in Aguas Blancas. THANK YOU President @alferdez and @SabinaFrederic for listening and responding quickly to the request of the people of Salta. pic.twitter.com/SGmrVdbhxd

Since Thursday, August 13, the Government of Salta verified a significant drop in the river's waters, whose low flow caused an increase in the movement of people without the mandatory controls decreed by the State for the entire country.

In this context, the local authorities noticed a particular lack of control in that border area , where on Thursday around 150 people tried to cross at once, which was prevented by police officers from different special units of Regional Unit 2.

The Government ordered the deployment of members of the National Gendarmerie on the Bermejo River.

Faced with the police presence, the illegal foreigners returned to their territory, where the Bolivian Naval Police awaited their arrival to face the return operation, in which they identified the offenders, who were left at their disposal.

The spokespersons of the provincial government explained that, since this area constitutes a regional unit of relations, exchanges and economic, cultural, family and social daily life, the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 as well as by the recent outbreaks of contagion, have generated effects local that require a specific approach from the provincial and national authorities.

With information from Télam.