Patricia Bullrich
presented this Thursday the protocol for the use of firearms for federal forces, but for now it will only apply to the Naval Prefecture.
In a press conference, the Minister of Security maintained that in the last four years
"the agents have risked their lives in a way that has reached the limit",
in clear criticism of the government of Alberto Fernández, at the beginning of whose administration Sabina Frederic denounced lower the protocol.
The regulations had been issued by resolution 956/2018 when Bullrich was Minister of Security of the Government of Mauricio Macri and
was annulled by the former Minister of Security Frederic,
on December 20, 2019. It was one of the first measures taken by the now former official during her administration during the Fernández era.
Bullrich maintained that the reversal of the protocol "especially left the Argentine Naval Prefecture in a
disadvantageous situation
in the patrolling of border rivers in relation to organized crime."
“This occurs because the Prefecture, based on that Frederic resolution,
had restrictions on the use of long-range weapons
that were always used to protect personnel and our borders,” he added.
The protocol will be formalized with its publication this Friday in the Official Gazette.
It will enable
"the use of all types of firearms and not just the short weapons that are permitted today."
"They do not have the necessary range when the boats, the ships that come with illegal shipments cross and go to the opposite border, be it a place in Argentina, Brazil or Paraguay," he added.
The repeated example of the Prefecture, the force in charge mainly of patrolling in rivers and sea, drew attention.
It was initially reported that the protocol would apply to all federal security forces.
Security spokespersons confirmed to
Clarín
that for the moment it will only be applied again in the Naval Prefecture, while they continue working to reestablish it in the rest of the forces.
In a more general view, Bullrich maintained that in recent times, in which the protocol did not govern,
"the agents have risked their lives in a way reaching the limit."
"(The security personnel) have been threatened by criminals with superior firepower, they have received stones and knives that have been thrown at them, they
have managed to escape due to this difference in the use of weapons that exists between the Prefecture and the delinquents
or criminals who "they try to introduce or remove illegal materials or drugs from Argentina," he exemplified.
Bullrich said that the protocol was worked on so that the Prefecture
"can protect its people, the borders, the citizens and be in better or equal conditions than the criminals are in."
Along with the minister were the Secretary of Security, Vicente Ventura Barreiro, and the head of the Argentine Naval Prefecture, Prefect General Guillermo Giménez Pérez.