Mass demonstrations erupted in Buenos Aires as thousands protested against newly elected President Javier Milei's proposed austerity and deregulation measures in Argentina. Pics/Agencies
Milei's administration, while allowing peaceful protests, issued warnings of cutting off public aid payments to individuals engaging in street blockades, a common form of protest in Argentina.
Demonstrators congregated in Buenos Aires, heading towards Plaza de Mayo, an iconic site for protests since the country's 1980s dictatorship, leading to tense encounters with law enforcement.
Organisers faced obstacles fitting the sizable march on sidewalks, arguing that streets worldwide are essential for movement and questioning the accommodation of tens of thousands in confined spaces.
President Milei, a right-wing populist, introduced drastic economic measures, including a 50 percent devaluation of the peso, subsidy cuts in energy and transportation, and closure of government ministries, amid rampant inflation and escalating poverty.
The government assured the right to protest in public squares but emphasized that street closures would not be tolerated, prompting debates on the criminalization of protest rights through a new security protocol.
The introduced security protocol allows the clearance of street blockades without judicial orders, authorizing the identification of protesters through digital means and potentially billing them for security force mobilization costs.
Several groups expressed concern that the protocol excessively curtails protest rights, alleging it infringes upon constitutional rights of assembly, association, expression, and social protest.
Labour, social, and human rights groups sought international intervention, appealing to the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, labelling the security protocol incompatible with fundamental rights enshrined in Argentina's constitution.
The government warned of removing individuals from public assistance benefit lists if found participating in street blockades, emphasizing that attendance in protests shouldn't be coerced by threatening social support.
Milei's administration raised concerns over certain groups leveraging social support to compel people to join protests, highlighting a linkage between social aid and participation in demonstrations.
The protest coincided with the anniversary of a past economic crisis and garnered mixed reactions among the populace, with a recent survey indicating majority support for banning street blockades amidst the ongoing economic turmoil.
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