‘Prison or bullet’: new Argentina government promises harsh response to protest - The Guardian

[James Bond]

I saw this interesting article in the Guardian today. The article is dated December 17 (yesterday). I knew it was only a matter of time before the world over will use facial recognition software. Going to be scary. I feel like the police feel emboldened now vs. previous administrations when the police felt powerless and the people could do almost whatever they wanted. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I definitely want to see the lawless behavior stopped with endless protesters blocking the streets or highway.

I think people should have the right to protest as long as they aren't creating chaos.

‘Prison or bullet’: new Argentina government promises harsh response to protest

President Javier Milei and his allies are preparing new security guidelines in anticipation of protests against currency devaluation

www.theguardian.com

President Javier Milei and his allies are preparing new security guidelines in anticipation of protests against currency devaluation



The government plans to use facial recognition technology to identify protesters and then bill them for the cost of security services.

Protesting individuals and organizations will be identified with “video, digital or manual means” – and then billed for the cost of sending security forces to police their demonstrations, said Milei’s security minister, Patricia Bullrich, as she announced the new protocol on Thursday.

The aim of the new rules is to prevent a traditional form of protest known as piquete, in which demonstrators blockade city roads and highways for hours, days – and sometimes even weeks at a time.

“We have lived for many years under total and absolute disorder. It is time to put an end to this method, to the extortion suffered by citizens,” said Bullrich, who added that demonstrators could “protest on the pavement”.

Human rights groups and opposition legislators expressed concern at the rules which they said would essentially criminalise legitimate protests.

“Under the promise of order [the government] seeks to suppress public protest against the effects of official measures,” said the Centre of Legal Studies (CELS) in a statement. “The measures attack the right to protest and criminalize those who demonstrate and persecute social and political organizations.”

Leftist legislator and former presidential candidate Myriam Bregman said on X (formerly Twitter): “What Bullrich announced is absolutely unconstitutional … The right to protest is the first of all rights.”

José Luis Espert, a legislator with Milei’s party, Liberty Advances, replied with a three-word phrase: “Prison or bullet.”

The new protocol empowers police at train and bus stations to seize face masks, sticks or other elements they consider could be used in a demonstration. It also limits the participation of teenagers in social protests, ruling that parents of youngsters who should have been at school instead of protesting will be sanctioned.

“Bullrich announced that the government will punish the participation of girls, boys and adolescents in the protests. In this way, it criminalizes mothers and fathers who demand better conditions for their families and excludes those in charge of their care,” said the CELS in its statement.

Television newscaster Mario Massaccesi of the TN news channel recalled that Bullrich herself blockaded downtown streets in Buenos Aires when protesting against Covid lockdowns. “What authority does she have now to tell others they can’t protest?” asked the newscaster.

Protests are expected in response to the massive wage cuts and transport and tariff hikes announced as part of Milei’s “chainsaw” economic programme.

Inflation, which had peaked at about 160% during the last days of the previous government of Peronist Alberto Fernández, has skyrocketed into hyperinflation in the first week of Milei’s libertarian administration.

“Today inflation is travelling at a daily rate of 1%, that means it is travelling at a yearly rate of 3,678%,” Milei said on his Instagram feed on Friday.

 

[Starfish]

Just an FYI there are many protests planned for this Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. I read that there is a huge movement to block streets and cause a lot of chaos. Let's see how Bullrich does in her first rodeo!

 

[Billy Goat]

The flip side of the coin is there would be mass protests and riots no matter who won. Look at the split and Milei won 56% and Massa 44%. That's still a lot of angry people on the other side. It is sad to think about but it almost seems as Massa supporters would rather Milei fail and have sorrow and misery for Argentina vs. see their country prosper.

Milei will either fail and have Peronistas in power for the foreseeable future. Or be successful and Argentina will return to its former glory as a wealthy nation. And you will see that expand throughout the region and maybe even the world. I read a great article in the Epoch Times today called, "Does Milei's Win Signal a Global Anti-Communist Turning Point?". I will see if there is a way to share it.

 

[Che Vos]

Just an FYI there are many protests planned for this Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. I read that there is a huge movement to block streets and cause a lot of chaos. Let's see how Bullrich does in her first rodeo!

I will be there protesting!

The flip side of the coin is there would be mass protests and riots no matter who won. Look at the split and Milei won 56% and Massa 44%. That's still a lot of angry people on the other side. It is sad to think about but it almost seems as Massa supporters would rather Milei fail and have sorrow and misery for Argentina vs. see their country prosper.

Milei will either fail and have Peronistas in power for the foreseeable future. Or be successful and Argentina will return to its former glory as a wealthy nation. And you will see that expand throughout the region and maybe even the world. I read a great article in the Epoch Times today called, "Does Milei's Win Signal a Global Anti-Communist Turning Point?". I will see if there is a way to share it.

You don't know that @Billy Goat I am not arguing inflation would be solved but I feel that Milei will fail. Even all his things he say he will do is wrong and the people from Macri are running the show. There is not much middle class left in my country and Milei is being very unfair to the middle class. Very strong and aggressive. It will be an explosion of anger. Wait and see.

 

[Uncle Wong]

Can someone explain this to me? My friend was telling me that the last trip to Argentina she nearly missed her flight because protesters were blocking the road so tourists would miss their flights. She had an amazing experience in Argentina going around the beautiful country but she left with a bad taste in her mouth.

Do these protesters realize tourists are helping their economy? How tourism is important? Also, how does blocking roads and causing their own people to lose productivity solve anything? Do people really have nothing better to do than block essential roads? How does that make sense? How do locals tolerate this nonsense?

I believe in freedom of speech and the fifth amendment but don't agree blocking roads, creating chaos for everyone around should be tolerated. I think this news article is exaggerated but I do think you cause chaos and you should be arrested. Buenos Aires has a lot of beautiful HUGE parks so if they want to gather why don't think do it there?

 

[Avocado]

Can someone explain this to me? My friend was telling me that the last trip to Argentina she nearly missed her flight because protesters were blocking the road so tourists would miss their flights. She had an amazing experience in Argentina going around the beautiful country but she left with a bad taste in her mouth.

Do these protesters realize tourists are helping their economy? How tourism is important? Also, how does blocking roads and causing their own people to lose productivity solve anything? Do people really have nothing better to do than block essential roads? How does that make sense? How do locals tolerate this nonsense?

I believe in freedom of speech and the fifth amendment but don't agree blocking roads, creating chaos for everyone around should be tolerated. I think this news article is exaggerated but I do think you cause chaos and you should be arrested. Buenos Aires has a lot of beautiful HUGE parks so if they want to gather why don't think do it there?

It is very difficult for a foreigner to understand our struggles in our country. Our voice needs to be heard and the only way is through things like this. The government and people does not listen unless the people do things like this. It is crazy to hear an article like this talking about bullets or prison for our right to protest.

I will also be there to protest on Wednesday proudly. Milei can't do anything to us. Bullrich neither.

 

[Vero]

Thank God we don't have many guns like the USA does. It's a scary time for a local to read about such nonsense. I voted for Milei for change but I don't understand why there needs to be threats of violence. Jail time. Maybe? But that is nonsense too because Argentina doesn't have enough jail cells for those that are unhappy and will protest. When people are scared and desperate they have nothing to lose.

I realize it's only been a few days since Milei took office. But talk like jail or bullets is not helping the party or his cause. And It's the reason why if he fails, the Kirchner's and their friends will forever rule Argentina. With them, there is no talk of bullets or jail.

I agree that blocking roads isn't the solution but never should enter a discussion of bullets for blocking a road.

 

[Top Chef Fan]

The flip side of the coin is there would be mass protests and riots no matter who won. Look at the split and Milei won 56% and Massa 44%. That's still a lot of angry people on the other side. It is sad to think about but it almost seems as Massa supporters would rather Milei fail and have sorrow and misery for Argentina vs. see their country prosper.

Milei will either fail and have Peronistas in power for the foreseeable future. Or be successful and Argentina will return to its former glory as a wealthy nation. And you will see that expand throughout the region and maybe even the world. I read a great article in the Epoch Times today called, "Does Milei's Win Signal a Global Anti-Communist Turning Point?". I will see if there is a way to share it.

I agree no matter what there would be protests. The reality is with Massa it probably would be worse. But you're not going to convince protesters on either side of this. The nation is very divided and the other party will blame the other party. Milei inherited this mess.

I will be there protesting!


You don't know that @Billy Goat I am not arguing inflation would be solved but I feel that Milei will fail. Even all his things he say he will do is wrong and the people from Macri are running the show. There is not much middle class left in my country and Milei is being very unfair to the middle class. Very strong and aggressive. It will be an explosion of anger. Wait and see.

Sure, you have the right to be there and hopefully we don't read about you @Che Vos and @Avocado in jail. I agree NO violence but if you're blocking roads I hope you both go to prison.

Can someone explain this to me? My friend was telling me that the last trip to Argentina she nearly missed her flight because protesters were blocking the road so tourists would miss their flights. She had an amazing experience in Argentina going around the beautiful country but she left with a bad taste in her mouth.

Do these protesters realize tourists are helping their economy? How tourism is important? Also, how does blocking roads and causing their own people to lose productivity solve anything? Do people really have nothing better to do than block essential roads? How does that make sense? How do locals tolerate this nonsense?

I believe in freedom of speech and the fifth amendment but don't agree blocking roads, creating chaos for everyone around should be tolerated. I think this news article is exaggerated but I do think you cause chaos and you should be arrested. Buenos Aires has a lot of beautiful HUGE parks so if they want to gather why don't think do it there?

It doesn't make sense. There is no arguing common sense with the locals.

 

[Shoemaker]

These probably will be full of K's paid protestors. I think most reasonable people (minus @Che Vos and @Avocado ) are smart enough to give President Milei more than 10 days to get things working! Won't they? This all is a by-product of the K's.

 

[James Bond]

Here is the article I was talking about that I read today that talks about if Milei succeeds what will happen around the world. Enjoy!

Does Milei’s Win Signal a Global Anti-Communist Turning Point?

'We have to get along, all of us together, as the left does for evil. We have to do it to save our countries,' says Colombian Senator María Fernanda Cabal.

www.theepochtimes.com

Does Milei’s Win Signal a Global Anti-Communist Turning Point?​

'We have to get along, all of us together, as the left does for evil. We have to do it to save our countries,' says Colombian Senator María Fernanda Cabal.​

By: Marcos Schotguess

Dec 18, 2023

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA—Javier Milei's landmark election as president of Argentina might prove a turning point in the dominance of leftist governments in Latin America. Some are hoping it goes beyond.

"He's starting a revolution that begins here, is going to go through America, all the way to the north and then on to Europe," Lilia Lemoine, a newly elected congresswoman in Argentina and long-time Milei ally, told The Epoch Times at President Milei's inauguration on Dec. 10.
President Milei, a libertarian and self-described "anarcho-capitalist," has bucked the left-wing grip that, by the beginning of 2023, has held all nations in the Americas except Uruguay, Paraguay, El Salvador, and Ecuador.

"Just like the fall of the Berlin Wall marks the end of a tragic era for this world, this election marks the turning point of our history," President Milei said in his inaugural address.

Brazilian lawmaker Cristiano Caporezzo called Milei's election "absolutely historic."

"It marks a very strategic moment for Latin America, a right-wing 'reconquering' of the continent," Mr. Caporezzo told The Epoch Times.

"Milei's arrival in Argentina will give the Chilean elections some strength. More countries in Latin-America will start walking towards conservatism."

Colombian Senator María Fernanda Cabal also attended President Milei's inauguration in Buenos Aires on Dec. 10.

"He today gave us hope, in Latin America, also in the U.S. and worldwide," she told The Epoch Times.

"What we see is that Javier Milei has opened the door and all these governments that have been ruling, societies that have been suffering with all these activists that go against the nature of human beings … currently, everything is going to turn right," Ms. Cabal said.

"We hope that Trump wins. We hope that Jose Antonio Kast in Chile wins, and we hope that we can save Colombia too."

Ernesto Araújo, former minister of foreign relations of Brazil, now a strategic aid for international affairs at Spain-based think tank Fundación Disenso told The Epoch Times he sees a global shift towards conservatism.

"This can be a true 'reconquest' of freedom worldwide, which might be starting here in Argentina. I like to think big, and I think this might indeed be the case," Mr. Araújo said.

"If [the Milei administration's proposals] work out, people might realize that the ideas of freedom work. That they work in a big country."

In his first week in office, President Milei slashed nine government ministries, took steps towards strengthening trade partnerships, and prepared to crack down on protests that may arise from upcoming drastic economic measures.

He has promised to reduce government spending, eliminate Argentina’s Central Bank, and potentially adopt the U.S. dollar as an official currency. During his campaign, he pledged to replace the public education system with a voucher-based alternative, and move the public health care model to an insurance-based system.

"This new social contract [people voted for] offers us a different country, a country in which the State does not direct our lives, but rather safeguards our rights, a country in which people are held accountable for their actions," President Milei said during his inaugural speech.

Hermann Tertsch, a Spanish member of the European Parliament, celebrated President Milei's victory at the latter's inauguration in Buenos Aires on Dec. 10.

"I believe this victory—of the truth—in Argentina is a historical victory, and a victory of enormous repercussions," said Mr. Tertsch told The Epoch Times.

"It's so important, and it has implications for all of the Americas, and for all of the West, an extremely important turnaround."

The recent win in The Netherlands by conservative Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, has buoyed conservatives in the region. Mr. Wilders won the election, but must form a majority coalition with other political parties in order to become Prime Minister.

"We can, for the first time in the history of the European Parliament, make right wing politics," Mr. Terstch said.

"We can stop the monstrosities of the 2030 Agenda, of the green pact, of all their permanent meddling into the livelihood [of people], the liquidation of subsistence that the current European Commission is pushing. This can change. We can change the Commission. And then we'll see a difference in Europe."

The 2030 Agenda is the United Nations plan to achieve 17 "sustainable development goals" by the year 2030. The goals include "gender equality," "responsible consumption and production," and climate action.

"The green pact" referred to by Mr. Tertsch is the "European Green Deal," a framework in which European Union countries have committed to achieving "climate neutrality" by 2050.

"We have yielded so much in 50 years, 60 years, that we can yield no more. Now we can only reconquer. And we are in a full reconquest campaign," Mr. Terstch said.

But conservative and libertarian politics are up against some determined and well-coordinated forces.

"[This] is not just about the economy, this is not just about Argentina's runaway inflation, it's not about the fact there's no growth," Mr. Araújo said.

"It is also about the matter of narco-trafficking, of organized crime. It is the problem of Latin-American organized crime being connected with worldwide organized crime. It is the problem of the China-Russia-Iran totalitarian bloc."

Socialist administrations across Latin America, particularly the Venezuelan regime, have facilitated or engaged in international drug trafficking and coordinated with Iran, China, and Russia against United States interests and regional security for years.

In 2020 the U.S. Department of Justice charged Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and 14 other current and former officials in a "narco-terrorism" conspiracy to "flood" the United States with narcotics.

In February 2023, Irani military ships sanctioned for terrorism docked in Brazil and in June a defense deal between Iran and Bolivia bound the two nations closer together.

Latin American socialist regimes have enabled Iran-backed terrorist groups to operate broadly in South America for years.
The Chinese communist regime has been spreading its influence widely in Latin America for years with trade deals, an expanding military presence, and ties to radical leftists groups in the region.

The São Paulo Forum is the hub for leftist groups and political administrations.

Created in 1990 by Brazil's President Lula da Silva and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, it united narco-terrorist communist guerrilla groups such as Colombia's FARC and political parties often in power, including Mexico's MORENA and Brazil's Workers Party.

The group's stated goal is to move the region further left.

 

[David]

No doubt if Milei is successful over the next few years this will be a game changer for the rest of South America. But he inherited one HUGE mess. It will be interesting to see how much patience Argentines have with him. It's going to be painful. But this day of reckoning had to come.

 

[Opera Fan]

Like all of you, I agree people should be able to peacefully protest but I also draw the line at blocking roads. There are serious things that can happen when you do this. People can't get to work and creates problems for those workers and those companies. Kids can't get to school or get home. What about health emergencies if someone is having a medical emergency or a mother is going to give birth to her kid.

These people blocking the roads and disrupting lives aren't doing any favors for their cause.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

prison.

jail and a fine would be better, probably should be a misdemeanor cite-and-release offense rather than a felony. the organizers that are directing people to break the law and harm others with blockades should do prison time, sure. thus, the facial recognition. i hate the Big Brother idea, but for something that has destroyed the country for decades (blocking roads and destroying property), it can be used for specific planned events, but i agree not posted on every street corner. would be too 1984.