‘Officials are criminals. They are killing us by depriving us of medicine and food,’ said an Insurgent Retirees activist.

On Wednesday, the Argentine police harshly repressed retirees who took to the streets in Buenos Aires to demand better pensions.

RELATED:

Argentina: At Least 672 Injured, 114 Arrested After Repression On Retirees Demonstration

While the retirees remained in front of the gates of a barricaded Congress, the police attacked workers, social activists, and left-wing militants who had joined the demonstration in support of the retirees. Amid the march, infantry officers ran, pushed, and used pepper spray to disperse the retirees.

“Lately, labor unions have been joining the struggle, not only because they consider our demands valid and legitimate, but also because the retirees’ movement has become a channel through which all workers’ grievances can be expressed,” said Liliana Kunis, a member of “Insurgent Retirees.”

Every Wednesday, retirees gather around Parliament, in downtown Buenos Aires, to demand better pensions. They are also calling for the reinstatement of full free coverage for their medications and the pension moratorium, which previously allowed workers with insufficient social security contributions to access a minimum retirement benefit.

Hours earlier, in an attempt to contain social protests, President Javier Milei’s government decreed a 2.4% increase in pensions starting in April, a percentage that does not compensate for the inflation generated by the government’s own economic policies.

The minimum pension will be US$260, an amount far below the basic consumption basket for elderly adults, estimated at US$1,100. The government also decided to maintain the social security emergency bonus at US$64. Nevertheless, the current minimum pension pushes the majority of retirees into poverty.

“We are fighting for our rights, which cost us so much to achieve. Government officials are criminals. They are killing us by depriving us of medicine and food. They are giving us only a quarter of what we need to survive. The government is cruel for paying such miserable pensions. Many of us are losing our shelter because we can’t afford rent,” said Alberto Schocron, another Insurgent Retirees activist.

In recent weeks, a large part of Argentine society has supported the retirees in their weekly demonstrations in front of Congress in search of better conditions. During the massive protest on March 12, security forces carried out a crackdown that left 46 people injured and resulted in 124 arrests.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

EN ESTA NOTA: