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Thursday, November 8, 2012

8N: Mega Protest Tonight in Argentina


Hello Fernando,

I read this article http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/argentines-prepare-huge-anti-government-march-17669749 about a planned march against Kirchner.  How do you think this will play out? Would a huge turnout possibly ignite a movement to oust her as President such as the guy before the K’s? Will her political opponent in the last election try to take advantage of it as a “See, I told you so”?

Also I’ve always wondered, while you were in Argentina did you ever worry about the Kirchners moving to silence your criticisms of them? It seems like socialists have thin skin when it comes to criticism.  Did you ever receive any threats by their associates or anything?
Dan



HI Dan,

Yes, I’m well aware of tonight’s protest, called 8N. The name 8N is in reference to 7D, next December 7th, the day the government is supposed to take over the Clarín Media group which is the last bastion of free speech in Argentina. This is possible thanks to a recent media law called “Ley de Medios K” which the government swiftly approved so as to take over printed press, TV and radio.
Tonights 8N is a popular outcry against that, but also against the government not recognizing both the financial problems and most important, the crime problems that the K government refuses to admit. Most of my readers are well aware of this huge issue, and were often surprised not to see more reference to it from other sources.  Tonights protest is an outcry to such censorship and denial of such an obvious problem that rips through the lives of Argentines each day.

This protest is a clear grass roots movement, organized by people that are simply fed up. Of course, politicians try to take advantage of the protest but due to popular request most politicians from opposing parties said that while they do support the claims of 8N, they will not go themselves or send people with flags so as to not pollute a legitimate popular claim. Unlike pro government “popular” rallies, these aren’t people that are paid to go protest and take the streets, these are mostly working class and middle class people that feel identified with what the protest stands for: Acceptance of the crime problem in Argentina, that the government acknowledges the true inflation instead of cooking the numbers, and that the government stops meddling with peoples business in terms of personal freedom and freedom of press. I’ll change channels if I don’t like watching one, you are not supposed to decide for me what I read, listen on the radio or watch on TV. Those that identify with these claims will have a chance to make themselves heard tonight. The protest is not only in Argentina, but also in other places where Argentines expats are living, most of us forced to live elsewhere because of the current situation in Argentina.

I don’t believe it will cause Cristina Kirchner to resign as president, even though she may want to after tonight. Most people are making it clear that they do NOT want her to resign, most just want her to listen and stop acting like a dictator (which she will not do, because that’s exactly what she is) but we learned the damage that kind of thing does to a democracy. I believe it might just stop her enough so as to not seek a change in the constitution for indefinite reelections. That alone will be enough. It may also give strength to other political sectors so that Argentina may have a true chance of finally rebuilding itself in the next elections. My American friends, take note. This could be you 1-4 years from now.

About threats, yes, I did receive them, but nothing too serious. Believe it or not it wasn’t easy to find me in Buenos Aires unless I wanted to be found. I even got threats from people who benefited from expats moving from US to Argentina, seems I was damaging their real estate business by telling the truth. I don’t know what kind of fool thinks Salta is a good place to live in but go figure. I got threats by email and got my website attacked many times because of that.

FerFAL

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am just curious after the last election if you are glad you didn't immigrate to the US, or if you see any "safe havens" at all in the world today??

Greek Caste System said...

Anonymous 10:28,
If you'd put me a gun on my head to tell you a "safe heaven" in the world today, I'd choose...coastal parts of Turkey. Strange, I know, but Turkey combines a growing middle class, very low crime, *relatively* liberal muslim country, *reltively* good infrastucture, strong government, strong police, low public/private debt, they have relaxed attitude towards gun ownership but nevertheless it is a close-knit society and you have to behave like them. I could adapt, but I don't know if an American could fit.

Anonymous said...

People everywhere want to live free and will topple a tyrant given half a chance. I'm not sure what to do when I live in a country where half the states want to act like tyrants to the rest of us.

In my country, Obama isn't the problem, it's the people who elected him.

NORCAL said...

Cival war is on it's way around the world! Today, All 50 states in the union have filed petitions to secede from the Federal Gov. control. Because of Political Greed and Government control, our country is falling fast. Once it does, you'll all see the beacon of hope disappear into the dictatorships that arise.
Good luck, Stay Strong, Fight for conservative values!