Argentina: Population forces relaxation of lockdown

29.12.2020

Argentina has been in a lockdown since March 2020, every two to three weeks it was extended. From March to August 2020, there was a strict curfew: people were not allowed to leave their homes except under special conditions: for going shopping, visiting the doctor or going to work. As of May they must wear masks when leaving their homes. Since August, meetings in public places were allowed, provided that no more than ten people meet and wearing masks plus observing the distance stipulations of a minimum of two meters between persons. Public events did not take place. Schools and educational institutions had to remain closed, as well as most of the stores and companies in the service sector. Exceptions were stores providing basic provision, under the conditions that strict hygiene rules must be observed. Despite the toughest lockdown measures in Central and South America, the positive PCR test results rose rapidly conform to the number of tests carried out. This fact calls into question the validity and meaningfulness of these tests in every respect and likewise the mandatory corona regulations. The restrictions enforced by politics had a lasting negative impact on Argentina's economic and social life. According to the International Labor Organization’s September 2020 report, the unemployment rate rose from 10.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020 to 13.1 percent in mid-2020. In October, the Argentinian administrative body for statistics reported a distinct increase of poverty in the country. 40.9 percent of the population live below the poverty line, 10.5 percent even in extreme poverty. And crime rose in an equally rapid rate as well. Considering the deprivation threatening the ordinary people’s livelihood – is this any wonder?. This long-lasting lockdown, completely questioned by leading medical authorities, met - the longer the more - stiff opposition. Since September, the protests of the Argentinian population have been increasing. On the fixed dates for a further extension of the restrictions, on September 20, October 11 and October 25, thousands of people took to the streets in support of setting an end to the lockdown. Like this they expressed their resistance to the obvious injustice on the part of the government. And this with resounding success: Since November 2, Argentina's national borders are open again – although, for the time being, only for citizens of the neighboring countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Flying from Buenos Aires airport has been reinstalled. A sea of white and blue flags waved through the streets of Argentina's cities. The people took to the streets everywhere, and even the government, normally treating its citizens none too gently, had to realize that without the people, they in the long run, can do nothing. Due to ever increasing fierce protests the first shopping malls were reopened – bear in mind: after seven months! "I am happy to see so many people with the Argentinian national flag defending their existence. They want Argentina to be a progressive country. All these flags represent freedom and the republic," said Patricia Bullrich, former security minister and chairwoman of the conservative opposition party PRO. It was she who had made the public appeal for nationwide protests. In the same manner that the consciousness of the German population - back in the 1980s - had increasingly developed into "We are the people" and thus had brought about the end of the former German Democratic Republic, so the Argentinian people are making us aware of the fact that today the end of lockdown measures can certainly be realized by popular movements as well. It is analogous to David Icke's visionary speech at the demonstration for peace and freedom in London on August 29th, where he said: "Imagine that corona measures are prescribed and nobody goes along with it".

from hm

Sources/Links: https://connectiv.events/das-volk-argentiniens-zwingt-die-regierung-in-die-knie-lockdown-wird-aufgehoben/
https://deutsch.rt.com/amerika/108587-argentinien-230-tage-lockdown-dennoch/
https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/plus219120062/Argentinien-Die-Regierung-die-einknickte-und-den-Lockdown-wieder-aufhob.html