On April 13, a hearing will be held by the Federal Court of Criminal Appeals, which must validate, or not, the sentences against the compañeros César Arakaki and Daniel Ruiz – sentenced to three years and four months in prison, and three years, respectively.
César and Daniel (militants of the PO and the PSTU, respectively) were prosecuted and sentenced (in November 2021) for their participation in the great mobilization of December 18, 2017, in front of the National Congress, in Buenos Aires, against the pension reform promoted by the government of Mauricio Macri (Together for Change). That day there was a gigantic repressive operation to facilitate the approval of the law. It should be noted that the reform was approved with the support of pro-government deputies and the Frente de Todos, then in opposition.
The comrades were accused of “public intimidation” and “attacking authority”. The accusation is so flimsy that the complaint against Brian Escobar, a police officer who was hit with a stone during that demonstration, was withdrawn from the trial because the videos and images clearly show that his colleagues were not responsible for his injuries.
The sentence against Arakaki and Ruiz is an attack on the right to protest and, therefore, against all those who come out to fight in Argentina against the adjustment policies called for by the International Monetary Fund.
The pension reform of the Macrista government modified the calculation of assets, to the detriment of retirees. Two years later, the government of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Kirchner (Frente de Todos) debuted with a suspension of retirement mobility, replaced by discretionary increases. Then a new index was instituted, also detrimental to older adults.
As a result of the adjustment of the governments of Together for Change and the Frente de Todos, today the minimum retirement in Argentina is barely 58,646 pesos, while the retiree basket exceeds 200,000 pesos.
In addition, by order of the Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, the government has just pesified the public securities denominated in dollars, in the hands of the Anses (retirement entity), a scam in favor of financial capital that continues to empty the funds of that organism.
Meanwhile, following the line of Emmanuel Macron in France, leaders of the main parties are introducing the proposal to increase the retirement age on to the political agenda.
A few days after the Federal Chamber hearing, the campaign for the acquittal of Arakaki and Ruiz has redoubled. On March 31, a public hearing was held in the Chamber of Deputies, convened by deputy Romina Del Plá (PO-Left Front), which was attended by a large presence of legislators, political leaders, unions, and human rights organizations. The campaign of pronouncements has obtained hundreds of signatures of support, not only in Argentina, but internationally.
Let’s go for the acquittal of César and Daniel.
