Argentine masses cheer president in row with farmers

[bemildred]

Source: America News

Buenos Aires - Tens of thousands of Argentines gathered Tuesday in Buenos Aires' central Plaza de Mayo to support President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she faced down a 20-day road blockade by farmers.

The rally was a show of force by trade unions, social movements and local authorities loyal to the populist Peronist movement, of which Fernandez is a representative.

Scores of thousands of people took to the historic Plaza de Mayo before the seat of the Argentine government, and several ministers and high government officials and provincial governors were seen in the stands.

'I want to thank the Argentine people for this crowd, which has not come to defend a political outburst or a sector. I am thankful for the presence of thousands and thousands of Argentines who have come to defend their country, the Argentine nation,' Fernandez said in a heated speech.

Read more: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/americas/news/article_1397939.php/Argentine_masses_cheer_president_in_row_with_farmers

[madrchsod]

1. well she`s something!

interesting idea...keeping the food in the country instead of selling it off to the highest bidder.

[Peace Patriot]

2. You gotta figure that Bush-USAID-NED (our) money is fueling this controversy.

The Bushites poured USAID-NED funds--and no doubt funds from covert budgets and military funds--into Venezuela, in support of the 2002 coup attempt, to fund the rightwing recall election (which Chavez won, big), to aid the oil professionals' crippling strike, and to fund rightwing opposition candidates, protests and riots. (All to no avail, I might add.) They are doing something similar in Bolivia--supporting white separatists who want to split off the gas/oil-rich provinces from the central government of Evo Morales--the first indigenous president of Bolivia (a largely indigenous country), and a strong Chavez ally--to deny benefit of the those resources to the poor majority. Indeed, I think this Bush-backed separatist movement will be the spark for the Bush-instigated oil war in South America, this year.

Argentina has a good, beneficial, democratically elected, leftist government, in strong alliance with Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador. This is the "axis of leftist democratic evil" that the Bushites want to destroy. They are having a hard time of it. Leftist governments have been elected all over the continent--also in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Nicaragua, and a leftist victory is likely in Paraguay this year, and a bit later in Peru (where a Bush-U.S. "free trade" deal is ravaging the economy). But the Bolivarians--Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina--are the strongest leaders of the new social justice movement which also has the goal of regional self-determination: a common market, a common currency (to get off the U.S. dollar), local control of finances and loans, local control of natural resources.

U.S.-instigated strikes and riots--buying off the leaders of legitimate movements, to de-stabilize leftist governments, stoking up normal, local discontent and political opposition, into a large de-stabilzing force, and/or fabricating rightwing movements out of nothing--is also classic U.S./CIA strategy for gaining U.S. corporate control of resources. They did it in Iran in the mid-1950s (destroying Iran's first democratic government, and installing the hideous Shah of Iran, who inflicted 25 years of torture and oppression on the Iranian people). They work with privileged elites, and--in Bolivia and apparently Argentina, currently--large landowners, who use their workers or smaller landowners in their control, as shock troops--for protests and thuggery. In Bolivia, that thuggery has included murders of small peasant farmers and union leaders.

Also, recently, there was the "suitcase full of money" Bush-CIA caper out of Miami, aimed at "dividing and conquering" Venezuela-Argentina. A rich Miami operative (two jaguars in the driveway) tried to enter Argentina with a suitcase full of $800,000 U.S. cash. Airport customs officials stopped him, confiscated the money (cuz they didn't know what it was for), and permitted this duel Venezeulan-U.S. citizen to return to Miami. There, he turns up as a "witness" for a Bushbot U.S. attorney, who claims that the money was from Chavez to Cristina Fernadez's political campaign. The absurdity of this charge was pointed out by Venezuela's VP, who said that, if they had wanted to send money to Fernandez, they would have put it on board Chavez's official jet, with diplomatic immunity. Chavez paid a state visit to Argentina the next day.

But what business is it of a U.S. attorney in Miami--you might well arsk--what goes on among Venezuelan and Argentine politicians, whether the story is true or not true? That is a matter for the governments and peoples of Venezuela and Argentina. The Bushbot U.S. attorney concocted a story of two Venezuelan citizens and a Uruguyan visiting Miami to pressure our CIA-Miami operative (the orginal purveyor of the money, now turned "witness") not to reveal that the money was from Chavez/Venezuela to Fernandez. He says he has "tapes" of conversations, etc. And what is the charge, prosecutable in Miami? He has charged the three with "failure to report to the U.S. Attorney General as agents of a foreign government."

All this trouble for nothing. The story is the laugh of South America. But you gotta wonder at the effort these Bushbots have gone to, to smear leftist politicians. We already know the lengths they've gone to, in Venezuela, and here, to paint Chavez as a "dictator," a charge that is not only 100% untrue, it turns to ashes in the mouths of Bushites. Now they're after anyone who is allied with Chavez. After the "suitcase full of money" caper went haywire, Cristina Fernandez denounced it for what it was--a "divide and conquer" tactic--and announced that Argentina's alliance with Venezuela has never been stronger, and soon after that, she signed an oil for food deal with Venezuela.

Venezuela has a chronic problem of food self-sufficiency. The Chavez government is the first government of Venezuela ever to address this problem, with a serious, well-thought-out land reform program that obliges the recipients of ag land to actually produce food, and provides them with technical assistance to do so. But the problem is so long-standing--as the result of decades of malfeasance by the ruling elite--that it is going to take decades of effort to solve. Meanwhile, Venezuela needs to import food.

The Bushites are active in Venezuela, pushing the big grocery chains to horde food, and aiding the food black market into Colombia (Bush Cartel client state)--doing everything they can to make the problem worse. Argentina tries to help Venezuela (getting oil in return), and, lo and behold, we find a crippling "farmer" strike in Argentina, led by the big landowners. I think the Argentine-Venezuela oil for food deal is more at the heart of this strike than the tax--and I'm going to make a surmise, here, that the strike is actually being run out of the U.S. embassy (much like the separatist movement in Bolivia, and the 'coup de etat' attempt against the Chavez government back in 2002). The export tax may be too high, or may be too high on small producers, and may be a disputable item, a fairness issue. I don't know enough about Argentina's economy to judge it. But a strike, with blockades, threatening to shut down Argentina's economy--a big landowners' strike against a leftist government?

It smells. It smells of Bush and Rumsfeld.* And Cristina Fernandez is correct that it smells of "the face of a past that wants to return."

"The president said she had never seen 'so many offences and so many insults' poured on a democratically-elected government, and warned ominously that the farmers' protests represented 'the face of a past that wants to return.'"**
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/americas/news/article_1397939.php/Argentine_masses_cheer_president_in_row_with_farmers

-----------

*"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html

**"The reference was apparently to the 1976-83 military dictatorship that caused the death or disappearance of an estimated 30,000 people." (ibid - Monsters and Critics)

[Runcible Spoon]

6. ummmm

loosen that tin foil hat a bit. I'm all for figuring that Bush Co. is trying creatively to assert influence in South America and even Argentina, but you have provided no causal links. Merely figuring something is connected by mentioning the suitcase fiasco and putting ärgentina and Venezuela into the same paragraph does not mean that these strikes are somehow prompted by Bush. That's entirely irresponsible and ridiculous. If it WERE so, you could bet your sweet ass Argentina would be all over it.

ALSO ON EDIT: this same sort of strike was part of the momentum to bring down the De La Rua gov't, which WAS corrupt and, sorry, WAS in Bill Clinton's pocket. It wasn't until Kirchner (Senor) took office and told the IMF to go fuck itself (Largest default EVER) that Argentina began to reclaim its glory. So these protests are populist and have proven effective, as opposed to the closed doors secret handshakes and deals we are used to in the US. Are there rich landowners? Sure. But there are small ones, family farms, unions, and many many wage workers whose interests are at stake as well. Do you want Argentina to produce merely for domestic consumption? Sounds a little too Stalinist for my tastes.

In this case, don't assume that just because the gov't is leftist the people protesting its policies are fueled by sinister intent. THis is NOT the US. People protest here CONSTANTLY for many reasons. People who show up are heard and get results. Watching Western news outlets distort these protests and give conflicting stories based on laziness or sheer ignorance of the situation is like being in the Twilight Zone. :crazy:

[Judi Lynn]

7. They vehemently denied it the moment these obnoxious charges were made by the U.S.

They have tried to extradite the clown from Miami three times, yet he is being given haven here, where he has one of his homes.

They won't be giving up.

They were "all over it" from the very first.

Because you've not taken the time to read enough of Peace Patriot's posts on the subject, you really have no idea what has been discussed and posted already.

Wait until you actually know what you're talking about before you attempt to slur an enormously well-respected and supported writer at D.U. It's the least you can do as an adult.

[Runcible Spoon]

8. excuse me

but what the fuck does the suitcase have to do with the protests? eagerly awaiting your links. And I;m not smearing him, as an expat who was AT the protests and has been following the situation, I'm merely pointing out the inconsistencies. Sorry that doesn't jibe with your high opinion. Jesus, get a grip and go research before accusing ME. APparently you haven't been reading in the LA forums, where I have been posting on this :eyes:

[ronnie624]

14. Your use of the "tin foil hat" meme is insulting

to those who have invested the time and effort necessary to learning about the history of U.S. interventions in Latin America. In no manner can that term be accurately applied to Peace Patriot's meticulously researched essays. Not only is the accusation inflammatory, it is most often wielded in an attempt to suppress discussion by stigmatizing questions about the government's activities. "Tin foil hat" is not an effective rebuttal to an argument.

Peace Patriot's suspicions about USAID/NED are perfectly reasonable, considering the history of these agencies in Latin America, and the pattern of U.S. interventions there during the last century or so.

[Peace Patriot]

9. I'm not saying there isn't a legit disagreement with the leftist government--

I'm saying there is reason to be suspicious--to suspect Bushite interference (exacerbating the conflict--funding it, helping organize it, stoking it up)--since the Bush Junta clearly would like to bring this government--a strong ally of Venezuela--down.

They did a very similar thing in Venezuela--several times. Turning a disagreement between the oil managers and the Chavez government into a huge crippling strike; funding the recall election with millions in USAID-NED and other funds--to EXAGGERATE the power of, and utilize, the MINORITY rightwing's beefs with government, trying to bring down the MAJORITY-supported government. They have FUNDED the rightwing opposition. They have TRAINED the rightwing opposition. The Bushites are out to cause trouble, to destabilize these governments, to pick at sores and make them into big wounds. That's what the Bushites HAVE BEEN DOING--in Venezuela, in Bolivia, and possibly now in Argentina. And it is a classic CIA/fascist tactic. They did it in Argentina BEFORE. They did it in Chile. They did it it Iran in 1954. They've done it time and again in countries where U.S. corporations want to control the resources and government policy.

So it is reasonable to ask, are they doing it again?

That is not "tin-foil hat." That is based on a knowledge of the history of U.S./Latin American relations, and having closely followed recent events during the Bush regime.

De-stabilizing Argentina would be a crucial strategic necessity for any Bushite-designed war plan in South America, over the oil in the Andes region. Argentina is a critically important ally of Venezuela. It furthermore borders Bolivia, where I have no doubt at all that the Bushites are stoking up the white separatist movement. It is what they do. They are into divisiveness, chaos and war, as tactics for gaining control of resources. And their biggest enemy is South America is democracy itself--these countries, their peoples and their leaders being free to attend to their own interests, without the bully U.S. and its corporate puppetmasters and financial sharks dictating to them. That is what the alliance among Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador is all about. The Bushites want to break it up. They have already acted to break it up. They MUST break it up, to regain control of the oil.

And we can only see the tips of the icebergs. Much of Bush Junta funding is SECRET. The Congress can't even get information on what they're doing, with many budgets--let alone the rest of us. So, when a ridiculous plot like the "suitcase full of money" caper surfaces in the news, you can be certain that there are dozens more similar plots in motion, in the planning stages, or waiting for their moment--some of them better organized than that one. (I believe we just saw a recent one emerge--of the more serious variety--to smear Chavez and Correa as "terrorist-lovers' and lure them into a war with Colombia--a very serious and nefarious scheme, that involved killing people and fabricating evidence.)

This strike in Argentina is more than your typical protest. It is crippling the country. (It is very like the oil professionals' strike in Venezuela.) It is also threatening the Argentina-Venezuela oil for food deal. It is made to order for Bushite plotting--and seems right in line with the first stage of Rumsfeld's stated plan: economic warfare against Venezuela and others. When Rumsfeld titles his piece, "The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chavez," he is adding OTHERS in there ("tyrants like Chavez"), and he means this: "The Smart Way to Beat LEFTIST DEMOCRACIES in South America." He considers rule by leaders who represent the majority to be "tyranny"--because they don't kneel to corporate interests and won't be bullied by U.S. power and U.S. threats.

Once again, I think it's reasonable--and historically well-informed--to suspect Bushite support of this landowners' strike. I don't know if it is true for sure. I am very suspicious. You say that, if it were true, the Kirchners would be exposing it. But they may not have the evidence. The fact that they're not exposing it, doesn't mean that they don't KNOW it, or suspect it. In fact, Cristina Fernandez broadly hinted at just that--in her statement about the past returning. The past of U.S.-instigated, U.S.-supported, heinous dictatorship. She was expressing this fear herself. Maybe this is just politics in Argentina, maybe not. I don't know (--although the Kirchners have not been that kind of blowhard politician). There is REASON to fear it. And if the Bushites were spiriting $800,000 into Argentina, to try to embarrass Fernandez, and "divide and conquer" Argentina-Venezuela, what else are they trying to do?

[Hannah Bell]

11. There are also the pieces about argentina defaulting on its imf-sanctioned

debt, thereby bringing its econonomy out of meltdown;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3973671.stm

& their support for the chavez-led attempts to create a s. american bank/economic sphere.

neither of which, i'd assume, us-led finance capital appreciates.

[Peace Patriot]

13. Thanks for the info! Then Chavez and Venezuela helped bail them out--

giving Argentina breathing room, so that it is now undergoing substantial recovery. Venezuela thus helped to create a healthy trading partner for itself, Brazil and others.

The loan sharks of the World Bank/IMF don't want health and prosperity for these countries. They want to bleed them dry--on behalf of rich, first world investors.

[Rage for Order]

15. If Venezuela did help Argentina...

Why isn't Argentina encouraging its farmers to export excess food to Venezuela? This could be accomplished by raising the export tax to 45% on items going to other countries, but leaving the tax at 35% on items going to Venezuela. Argentina could even offer an incentive to export to its friend, Venezuela, by lowering the export tax to 25% - 30% on exports going to that country. That's what I would do for my friend if I was truly grateful for them helping me out in the past.

[Judi Lynn]

16. They already have an arrangement for that:

Venezuela, Argentina to trade food, oil
Published: Feb. 13, 2008 at 7:39 PM
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Venezuela and Argentina have reached an agreement to exchange food for oil, it was reported Wednesday.

Under the agreement, Argentina will supply 1,000 tons of beef monthly and in exchange Venezuela will provide all the crude needed to ensure Argentina's "human and industrial development," Mercopress reported.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Argentine needs "no longer to worry about the energy issue." Similarly, he said, "the Venezuelan families are grateful to Argentina for its efforts in making everyday life easier."

Chavez said his nation "urgently needed" food, as Venezuela is facing increasing shortages of such staples such as milk, beans and meat, Mercopress reported.

Argentinean Planning Minister Julio De Vido, the country's energy czar, said the international agreement "represents a fair deal which will enable the sustainable development and growth of both countries".

More:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/02/13/venezuela_argentina_to_trade_food_oil/5434/

and of course, you probably know they ALREADY had that arrangement with President Kirchner:

Argentina, Venezuela in oil deal
Argentina and Venezuela have extended a food-for-oil deal, which helped the former to overcome a severe energy crisis last year.
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed the deal in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Last April, Argentina signed a $240m agreement to import Venezuelan fuel in exchange for agricultural goods and this deal has now been extended.

Venezuela will now import cattle, medicines and medical equipment.

Last year, Argentina's severe energy crisis forced President Kirchner to suspend gas exports to Chile. Argentina fears that rising demand could spark another crisis and wants to prevent it by signing this deal.

The two countries also formalised a co-operation deal between Venezuelan energy firm PDVSA and Argentina's Enarsa.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4227191.stm

One way or another, Latin America is STILL going to integrate, to consolidate, to unify and work for its regional best interests, DESPITE the diseased view of self-centered right-wingers that U.S. businessmen and politicians should be the ones making their decisions for them, and splitting the profits with the greedy elites.

[Rage for Order]

17. It doesn't appear to be working

Chavez was threatening to nationalize the food industry about the same time that deal was reached. It appears that Argentina's farmers still have a surplus of food available to export. Argentina's president should consider lowering export taxes to Venezuela to encourage more food exports to that country to help alleviate the food shortage.

[Judi Lynn]

3. L.A.Times:In Argentina, thousands rally in support of president

In Argentina, thousands rally in support of president
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner urges farmers to end their strike over opposition to her plan to boost taxes on food exports. But they show no sign of relenting.
By Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
9:03 PM PDT, April 1, 2008

BUENOS AIRES -- Tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators marched through downtown Tuesday in a show of support for an Argentine leadership facing a stiff challenge from rebellious rural growers.

But there was no sign late Tuesday that the farmers would lift roadblocks they had set up and resume shipments of beef and other foodstuffs. On strike for almost three weeks, they have vowed to continue their protest until at least today.

In the capital, union activists and others allied with the center-left government waved signs declaring "We are with Cristina" to proclaim their solidarity with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

The president addressed the assembled masses from a stage placed in the highly symbolic Plaza de Mayo, where Argentines for decades have come both to protest and to honor their leaders.

"Let the roads clear so Argentines can have access to food," Fernandez implored protesting farmers whose strike has led to supermarket shortages in one of the world's major food-producing nations.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-farmers2apr02,1,5792792.story

[Rage for Order]

4. Both sides are cheering. It's apparently not over

Argentine Farmers Suspend Strike
By DEBORA REY, Associated Press Writer

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080403/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/argentina_farmbelt_rebellion;_ylt=AlI1SYJ8MwDXKM_rmgrbkLNvaA8F

Nearly 20,000 farmers and ranchers in broad-brimmed cowboy hats and faded baseball caps cheered as leaders of Argentina's four main farm groups announced a temporary halt to the strike, the longest farm walkout in Argentina's history. They called on government to provide negotiators who understand the countryside.

"We are suspending this strike but no more than 30 days!" farm leader Mario Llambias shouted from atop a flatbed truck as farmers chanted "Argentina! Argentina!"

The strike was set off by an increase in soybean taxes from 35 percent to as much as 45 percent and new duties on other farm exports. Fabian Moine, a 43-year-old farmer who runs cattle and soybeans on a small farm in Entre Rios, said that high taxes, coupled with the high costs for planting, fertilizing, weeding and harvesting soybeans, leave him only a tiny profit. "Now they say they want to take up to 45 percent of the revenue," Moine complained.

Argentina's central bank reported a record $50 billion in reserves last month when the strike began. Kirchner used the reserves in 2005 to pay off nearly $9 billion in debt owed the International Monetary Fund. Strike leader Eduardo Buzzi charged that the government paid off the IMF early thanks to farmers, who now deserve to keep more of their profits. He said the current administration is now trying to use farm profits to pay off about $6 billion still owed creditor nations.

more at the link

[Runcible Spoon]

5. thanks for pointing this out.

It's easy to dismiss this as some sort of Bush financed erosion of Argentinian solidarity, but not all of the growers in ARrgentina are huge corporate conglomerates. Even in a leftist, socialist government, 45% tax on exports is suffocating to a market, even a well regulated one. THe argument is that unless they tax the fuck out of exported soy, the farmers won't have any incentive to grow wheat corn etc for domestic consumption. However, this government has been taken to task for poorly managing this conflict. There is NO shortage of food production, and NO reason this government cant preserve trade protection while freeing up the reins on the farmers. I was at that protest, there were many many groups represented. It was NOT a case of everyone in Buenos Aires showing up at the Casa Rosada in support of Cristina. In fact, Argentinians are very much divided. The poor tend to support the tax as they see it as a chance to increase public service programs, but the middle class sees it as unnecessary strong-arming by a government which already keeps a pretty hard grip on economic policies. From where I'm standing, after not being able to buy bread today, the gov't is well loved but has overplayed its hand on this one. It's time to negotiate with the farmers and truckers.

[Peace Patriot]

10. Rage for Order's comment included this interesting item...

"He said the current administration is now trying to use farm profits to pay off about $6 billion still owed creditor nations."

As I understand it, when Argentina's economy went bust--due in large part to World Bank/IMF loan sharks--Venezuela stepped in, with easy, low-interest loans, to help bail Argentina out of World Bank debt. (This was in fact the seed of the Bank of the South.) Is it Venezuelan loans that are at issue in this strike? I don't know if the statement is even true--that the export tax is for paying off loans. But I do know this--that, simultaneously, Exxon Mobil has tried to freeze $12 billion in Venezuela's assets--over a deal about Venezuela's 60% share in its own oil (--a deal that Norway's Statoil, France's Total, British BP and even Chevron all agreed to). Exxon Mobil's action seemed very punitive to me, especially since the real amount at issue is only $1 billion or so. Also, Venezuela is having food shortages as well--brought on by grocery chain hoarding and a black market in food going into Colombia. It sure seems to me that economic warfare is in progress. Could the ultimate target be Venezuela?

One more thing--Venezuela's financial activism, and the Bank of South, have taken big chunks of profit away from the World Bank and its U.S. and "first world" financiers, whose South American portfolio has dramatically declined over the last five years. The World Bank is run by appointed Bushites. They can't be happy about this. Are they trying to make it impossible for Argentina to pay its loans to Venezuela?

Again, there could be a legitimate disagreement--but this is often the case with U.S. interference in South America. They take a legitimate disagreement and turn it into toppling the government--and putting real fuckheads in charge, fuckheads who would think nothing of rounding all these strikers up and shooting them. In Venezuela as well, we have seen the have's use the wannabe have's as their shock troops for destabilizing actions, such as strikes and riotous protests. The fact that smaller farmers and workers are participating doesn't necessarily tell us that the strike and protests aren't being manipulated. The USAID-NED teaches this stuff. How to create a "movement" that benefits the have's--and multinational corporate predators. And right now it's a Bushite USAID-NED! It is active in Venezuela and Bolivia. Has it been doing "trainings" and funding opposition groups in Argentina, too?

Reasonable questions, friend. It's happened before. And we have real bad guys in charge--spending (and stealing) our money hand over fist, in Iraq--unto the 7th generation--to keep control of Iraqi oil.

I can't say one way or the other. I don't have enough info. I'm waiting and seeing. But I DO know that something's up with Bushite policy in South America, and I'm about as sure as I can be that a lot of what we are seeing is the psyops/disinformation and economic warfare preparations for Oil War II.

[Hannah Bell]

12. Just want to point out that international grain prices have

doubled in the last year.

If farmers produced 100 lbs of grain last year & exported with export tax of 10%, they made e.g. $90.

If they export this year with tax of 45%, they make $110. Even if last years' tax were zero, they would still make more this year.

Of course that's leaving out all the complications of input costs, declining dollar, etc.

I just wanted to point out that a 45% export tax, in & of itself, isn't necessarily confisticatory without looking at everything involved. If farmers are allowed to export their entire crop for high prices, that means argentina has to buy grain on the world market using tax monies or let people go hungry.

Combining that with evidence of financial speculation in grain markets being a significant factor in price rises, I find it hard to fault the argentinian gov't for increasing export cost.