Argentine
Border and Coast Guards members were moving into their fourth day of conflict
despite the fact the government of President Cristina Fernandez had deposited
their full pay-checks that had been ‘mistakenly’ severely cut, based on Decree
1307. Prospects are that the conflict could extend until Tuesday.
Security
Secretary Sergio Berni promised a reply to the petition before next Tuesday
Protesting
outside their main headquarters in Buenos Aires, the “Centinela” and “Guardacostas”
buildings representatives said they were waiting a reply to their petition on
salaries, working conditions and pension contributions, while there were
intense versions of ongoing discussions with the top brass of the two forces to
unlock the conflict.
Security
secretary Sergio Berni said he had received the petition from the protesting
border and coast guards, and promised “a reply before next Tuesday”.
Some
officers from the Navy and Air Force joined their comrade in arms camped
outside the two headquarters while it was revealed that members from the Buenos
Aires province police were also beginning to plan actions in demand of higher
salaries.
Earlier
on Thursday the new head of the Gendarmerie, Enrique Zach, pledged before a
group of officers that “no disciplinary measures” will be applied against those
who are protesting.
“In line
with what was announced yesterday (Wednesday) by Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal
Medina, the money owed for the month of September has been deposited in the
bank accounts of the Border Guard officer,” the Security Ministry announced in
a statement.
The
Argentine government responded on Wednesday to the protest by firing the top
brass in both security forces and promising to remedy salary “injustices”
caused by controversial Decree 1307/12.
Under
the new system established by the decree most of the troops would either earn
the same or less than they previously had. However, despite widespread sympathy
for the cause, politicians of all political stripes condemned the protest,
describing it as aggressive and even unconstitutional.
The new
head of the Coast Guard Luis Alberto Heiler also held meetings with officers to
discuss the situation but there was no immediate solution to the conflict.
The
meetings were held at the Guardacosts building with the purpose of “recomposing
authority links which deteriorated in recent hours expressed in aggression
situations to some higher ranking officers of the force”, said a spokesperson
for Heiler.
On
Thursday morning members from the two forces said that they would continue with
the protests until next Tuesday, when an official reply to the petition was
promised and “guaranteed that all duties of the forces are being addressed with
normality”. They insisted it was no coup or attack on the democratic system
which they support.
“We’re
not aggravating the situation: it was all the making of the Ministry of
Security, she’s incompetent. We want a basic salary of 7.000 Pesos and full
contribution to pension funds. Once they confirm this, in five minutes all is
back to normal” one of the protestors was quoted.
Whilst
they wait for the Security Ministry's answer over the signed petition presented
earlier on Thursday, Border and Coast Guard officers anticipated they might
deepen measures if they do not reach an agreement before Tuesday as was
promised by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez.
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