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Riot Outside Brukman Factory in Argentina
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
Protesters fighting their eviction from a bankrupt Argentine factory torched cars and lobbed Molotov cocktails at riot police on Monday as social tensions simmered ahead of Sunday's presidential elections.
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Argentine Protesters Torch Cars After Eviction
Monday, April 21, 2003
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Protesters fighting their eviction from a bankrupt Argentine factory torched cars and lobbed Molotov cocktails at riot police on Monday as social tensions simmered ahead of Sunday's presidential elections.
Officials said at least 31 people were injured and 30 more arrested after the protests near the Brukman textile factory in the capital Buenos Aires. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
"The police are firing tear gas all over the place," Florencia, a demonstrator from an unemployed workers' group, shouted as she fled the area.
Workers at the plant said they had been keeping the factory running to eke out a living, but a company spokesman said laborers have sold off machines and destroyed the plant's productive capacity.
Since last year's sovereign debt default and devaluation, some workers whose factories were closed during Argentina's worst ever economic crisis have occupied abandoned plants to try and produce goods at lower cost and make a profit.
Monday's protest was sparked after a judge on Friday ordered that the workers be evicted from the factory -- the third such eviction.
The clashes pitted police against both unemployed workers and leftist militants. They were some of the worst since last June, when two people were killed during anti-government demonstrations.
Argentina holds a presidential election on Sunday, its first presidential vote since the Latin American country was plunged into chaos in late 2001 and early 2002. Five presidents governed in two weeks at that time and Argentina suffered bloody street protests and deepening recession.
Five candidates are vying for power in a close election race, including former President Carlos Menem -- who ran Argentina from 1989 to 1999, The election will likely move to a run-off between the top two candidates in May.
Police, Demonstrators Clash in Argentina
Mon Apr 21, 6:00 PM ET
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday to disperse hundreds of demonstrators outside a clothes factory that has been held for more than a year by employees seeking to keep it from closing.
Officers were seen leading some people away after breaking up a crowd that had gathered in sympathy for the workers inside the Brukman plant, one of several dozen businesses seized by workers during Argentina's economic crisis.
It was unclear whether police entered the factory, which is run by 57 of its 157 original workers. The workers, who had been expelled twice but allowed back in by legal action, became worried Friday that authorities were preparing to take the plant again and sympathizers began rallying outside.
Demonstrators charged police used excessive force to break up the gathering Monday, but there were no reports of injuries. White clouds of tear gas wafted through the factory neighborhood as police pushed out hundreds of people.
The red brick building is one of about 100 factories, restaurants and other businesses that have been seized by Argentine workers desperate to protect their jobs. About 20 percent of Argentine workers are jobless.
The workers remaining at the Brukman plant are fighting in court in hopes of winning its ownership.
Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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Brukman riot
Por Anarchist -
Monday, Apr. 21, 2003 at 11:39 PM
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