Injured in demonstrations in Argentina

Buenos Aires, June 21 (RHC) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the incidents in the northwestern Argentinean city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the Clarín newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The situation was made known by the representative of that body for the Americas, Jan Jarab, in a letter sent to Governor Gerardo Morales, the local newspaper added.

The UN official said that he received reports on “more than 20 people injured” during demonstrations in that city and requested “a constructive and intercultural dialogue, guaranteeing the effective participation of indigenous peoples and other stockholders to overcome the crisis in Jujuy.”

The letter also expresses interest in “some issues of the constitutional reform approved by the province.”

Some 170 people were injured and 69 were arrested as a result of the violent official repression that continues today in San Salvador de Jujuy against demonstrators opposed to a provincial constitution approved on Tuesday.

The excessive police reaction assumed by the local governor includes the use of rubber bullets (some denounced lead bullets too), tear gas, and special vehicles against the protests, Pablo Jure, director of the local emergency service, told the news agency Telam.

The repressive acts against the rejection of the constitutional text, especially for legitimizing violence, prohibiting protests, and damaging indigenous land ownership rights, were condemned by the Government after Morales blamed its leaders for the events. (Source: PL)