Buenos Aires, July 13 (RHC)-- In Argentina, political parties, social organizations, human rights groups, workers’ unions and Mapuches held a caravan to protest the installation of a United States “humanitarian” base in the western city of Neuquen. 

Under the banner “No to the Yankee base in Neuquen,” representatives of over 60 organizations travelled to the site where the base will be built.  They demand that the national and provincial government stop the construction of what they call a “military base” and uphold territorial sovereignty.  

The base, under the name “Emergency Operating Committee” was announced by government officials as a new office for “Civil Defense.”  Construction is financed by the U.S. Southern Command and it will function near the city, “next to all the oil resources,” councilman Francisco Baggio said.  

The document signed by the 60 organizations affirms that “the base is presented as humanitarian aid (to avoid) being called a military base, which would require approval of Argentina’s Congress.” 

Mapuche leader Jorge Nahual said “we must be mobilized.  We are going through critical moments but what’s coming is worse.  This policy of inhumane capitalist plunder now has all the favor and the support of the government.” 

“The base comes to fulfill a strategic intelligence objective of the U.S. military, that seeks to protect their corporate interests.  The Patagonia is an inexhaustible source of resources and the companies that exploit those resources are from the U.S. That’s what they are here to protect,” Nahual added.