Argentina’s federal judiciary ordered 27 raids against left-wing leaders on Monday. Piqueteros (‘Picketers’) organization tracks hundreds of complaints from local residents regarding suspected extortion and intimidation.
The indictment reportedly accuses the organizations of threatening individuals if they refuse to participate in left-wing protests against President Javier Millay.
In Argentina, “picketers” is the name given to left-wing “social” organizations primarily dedicated to protesting against the government, often in violent ways.Some of the existing picketer groups are splinters of local far-left parties, others Founded In recent years, they have even held their own parties. Picketer groups have occupied public offices in previous leftist governments.
The ongoing investigation, led by Argentine Federal Judge Sebastian Casanero and Prosecutor Gerardo Polísita, is based on a formal request from the Argentine government.in DecemberWhen Millais became president, the government set up a telephone hotline that Argentines could use to denounce personal threats by picketer leaders.
The hotline began receiving complaints the day before the first picketer-organized protest against Millay on Dec. 20. reportedly More than 13,000 calls were made, 924 of which were used to launch formal investigations.
local media published Copies of text message logs from phone numbers. It features texts presented by Argentine prosecutors as evidence that citizens are being pressured and blackmailed by picketer leaders.
Argentine nationals who are beneficiaries of state aid programs say in their complaints that the picketer leaders will force them to hand over some of the stipends they received and forfeit government benefits if they do not take part in protests against Millay. He then accused her of threatening him.
The complaint also includes instances in which picketers allegedly demanded “justification” from citizens if they did not participate in protests and imposed “fines” for non-participation. Additionally, complaints include instances in which people were made to pay “fares” to picketer groups to receive free food aid boxes distributed by the government, and similar incidents in which left-wing groups imposed false “fares.” Some cases were described in detail. ”To the people.
In addition to being forced to participate in protests against Millay, the investigation also revealed that some citizens were allegedly forced to sell free food they received from the Argentine government for the group’s benefit, and that political There were also cases where people were forced to distribute leaflets. Failure to comply could result in exclusion from social assistance programs or denial of free food.
The 27 raids and ongoing investigations center on the leaders of three picketer groups: Standing Barrios, an organization belonging to the Trotskyist Workers’ Party. and the organization of the struggle front.
argentina newspapers Clarin report Audio recordings collected Monday as part of the investigation show the socialists who ruled Argentina for 16 of the past 20 years, led by late president Néstor Kirchner and his wife, former president and former vice president Cristina. It has become clear that picketer leaders associated with the group Kirchnerism were directly mentioned. Fernández de Kirchner.
Most of the targets of the raids are reportedly linked to the now-terminated Enhanced Work social assistance program. program, gave personal financial benefits to low-income citizens.Millay Ended The February program and its beneficiaries are reassigned There are two different support programs depending on the case.
Argentine law enforcement authorities reportedly seized “several million pesos” as well as an unspecified amount of U.S. dollars, “mobile phones, lists, spreadsheets” and other “relevant evidence” during the raid. Twenty-eight people were involved in the 27 raids and will now be required to give statements to local authorities as part of the ongoing investigation process.
The money obtained through extortion was allegedly sent to an unknown final destination through a “cooperative society.” As a result, the district attorney’s office reportedly requested the release of tax and bank secrecy for everyone involved.
judicial information sources Said argentina newspapers La Nación They said they were able to prove the existence of a “system of control” that picketers use to punish individuals who do not participate in anti-Millay protests. Protest organizers must gather participants both at the beginning and end of the protest and “repair” their absences by performing alternative tasks or paying fines to left-wing leaders who are missing. He is said to have created a “punishment list” for people.
Polisita, the head of the investigation, said the picketers had established a five-tier pyramid structure that categorized beneficiaries of social assistance programs into different levels.
Prosecutors said citizens had to complete certain tasks and participate in protests before accessing the Enhanced Work Assistance Program. Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the program were required to continue participating in protests and handing over funds to picketers in order to continue participating in the assistance program.
Prosecutors noted that the third tier is reserved for beneficiaries who receive double Social Security. They had to do more work in addition to paying picketers and participating in protests.
The fourth tier is formed by “delegates,” who may receive “double, triple, or even quadruple” amounts from social programs, and who demand money from regular beneficiaries and collect fees. and direct sanctions against fraudulent beneficiaries. He did not comply with the group’s requests.
The top tier of the pyramid structure was said to be reserved for “directors” who directed the actions of lower-ranking representatives, intimidated victims, and controlled collection of funds and participation in protests.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
