Protesters Demand Argentina Govt. Stop Violent Crime
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 01, 2006
More than 60,000 thousand of protesters in Argentina loudly demanded President Nestor Kirchner get tough on violent criminals including juveniles.
Argentinians say they are angry over the increasing number of violent crimes. Their capital Buenos Aires, was once considered one of the safest cities in Latin America. But in recent years, it has experienced increases in shootings on the streets, kidnappings, and daylight robberies.
Thousands of people clogged the plaza as they awaited an appearance and speech by Juan Carlos Blumberg, whose 21-year-old son was murdered following his kidnapping. In 2004, he led more than 100,000 protesters to the steps of Congress after the killing.
Blumberg told AP, "First we put up metal bars on the windows of our homes to protect ourselves, then we put fences up around our properties. Then we installed bars in our businesses and shops. What we need to do now is take down all these bars and put the criminals behind them."
Blumberg has been urging lawmakers lower the age limit for which minors can be charged with serious crimes. He demands a unified national police force, more jury trials rather than plea bargains, and a strategy to prevent identity theft.
Argentina's official crime statistics are notorious for under-reporting by victims and under-recording by the authorities. Usually, homicide statistics are more reliable than those of other lesser crimes because corpses are harder to ignore than lost or damaged property, for instance.
The extent of under-reporting and under-recording in all crime statistics will depend on various factors, including the level of education of the population and the citizens' confidence in the public security forces, as well as on the integrity of the crime recording systems.
The fact that even official statistics in Argentina show a worrisome upward trend should be a strong signal that something must be done to stop it, before the economic and welfare costs associated with rising crime and violence escalate to daunting levels.
Raul Castells, a leader of an unemployed peoples movement, tells the AP, "Public insecurity is growing every day and this won't be solved by just adding more police patrols but by seeking out real solutions."
Argentina's crime problem is not exclusively a result of street thugs. A recent study reported that a number of Muslim militants are thought to be emigrating to the Argentina- Brazil border area. Many of these people are coming from Iran and they are bringing their fanatic Islamic fundamentalism with them. One estimate reports that there are more than a quarter-million Islamists living in the border region.
The report indicated that training camps are being set up in the jungles on the borders with Argentina and Brazil. The training camps are believed to be training local recruits in the tactics of guerrilla warfare and terrorism. Once a foothold of Islamic extremism is established in this region and additional "troops" trained, additional problems can be anticipated.
Intelligence experts believe some of the kidnap-for-ransom incidents are perpetrated by these Islamic radicals.
Argentinians say they are angry over the increasing number of violent crimes. Their capital Buenos Aires, was once considered one of the safest cities in Latin America. But in recent years, it has experienced increases in shootings on the streets, kidnappings, and daylight robberies.
Thousands of people clogged the plaza as they awaited an appearance and speech by Juan Carlos Blumberg, whose 21-year-old son was murdered following his kidnapping. In 2004, he led more than 100,000 protesters to the steps of Congress after the killing.
Blumberg told AP, "First we put up metal bars on the windows of our homes to protect ourselves, then we put fences up around our properties. Then we installed bars in our businesses and shops. What we need to do now is take down all these bars and put the criminals behind them."
Blumberg has been urging lawmakers lower the age limit for which minors can be charged with serious crimes. He demands a unified national police force, more jury trials rather than plea bargains, and a strategy to prevent identity theft.
Argentina's official crime statistics are notorious for under-reporting by victims and under-recording by the authorities. Usually, homicide statistics are more reliable than those of other lesser crimes because corpses are harder to ignore than lost or damaged property, for instance.
The extent of under-reporting and under-recording in all crime statistics will depend on various factors, including the level of education of the population and the citizens' confidence in the public security forces, as well as on the integrity of the crime recording systems.
The fact that even official statistics in Argentina show a worrisome upward trend should be a strong signal that something must be done to stop it, before the economic and welfare costs associated with rising crime and violence escalate to daunting levels.
Raul Castells, a leader of an unemployed peoples movement, tells the AP, "Public insecurity is growing every day and this won't be solved by just adding more police patrols but by seeking out real solutions."
Argentina's crime problem is not exclusively a result of street thugs. A recent study reported that a number of Muslim militants are thought to be emigrating to the Argentina- Brazil border area. Many of these people are coming from Iran and they are bringing their fanatic Islamic fundamentalism with them. One estimate reports that there are more than a quarter-million Islamists living in the border region.
The report indicated that training camps are being set up in the jungles on the borders with Argentina and Brazil. The training camps are believed to be training local recruits in the tactics of guerrilla warfare and terrorism. Once a foothold of Islamic extremism is established in this region and additional "troops" trained, additional problems can be anticipated.
Intelligence experts believe some of the kidnap-for-ransom incidents are perpetrated by these Islamic radicals.
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