ARGENTINA: Trade union leader Hugo Moyano denies union involvement in looting

Record ID: 447195

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Trade union leader Hugo Moyano denies union involvement in looting
  • Date: 21st December 2012
  • Summary: SAN FERNANDO, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 21, 2012) (REUTERS) MILITARY POLICE GATHERING TO PATROL LOOTING ZONE
  • Embargoed: 5th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9JPFXD0WKMVPAGVBVPYNKAW9P
  • Story Text: After a two-day spate of looting and violence that left at least two dead, labour union leader Hugo Moyano denied on Friday (December 21) any union involvement in the continuing clashes.
    His remarks came after Cabinet Minister Juan Manuel Abal Medina and Security Secretary Sergio Berni implied that opposition union groups were responsible for masterminding the chaos.
    Earlier on Friday (December 21), Abal Medina condemned the looting and said they were organized events.
    "They are isolated incidences, clearly planned and organized. We don't see anyone taking food, they are taking LCD televisions and alcohol. Frankly they are acts which need to be seriously condemned and a clear signal must be sent to all of those responsible so that everyone knows that nothing will be achieved by these means in Argentina," said Abal Medina.
    At an afternoon news conference on Friday (December 21), Moyano slammed President Cristina Fernandez and her government for insinuating that opposItion union groups played a role in the unrest.
    "I think the president is out of step, the problems have overwhelmed the government and she is unable to see the reality in the country. She doesn't respond to any of the legitimate demands that are presented. Instead, she sends out these people [Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina and Security Secretary Sergio Berni] to say idiotic things. How is it possible for a government to act like it is serious when it has people who go around saying anything at all?" said Moyano.
    The violence erupted on Thursday (December 20) in the Patagonian ski resort of Bariloche when dozens of alleged looters stormed a supermarket and made off with LCD televisions and other goods.
    Incidents soon began popping up in other cities including in several parts of the urban sprawl that surrounds the capital Buenos Aires early on Friday (December 21).
    Several hundred people have been arrested in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Rio Negro.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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