Indigenous people protest for land in Jujuy, Argentina. Photo: VoveTucuman/File photo.
Police repression against demonstrators continues in the Argentinian province of Jujuy, which has seen widespread protests against the provincial constitutional reform of the governor of the province, Gerardo Morales. On Saturday, July 1, Humahuaca, the capital city of the department of the same name, in Jujuy province, was the scene of severe police repression against demonstrators demanding the resignation of Governor Morales and the cancellation of the constitutional reform.
Humahuaca is the first municipality to declare “profound rejection” against the reform. The protesters demand dialogue and participation in the constitutional process.
There have been reports of between three and six wounded people with bullets in the neck, chest, and eyes, who were treated at the local hospital. The number of detainees has not yet been confirmed.
The police of Jujuy province carried out severe repression against the demonstrators after the Humahuaca City Council approved a declaration rejecting the reform of the Jujuy Constitution early on Saturday morning.
#Jujuy El Concejo Deliberante de #Humahuaca, a instancia del pedido de vecinos y comunidades, aprobó el rechazo a la reforma inconstitucional de Gerardo Morales. Luego la policía reprimió a los manifestantes. pic.twitter.com/AMfluSm1XK
— Canal Abierto (@canalabiertoar) July 1, 2023
While the councilors were reading the approved bill inside the precinct, the police attacked the demonstrators outside the city council building.
Previously, a massive mobilization took over the municipality of Humahuaca demanding that the Deliberating Council make a formal declaration against the constitutional reform.
Argentina: Repression Against Indigenous People in Jujuy (+Human Rights in Venezuela)
The demonstrators also called for the resignation of Mayor Karina Paniagua, who supported the constitutional reform. “Raise the salaries, down with the reform,” the demonstrators chanted.
Local security force personnel fired rubber bullets at the demonstrators, as seen on the live broadcast of the Sol Del Norte Humahuaca portal.
Jujuy. El Concejo Deliberante de Humahuaca aprobó en la madrugada de hoy una declaración de rechazo a la reforma de la Constitución. Cuando se leía el documento ante cientos de vecinos, la Policía avanzó para dispersar a los manifestantes y hay heridos con balas de goma. pic.twitter.com/jvzeAleVf9
— David Correa (@davidcorreatv) July 1, 2023
The protesters were forced to disperse due to the actions of the police, reported Humahuaca Hoy website.
Various organizations that have been opposed to the constitutional reform repudiated the repression.
Social movements, teachers’ unions, university unions, and indigenous organizations have expressed their firm opposition against the actions of Governor Morales, who has refused to back down on a controversial reform of the provincial Constitution that criminalizes protest and impacts the rights of indigenous peoples to the ownership and use of their ancestral lands.
The governor has not addressed the demands of basic education teachers for salary increase either.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/ECS/SC
