Fw: Argentine blockades



 On July 24 the 2000 delegates at the National Assembly of Pickets met in
 Matanza, Argentina and decided to blockade the roads.  The plan is for 50
 blockades for 24 hours on July 31.  48 hours on August 6-7.   72 hours on
 August 13-15.
 The two principal demands are 1) No pay cuts of salaries of public
employees
 or reduction in pensions. No lay off of public workers.  2.  Immediate
 liberty for all pickets who have been arrested.  Five pickets have already
 been killed during past blockades. Abd there has been torture of prisoners.

 They also called for an international campaign to call for the freedom of
 Jose Barraza,  Cedsar Ranieri, Carlos Gil, and Ruben Zarate who are
 imprisoned in Salta, Argentina.  They are leaders of the Coordinating
 Committee of Unemployed of San Martin, which is near the border with
 Bolivia.  This area is rich in gas, but the inhabitants are foreced to use
 firewood.

 In two towns in that area, Tartagal and GeneralMosconi, the unemployment
 rate is 65%.  The Coordinating Committee has been demanding work for
 everyone or unemployment benefits as well as the division of the jobs of
the
 jobs that still exist without reducing wages.  The area was once prosperous
 until the state petroleum company, YPF, was privatized and a refinery was
 closed down.

 Send e mial/faxes in support of freeing these leaders of the unemployed to:
 Juzgado Federal No. 1
 Fax 54-387-431-1180
 E-mail: ricardo.falu at pjn.a1.gov.ar

 President Fernando De laa Rua
 E-mail: privada at presidencia.net.ar

 Send copy to e mail: lo at po.org.ar so that copies can be given to our
 brothers imprisoned