AGENTINA: Striking Teacher Killed by Police

Dianne Diaz

A national general strike has been called for

Monday 9th, April, by the teaching unions after

a protester was killed by a tear gas grenade.

Carlos Fuentealba,41, was killed on Thursday

night after being hit in the head by the gas

grenade fired by the police.

Mr. Fuentealba was sitting in a car that was

part of a rolling blockade when the shot was

fired, the car was suddenly surrounded by 20

officers who began to strike it with rifle butts

so that they would stop in the middle of the

clouds of tear gas. Another officer then fired

a tear gas grenade from a distance of less

than two meters, into the back windshield.

Carlos, who was in the back seat, was struck

in the neck. He died from his injuries late on

Thursday night.

Teachers in the central province, along with

many of their colleagues in other provinces,

have been striking since the 5th of March after

the state government refused to raise wages.

In response to the Governor's refusal to

negotiate strikers' pickets began to block roads

on Thursday in order to increase the pressure.

Riot police were sent in to attack these

demonstrators, with many sustaining injuries.

On Friday the two main roads in the state were

blocked by 200 picketers. There has been

unrest in the neighbouring provinces of Salta

and Santa Cruz, where brutality has also been

reported. Teachers have also been striking in

the provinces of Tierra del Fuego and La Rioja,

and in Formosa and Chaco.

Teachers have called for an "hour of mourning"

on Monday, stating that no bus, train or refuse

services will operate during this time. Other

industries are also expected to take part.

However, as it will take place between 12pm

and 1pm this seems to be a rather small token

gesture.