English

13/2/2021

The trial against César Arakaki and Daniel Ruiz has recommenced

Under persecution for the demonstrations against the 2017 pension reform.

Photo of the trial's their hearing, December 2019

Spanish version

On Monday 8th the trial against comrades César Arakaki and Daniel Ruiz, militants of the PO and the PSTU, respectively, who face criminal charges because of their participation in the gigantic mobilization of December 18, 2017 to the National Congress, against the pension reform that was approved that afternoon in the Lower House with the favorable vote of legislators from Cambiemos (then-president Macri’s political coalition) and the PJ (peronist party of Alberto and Cristina Fernández). That day, the security forces repressed the protesters for hours around the legislative palace.

At the new hearing, the policeman Pablo Gastón Pérez declared. The prosecution (in charge of García Elorrio and Ezequiel Coscia) accuses the comrades of public intimidation and injuries to an officer, an accusation that they are very far from proving. The main alleged victim, police officer Brian Escobar, even withdrew his complaint.

The next session of the trial is scheduled to take place on Monday 22, with the statement of other policemen. There are still about 50 witnesses to testify in the case.

Meanwhile, Sebastián Romero, who had also participated in the 2017 mobilization, remains in house arrest. In his case, there is still no trial date.

The process against the comrades unfolds during an intense solidarity campaign of workers’, popular, student and human rights organizations, as well as artists. Throughout the hearings last year, dozens of spokesmen paraded to accompany them.

In turn, a series of international solidarity statements  is underway, such as that of the longshoremen on the west coast of the United States, and that of Dr. Elliot Lee Grossman, lawyer and human rights defender, member of the Bar of the State of California and the Bar of the US Supreme Court.  The Freedom Socialist Party and Democracia Socialista de Puerto Rico also sent their support.

Macri’s pension reform, which modified the formula for calculating the amounts paid, implied the confiscation of 100 billion pesos from retirees in 2018. Under the government of Alberto Fernández, the attack has continued, with “increases” below the inflation of 2020, and a new calculation formula that will leave growth in pensions below the price increase.

The fight continues, for the comrades’ absolution, and in defense of pensions.

To participate in the hearings, through zoom, you can contact [email protected]