MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 12:17 UTC

 

 

Indigenous 12-year old beaten to death in north-east Argentina

Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 02:41 UTC
Full article 30 comments
Governor Jorge Capitanich: “our solidarity with the family and the whole qom community” Governor Jorge Capitanich: “our solidarity with the family and the whole qom community”

The death by beating of a 12 year old indigenous Qom child in the north of Argentina had shocked public opinion following on another incident less than a month ago when a gendarme run over an indigenous grandmother and a ten month old baby girl.

“The homicide to Imer Ilvencio Flores has plunged the Chaco community in mourning. Our solidarity with the family and the whole Qom community” said Jorge Capitanich, governor of the impoverished province of Chaco in the northeast of Argentina and neighbouring with Paraguay.

The 12 year old Flores last January 4 was celebrating summer festivities with several friends but never returned home and his dead body was found the following day with the face totally disfigured in Villa Bermejito a village in Chaco.

“The criminal killed him with a bat” said his uncle Miguel Flores who added Imer was only identified because of a tattoo with a qom symbol which had also been partially scrapped off.

“The homicide which occurred only a hundred metres away from the municipal camping site has a 31 year old murder suspect: we call on the courts to act hastily to resolve this terrible incident” added Capitanich.

The suspect under arrest had a discussion with the youngster before his death and also has a record of aggressions against other indigenous from the same community, who also consider him guilty of the murder.

“Once again naroqshe (white man) impregnates with pain and death the Qom people” said the Qom Carashes Council from the region in a release.

An estimated 300 members of the Qom community are camping outside the local police station to demand justice; an incident which through Internet and the social networks is has shocked urban Argentina and is rapidly expanding outside the country.

The death of 12-year old Flores follows another incident in which a ten months old Qom baby and her 49 year old grandmother were run over by a gendarme in the neighbouring province of Formosa.

The grandfather who survived the attack claims “it was no accident, it was on purpose” and the gendarme instead of helping, beat him and threatened his life if he filed a complaint on the incident.

“He beat me, he insulted me, he called me f… indian while my grand-daughter was agonizing”, claims Ricardo Coyipé a well known activist of Qom rights. The indigenous population is Argentina according to the latest census is 2.5% but in Chaco and Formosa the percentage in more than double, and their lands are prey of big landlords of the region with support from local police and security forces.

Both incidents are embarrassing for Capitanich who has political ambitions that go beyond that of governor of a north-eastern province.
 

Categories: Politics, Argentina.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Troy Tempest

    @PH ALEX, Prosti-ARG, Marcos Alejandro, José...

    Please explain this behaviour by 'superior' Argentinians.

    Jan 09th, 2013 - 05:13 am 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    1
    Soon after you explain this article from“superior” Canada.
    http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=44370

    Jan 09th, 2013 - 05:28 am 0
  • Troy Tempest

    @2 MA

    Old news Marcos - the police and authorities are currently publicly reviewing their practices regarding native people. Disregard and prejudices of the past are no longer acceptable.

    Unlike your authorities who actively drive over and murder them. How many others have been beaten to suppress the stories and intimidate the witnesses??

    Do you see nothing wrong with this MA ??

    An extension of the ethnic cleansing of Patagonia and the 'hated' Junta's actions against your indigenous peoples??

    Pirat -Hunter, are you ok with this?? Your family as Amerindians, were persecuted by Argentina, right ???

    Jan 09th, 2013 - 05:45 am 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!