MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina fears more massive protest and looting on anniversary of 2001 economy meltdown

On December 2001 president De la Rúa resigned and the whole house of cards collapsed

While facing the challenge of police unrest that has spread to half of the Argentine provinces the government of President Cristina Fernandez is designing a plan to counter the threat of further rioting and looting on 20 December, the anniversary of the worst day of the 2001 crisis which forced the resignation of then elected president Fernando de la Rúa and was followed by the largest sovereign debt default in Argentine history.

 Apparently to counter this possibility the Treasury is planning to advance the payment to government employees of the annual bonus-salary (usually made effective in the second half of December) and is suggesting the private sector does the same.

The Argentine government is also emphasizing that this week marks the thirtieth" anniversary of the return of democracy to Argentina in 1983 when elected president Ricardo Alfonsín took office on 10 December, Human Rights international Day, following seven years of a ferocious military iron-dictatorship.

For the celebration the Argentine government has invited all former elected presidents for a special event plus delegates from all political parties with congressional representation.

However the Argentine government is very concerned with the social networks that are calling for a massive protest and looting in shops and Chinese supermarkets on the 20 December anniversary.

The government is also alarmed with intelligence collected at the conflict areas. Apparently some of the 'organized' looting taking place in those cities where the police is protesting, have been earmarked as "liberated areas", signaling to the narcotics and criminal gangs where they can operate. This way the organizers of the protesting police put pressure and condition the provincial governments to yield to their demands.

That is why according to reliable sources, the Argentine government is planning to advance the end of the year salary-bonus payment for public employees and pensioners . "This should generate purchasing power, consumption and hopefully peace for Xmas and end of the year celebrations".