MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Frustrated Argentine farmers ready to resume conflict May 2

Farmers confirm there fighting spirit has not cooled

In a massive Sunday rally the Argentine farmers ratified their willingness to continue the round of talks with government, --in spite of some attitudes and unilateral decisions--, but also warned that time is running out and the agreed deadline is May 2.

An estimated 10.000 farmers, from different provinces, convened in Cordoba, and agreed that if by the expiration of the truce (May 2), the grievances of the camp sector had not been addressed accordingly, the conflict which begun in March triggered by the increase in export levies, and which lasted three weeks, would resume in all its extension. Alfredo De Angeli a spontaneous leader of the March protests promised the assembly "under oath" that if by May 2, a reasonable understanding has not been reached "we'll be back on strike and protesting". And "I'm talking about the problems with livestock, dairy, grains, oilseeds as well as the transparency of markets", he added. Eduardo Buzzi who represents the Argentine Agrarian Federations and has sat at all meetings with government delegates to discuss camp policies said "officials are very enthusiastic about signing a full agreement on May 25th (Revolution Day) in the spirit of the bicentenary, but before we reach May 25th, we must get over May 2". Buzzi said that last Friday the government "unilaterally and without consensus" announced a package of compensations for small farmers which "we consider insufficient and does not solve the problem. We're steaming head on straight to the May 2 wall, which is very complicated". "Let us be clear there's no May 25 or bicentenary agreement unless we first solve, and see drastic changes in those decisions that triggered the farmers' strike. That's the only thing which will get us over the May 2 benchmark, which by the way is just round the corner", warned Buzzi. "We're quite aware that the government is playing on time, provoking and trying to divide us or force us to leave negotiations, but Madame President, we don't want you out of government, we only want you to govern", said Norberto Giaveno another of the farmers' leaders Farmers' leaders also recalled that the Argentine Industrial Union and the Agricultural Equipment manufacturers chamber were totally absent "and silent" during the conflict as well as some of the provincial governors who are "on their knees begging funds from the Kirchners". Finally Angel Roulet destroyed government arguments that grain and oilseeds export levies were needed to lower food prices in Argentina. He said the Argentine domestic market consumes 3 million tons of wheat, seven million of corn and 3.5 million of cooking oil, which all adds up to 3 billion US dollars, "why to they have to impose export levies on all exports; with 8% of levies you can feed all the Argentine population at "reasonable prices". The alleged "surplus" from the export levies, claim farmers, opposition parties and even in private provincial governors, helps feed the federal Treasury and the funds which the Kirchners distribute discretionally according to political allegiance and are at the heart of their grip over the system.