MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchners double conciliatory tone challenges farmers

A double message on Wednesday from the Argentine government forced a new scenario for the ongoing conflict with the striking farmers who have been protesting since early March against the taxing system.

In a surprising performance during the official taking office of former president Nestor Kirchner as chairman of the all powerful and hegemonic ruling Justicialista party, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner unexpectedly was the main speaker and called on all Argentines to a national social dialogue. Although there was no specific reference to the farmers' conflict or to a resumption of dialogue, the message was nevertheless significant because on Thursday camp leaders have to decide whether they prolong the strike. The second message was Mr. Kirchner who has been growingly identified as the man who in reality rules Argentina and is determined to bend the camp's combat will, remained in silence. "From this political space we are calling on all Argentines, without distinction of flags or allegiances to debate and discuss in the democratic framework how to keep advancing the current transformation and growth so that there are jobs for all Argentines", said Mrs. Kirchner. Farmers completed on Wednesday their seventh day of a strike that paralyzed export trade in grains and oil seeds from a country that is a leading global supplier, and also managed in seven days to harvest support from a growing number of elected officials both from the opposition as well as from the ruling coalition. On the eve of the end of the seven days strike, farmers were expecting some kind of signal from the president and/or harsh words from Mr. Kirchner which would help them decide on future actions. Mrs. Kirchner conciliatory tone, Mr. Kirchner's silence and even with no specific mention of the farmers' dispute, was praised with caution by several camp leaders. Guillermo Giannassi from the Agrarian Federation said "it was a good message, conciliatory and in line with the current situation in the country; it's a first step and tomorrow (Thursday) we will be assessing events". But he also warned that "farmers are tired of words. Our mandate is to lift the protest if we have something specific to show". "It was a conciliatory message; positive but with few references to camp issues", said Luciano Miguens, president of the Argentine Rural Society who in the morning was hounded, insulted and even kicked by "brown shirt" pickets from the Kirchner administration in downtown Buenos Aires. A most serious incident because the police originally had fenced the area where members of the Rural Society were meeting but later left, apparently following instructions, thus giving space for the scuffles. Carlos Garetto from Coninagro also praised the conciliatory tone "which abandons the confrontation speeches of the last two months". "These are hard days for Argentina and calling all sectors of society, and political parties is worth a try and should open the door to a dialogue where we can talk about a realistic, coherent farm policy with nice and clear rules of the game", he added, The four farmers' organizations leaders are scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon to assess the presidential speech. Previously they will be meeting with Santa Fe Governor Socialist Hermes Binner, who supports the claims but also insists on a round of discussions with the government. Farmers began protesting on March 12 the so called sliding export levies system which for soybeans was increased from 35 to 44%, but following the first three weeks strike and one month truce, supposedly to hold discussions with government representatives, different camp sectors climbed to the protest wagon and this extended to the emergency "special powers" which the Kirchners administrations have been allowed to manage to their discretion (arbitrarily) by Congress. But with the strike taking its toll in provinces highly dependent on agriculture, and regional economies abruptly slowing down, elected officials and members of Congress submission to the central government (and its funds) has softened. The Kirchners administrations argue that the sliding export taxes are fair and a valid income redistribution instrument based on the biblical tradition that "those who have most must pay most". Windfall earnings from soaring commodities "must be shared", which farmers accept up to a point but also demand government delivers with rational policies, infrastructure and with benefits for those provinces where the revenue was generated. So far the government has refused to roll back the export tax principle, contrary to farmers' expectations and on Wednesday went even further when the Congressional Agriculture Committee dominated by the Kirchner faithful began dictating instructions for the execution of the latest grains and oilseeds export taxing system.