MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine farmers: “never again caboose on camp decisions”

President of the Argentine Rural Society Lucinao Miguens

Stating that whoever attacks the camp “attacks Argentina” and promising to “never again accept being the caboose of the decisions that compromise the farm's integrity and destiny”, the president of the Argentine Rural Society Lucinao Miguens inaugurated this weekend the country's main agro-show in the Palermo premises.

The agro fair takes place after a four-month conflict between the farmers and the administration of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who did not respond to the official invitation to the ceremony and did not send any representatives either. "We want the authorities to know that the farm is part of the country and that never again will it accept being the 'caboose' of the decisions that compromise its integrity and its destiny," said Miguens in front of a large crowd that applauded his words, despite the rainy weather. "Together we started this struggle and together we will end it," said Miguens, affirming the unity of the four agricultural organizations. CRA President Mario Llambías, FAA Vice-President Pablo Orsolini, Coninagro Vice-President Carlos Garetto were also present in Palermo. Miguens insisted that export duties "are still confiscatory" and criticized Domestic Trade Secretary Guillermo Moreno and Ricardo Echegaray head of the office agricultural monitoring agency that decides on farm exports. "The policies of price control and subsidies for consumption, not only again showed their inefficiency, since they did not benefit consumers, but they also scared away investment" he said "Inflation should be fought, not concealed. The struggle against inflation begins by recognizing it" said Miguens who added "distributing wealth is also eliminating inflation". The farm leader said that the Statistics Office INDEC indices are manipulated because "the government lacks a serious solution to inflation" and that in an international context that is very favourable for food exports, the government seems to be putting obstacles in the way of agricultural exports. "Argentina disappeared as a reliable supplier due to the mess of rules and regulations that are implemented, arbitrarily and every day, by the Trade Secretariat, Customs and the ONCCA," he said. "The attributions that the government granted the president of the ONCCA are excessive and they are being used in an abusive and discretional fashion," added Miguens. Echegaray afterwards issued a press communiqué responding to Miguens' comments. "The farm leaders mistake the compliance with the rules, checks and controls with arbitrary policies," Echegaray said and added that farmers want to continue with "the irregularities of agricultural trade and the mechanisms of tax evasion." Miguens also referred to the vote on the export duties bill in Congress, where the scheme was rejected. "In recent months farmers contributed to returning a leading role to the fundamental institutions of democracy," said Miguens. Vice-President Julio Cobos, whose negative vote decided the rejection of the bill, was not present at the ceremony due to other engagements, but he sent a letter that was read at the beginning of the inauguration. Cobos' message was received with applause by the audience, who displayed banners with his name. Miguens also insisted on the unity of the four farm associations after newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Carlos Cheppi, who did not attend the ceremony, said he was not going to meet with the farmers' liaison committee. The liaison committee that links the agricultural associations is "open to honest and in-depth dialogue" with the government, said Miguens, but underlined that they are going to do it "together, we won't accept any more attempts to separate us." "The farmers and Argentina are an indivisible unity," said Miguens. "It's time to forget attacks and surmount offences... after months of conflict, its time for proposals, the people is demanding dialogue over violence, liberty over oppression, education over ignorance", Alfredo De Angeli, Entre Ríos leader of the FAA â€" an organization that represents small and medium-sized farmers, historically confronted with the SRA that represented landowners â€" stepped to the podium after the speech of the SRA president, who is usually the only speaker. "Argentina will recover along with the farm sector, never without it and even less against it," said De Angeli. Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, Córdoba Governor Juan Schiaretti, San Luis Governor Alberto Rodríguez Saá, and opposition leaders Ricardo López Murphy, José Manuel de la Sota and Francisco de Narváez attended the inauguration. SRA Vice-President Hugo Biolcati, who will succeed Miguens in September, said that the absence of national authorities and stands at the fair "is a demonstration of a childish irritation." Chaco Governor Jorge Capitanich, a close government ally, justified the non-attendance of government officials saying that the long conflict "caused frictions between both parts and a prudent time is necessary to rebuild relations". (BAH).-