MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine activists suspend blockade; 60 days to reach agreement

It could be Uruguayan president Jose Mujica first major achievement since taking office last March

Argentine activists voted Wednesday night to temporarily lift the roadblock on a bridge leading to Uruguay which has been at the heart of a diplomatic dispute between the two countries regarding the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side which allegedly contaminates.

The roadblock has been going on since 2006 but in the meantime the Botnia/UPM plant was constructed, finished and is exporting as programmed a million tons annually. Furthermore the Argentine government which originally sided and sponsored the pickets has since reached an understanding with Uruguay following a ruling from the International Justice Court of The Hague.

However pickets refused to give up insisting the pulp mill contaminates and taking advantage of the Argentine government’s promise it would never clear the bridge with repression.

But having reached an understanding with Uruguay, the Argentine government filed a long list of civil and criminal charges against the leaders of the pickets who were notified earlier this week.

This, together with the Uruguayan president Jose Mujica indication that he would not oppose joint monitoring of the water and air qualities along the shared river, and even inside the Botnia/UPM plant if international protocols are respected, opened the way for the Wednesday night assembly.

Hardliners and moderates discussed (and insulted and threatened each other) well into the night but finally it was decided 410 to 315, to suspend the roadblock, although a parallel witness monitoring along the road leading to the bridge will remain. Allegedly the bridge will be opened for all traffic with the exception of trucks carrying cargo for the pulp mill.

The measure becomes effective within the next 72 hours, and will have a period of 60 days when the Gualeguaychú activists hope to discuss conditions for the joint environment monitoring along the river and inside the plant, plus equally important the nullification by the Argentine government of the civil suits filed against demonstrators.

The assembly apparently had two main stages: first whether to negotiate with the Argentine government, which was overwhelmingly approved. However on addressing how, when and if to lift the blockade sparked an acrimonious debate with a divided vote.