Friday, December 21, 2012

Border Guards arrive in Bariloche

The four hundred Border Guard officers, deployed by the government yesterday, arrived to Bariloche today to enforce police control after yesterday's violent supermarket looting incidents, which saw more than 33 people injured.

Security secretary Sergio Berni was in charge of the operation in the area.

Yesterday five large supermarkets were ransacked, leading to violent clashes between police and looters.

According to official reports last night, thirty-three were reported to have been injured in the clashes, including 18 police officers and 15 teenagers.

Río Negro Governor Alberto Weretilneck stated yesterday that the looting had been planned in advance and warned that “these acts are entirely unrelated to social unrest or issues connected with the people’s wellbeing.”

The governor requested that Border Guards be sent to the tourist resort of Bariloche and ordered the deployment of 150 police officers from other areas of the province to the city.

In a speech at Government House last night, Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina announced that 400 Border Guards would be sent, with the mission of “collaborating with protection of the city”, while controlling the protests and disturbances would be the responsibility of the province police force.