Court suspends controversial barriers

City insists public requested Parque Centenario fencing

A City Administrative Litigation court last night accepted a request to suspend the erection of barriers around Parque Centenario by the Buenos Aires City government.

The ruling on the case, presented by opponents of the project as “a public right of way was being obstructed”, was made due to “the extension of the conflict”, said lawyer Jonatan Baldiviezo.

Earlier in the day, Buenos Aires Cabinet Chief Horacio Rodríguez Larreta defended the planned fencing, insisting that it was requested by nearby residents and that those who oppose it are “illegal vendors.”

Opposition lawmakers rejected the response to protests by the Metropolitan Police, who fired rubber bullets into protesters on Tuesday night. Victory Front deputy Juan Cabandié used his Twitter account to tell Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri: “Posh boy, show your face.”

Rodríguez Larreta stated yesterday that “all the residents in this area are not only in agreement (with the installation of fences around the park, located in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Caballito), but have asked for it.”

“The issue is that we want to regain the park so that residents can enjoy it, including the installation of fences,” said Rodríguez Larreta in a radio interview.

The Cabinet Chief also complained of outside influences, adding: “There is a group from San Telmo with no links to either the neighbourhood or the park, and unlicensed vendors.”

“A small group of people have set up camp in the park, some sleeping there, ” said Rodríguez Larreta, after violence on Tuesday night between protesters and the Metropolitan Police saw the latter using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Three people were arrested, and several others injured, including journalist Julieta Elgul, who was hit by two rubber bullets. The ADEPA Argentine press publications association yesterday expressed solidarity with Elgul and called for protection for journalists covering the protests. — Herald with DyN