Gendarmerie officers suspended as wages dispute continues

At least three officers were suspended today by the Government as the conflict began its fifth days. Officers confirmed they will continue to claim for an increase in wages along with Border Guards.

One of the suspended officers, Raúl Maza, is the leader and spokesman of the protest taking place at the Centinela building. He attributed his suspension to a strategy aiming to wear out the wage claims and assured the Government did not comply with what they had stated, that there would be no punishments for the demonstrations.

“This is a measure to see if we will lower our voices. We won’t stop with our claims. Along with the Boarder Guards, we are a united front and we will continue to protest until we obtain dignified salaries,” Maza assured. Officers demand a 7,000 pesos minimum wage.

Along Maza, corporal Gustavo Tutto and corporal Maximiliano Cesco were suspended, and the notifications were signed by the director of Wellbeing and Health department of the Gendarmerie, major Gerardo Otero.

“The spoken agreement we had reached with Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino, and with fired Gendarmerie chief Enrique Schenone, regarding the fact that no disciplinary sanctions would be applied to officers was disrespected.”