Latest News: Indignation in Argentina after the violent death of a young man

A child holds the photo of 18-year-old Fernando Baez Sosa, beaten to death by eight rugby players in front of a nightclub, during a demonstration before the National Congress to demand justice, February 18, 2020. REUTERS / Matias Baglietto

Text by: Achim Lippold Follow

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Thousands of people demonstrated Tuesday, February 18, 2020 across the country to demand justice after the death of an 18-year-old man, killed by eight rugby players. The case sparked outrage in Argentina. A month ago, young rugby players between the ages of 18 and 20 beat Fernando Baez to death outside a nightclub. The beating was filmed and broadcast on social media, which sparked great emotion in public opinion. While the suspects were taken into custody, Fernando's parents organized a large rally outside the Congress yesterday in Buenos Aires.

According to La Nacion , around 30,000 people came to show their solidarity, " Justice for Fernando, let's live without violence " , could be read on some signs. The newspaper mainly records the pain of Graciela Sosa, the victim's mother, saying that her house has been empty since her son is no longer there. According to the family lawyer, quoted by La Nacion , Fernando has become " a symbol of the fight against violence in the country ". Other parents, whose children were murdered, also joined the demonstration. "Fernando, the son of all", headlines the newspaper Cronica , summing up the emotion of a whole country in one.

Jair Bolsonaro insults journalist

In Brazil, the left and part of the press are standing up after President Jair Bolsonaro's sexual insults against a journalist from Folha de Sao Paulo . It’s Patricia Campos Mello, a well-known journalist in Brazil, who exposed the case known as # Caixa2doBolsonaro, which involved the former president’s party. According to his investigation published in 2018, Jair Bolsonaro would have benefited from illegal private funds to finance disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing voters. A few weeks ago, the employee of a digital marketing company told the parliamentary committee against "fake news" that the journalist offered him sex in exchange for information. A testimony which proved false, but which was relayed by certain parliamentarians, including one of the sons of Jair Bolsonaro.

And yesterday, it was his father who added a layer of insults. Jair Bolsonaro strongly attacked the journalist and repeating the false testimony that Patricia Campos Mello was ready for anything, including sleeping with an informer, to have a scoop. His newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo published this morning a vitriolic editorial against the Brazilian president , " a president who behaves according to the daily newspaper like a gang leader. His henchmen undermine the reputation of those who criticize the authoritarian adventure. By insulting a journalist, Jair Bolsonaro also attacks an institution, the press, and Brazilian democracy . ” Folha de Sao Paulo concludes by stressing that 99 years after its foundation, the newspaper will survive this crisis. " It is journalism and democracy that are long term, not Jair Bolsonaro, " said the daily.

Gas pipeline conflict : " an unplayable game of chess " for the Canadian government

Rail transportation in Canada is still paralyzed by demonstrations by indigenous people who oppose a pipeline project. This conflict made the front page of the Canadian press. Le Devoir notes that the two parties, the government and the leaders of the indigenous peoples, are calling for calm, but without finding a political solution. It is true, the crisis is not easy to resolve. As the newspaper points out, it is not limited to " the simple greed of whites stepping on an old Native American cemetery." The challenge… touches on this Gordian knot which consists in reconciling respect for the environment and exploitation of natural resources. And then, to add to the complexity, we do not find the Amerindians all on one side of the barricade, and the pale faces, all on the other. Both the Aboriginal population and the Canadian population are divided on the subject, " adds the French-language daily, before continuing :" The Trudeau government is faced with an unplayable chess game, especially since it is forced to "play" the natives against each other. The only way out, " says Le Devoir , " is through more powers for all First Nations. "

Government under pressure

The government which is under pressure from companies to find a solution to the crisis. You can read it in the Globe and Mail . Several industrial federations, including that of export and manufacture, have launched calls to quickly lift dams and ask the government for financial compensation for the money lost during the barricades.

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