LatinNews Daily Report - 17 January 2014

SECURITY| Gendarmes deployed to Córdoba. On 16 January the Argentine government led by President Cristina Fernández announced the deployment of 1,000 gendarmes, the country’s federal police force, to reinforce security in the province of Córdoba amid concerns of fresh wildcat strikes by  provincial police force in demand of salary increases. Protests staged by provincial police forces across Argentina in December last resulted in looting and scenes of near anarchy in many cities, as officers refused to leave their barracks until they got pay rises comparable to the real rate of inflation, estimated at around 30%. The crisis was only resolved after various provincial governments, including in Córdoba, agreed to the demands. However, in the past few days there have been rumours that  provincial police in Córdoba and other provinces like Entre Ríos are preparing to strike again, still in demand of higher salaries. Concerns about fresh strikes in Córdoba mounted after a provincial court ordered the arrest of 17 provincial officers, accusing them of “inciting mutiny” when they called for strikes back in December. The rumours prompted Security Secretary Sergio Berni to contact Córdoba's governor, Juan Manuel de la Sota. Berni said the two had agreed on the deployment of the gendarmes “as a precautionary measure”. Berni also announced that he would travel to Córdoba to personally oversee the gendarmes’ operations.

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