Argentina: Demonstration Held to Support Prompt Legislative Approval of Projects
Edited by Luis Fernando Astorga Gatjens, IID (lferag@racsa.co.cr), with information provided by FORO-PRO, Argentina
The fence surrounding the building of the Congress of Argentina in Buenos Aires, was removed for several hours in the morning of October 22, when a crowd of persons with diverse disabilities, occupied the front part, during a demonstration: Campaign to Recover the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Campaña Recuperación del Fondo Nacional para Personas con Discapacidad).
Demonstrators with disabilities received full support from grassroots institutions and non- governmental organization in their struggle to have the three legislative proposal approved.
The Permanent Forum for the Promotion and Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Foro Permanente para la Promoción y la Defensa de los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad) was able to obtain a public commitment to support their cause by an important group of legislators.
These legislation proposals are:
Fees for bad checks (Project submitted by Congress member José Vitar)
To create a Bicameral Investigation Commission to inform about the results and compliance with the Law of Checks No. 23.452 which created the Fund to Finance Programs for Persons with Disabilities.
Fee for Products and Activities that Generate Disabilities (Project submitted by Congress Member Marta Raso).
The following members of the Congress of Argentina support our initiative and the public demonstrations:
Marta Raso, President of the Comission on Disability, together with María Perceval, Roxana Latorre, Gerardo Morales, Miriam Curletti, José Prades y Juan Carlos Maqueda.
The following Members of the Second Chamber: Rafael Cambareri, Vicepresident, together with: José Vitar, Irma Parentella, Leopoldo Moreau, María Teresa Ferrín, Francisco Banda Gutiérrez, Fabián De Nuccio, Secretary on Disability Issues of the Second Chamber
And, Professor Sara Valassina, President, National Advisor Commission on Disability Issues (Comisión Nacional Asesora para las Personas con Discapacidad).
Legislative support
The Members of Congress and the Executive Power expressed their opinions of suppert, together with strong comments form the Cottolengo Don Orione, Fendim, Association of Support to the Blind (Asociación de Ayuda al Ciego, ASAC), Cystic Fibrosis Association (Asociación de Fibrosis Quística, FIPAN), the Deaf Sports Confederation of Argentina (Confederación Argentina Deportiva de Sordos, CADES).
Father Pablo Molero, Coordinator of Foro-Pro was exited by the great support to this initiative, and said: "People have come. The fact that the fences surrounding the building were removed and that the stairways and doors to the Congress building were opened, became an evident sign of interest toward disability issues. We just hope that this is not for the photographs. We hope this will not be the case and are hopes for a change are high, even under the present difficult conditions of our country, where there are so many lies."
No one can claim ownership of the disability flag
"We want this demonstration to be known. To manifest our gratitude and cared for those who have been working with us. All can come and join us in this cause. As a personal experience disability belongs only to persons with disabilities and their families; as a human rights issue, it concerns us all. This is why disability does not belong to the church, not even to political parties or any government officer. It is right that no one can claim ownership of the lives of others. Not even God is the owner of persons with disabilities, for He treats us with respect."
Toward equal opportunities
Congress Member Marta Raso said that her message was for "those who are unable to understand the principle of equal opportunities because of their self pride and stingy interests. Those people have a name and once the Commission is appointed, we will know what their actions have been."
The Congress Member said regarding his project of Fees for Bad Checks: "I am absolutely convinced and very proud of my project to place a Fee on Bad Checks, that I am sure it is simply the answer to the request and the effort of disability related organizations. They were the ones who told me about it. It is thanks to them that the project is now discussed in Congress. It deals with justice and historical correction, a right which should not had been taken away."
"The disability sector must have adequate financing and resources. This is the answer to a cruel nation wide situation. Either these sources of funding are destined to mitigate the alarming situation of millions of Argentineans or that money will fly away as extraordinary, and illegal profits for the banks of Argentina. Either we act to ensure that this money goes to the poor or it will just be taken away by the already rich. The Congress of Argentina must define this."
Dr. Daniel Durante, representing Foro-Pro, made the following strong comments: "When we constituted el FORO, we wanted to have a place from which to defend the rights of persons with disabilities. We wanted a sound Parliament and we are getting it. Today, the Congress of Argentina is opening to our demands. We are here to support the prompt approval of three projects to provide the financial resources that persons with disabilities need to live with dignity. We are going to take to the streets everywhere in the country to collect signatures, thousands and thousands to show how much people really support these projects. We are holding our flags high, all our sisters and brothers deserve the best from us, and that is why were are here for."
The President of the National Advisory Commission on Disability Issues, Professor Prof. Sara Valassina, said: "This is the work of everybody, non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and the Executive Power. We are not here to defend political parties, we are here to demand solutions to the needs of persons with disabilities in society and as society. At present we are urging the approval, not just of the Law of Funds, but also we are demanding answers and corrections regarding the way that money for persons with disabilities has been diverted from the original destination. We demand restitution of funds."
The campaign to collect signatures
The activities of the event started with a puppet show by group CANTORAL. With its more than 100 puppets and giant figures, and a special theatre group, they made fun and denounced the parties organized by bankers with the funds belonging to persons with disabilities.
There were huge signs expressing in large print the needs of persons with disabilities: medicines, adequate treatment, employment, diapers, wheelchairs, organ transplants, and pensions. Among other representations, delegations from Rosario, San Juan y Tucumán participated enthusiastically.
We gathered more than 100 signatures, including the Juducial Federation of Buenos Aires (Federación Judicial Bonaerense), AMIA, the Teachers Union of Buenos Aires (Sindicato de Educadores de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, SEDEBA), the Union of Taxi Drivers (Sindicato de Peones de Taxi), the Federation of University Students of Buenos Aires (Federación Universitaria Argentina, FUA), the Division of Special Capabilities of the Municipality of San Martín (Dirección de Capacidades Especiales de la Municipalidad de San Martín), Association of Memory and Life (Asociación SERE por la memoria y la vida), Front of Persons with Disability of the Large Front (Frente de Personas con Discapacidad del Frente Grande), Self Organized Producers of Chaco (Productores Autoconvocados del Chaco), the Association of Users of Financial Services (Asociación de Usuarios de Servicios Financieros). There were some private companies supporting the campaign, like Villa del Sur Bottled Water. They distributed water bottles for everybody.
During the demonstration, organizers placed three tables to collect signatures, where people read and signed the support text for the three projects. Each signer received a green ribbon to wear as a symbol of personal support.
The Federation of University Students and its President Emiliano Yacovit stated that this organization would take, classroom by classroom, the Campaign to Collect 400,000 signatures in support of persons with disabilities.
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