Argentine Police Getting Killed Right And Left
These are not the best of times for Argentine police. In the past three weeks at least three policeman have been killed in the line of duty. “It’s obvious and evident” that crime has gone up,” Buenos Aires Province Police Chief Juan Carlos Paggi said in a radio interview Thursday.
Paggi’s comments stand in stark contrast to remarks made the same day by Justice Minister Anibal Fernández.
“I don’t think we’re seeing more conflict now than we did 15 years ago,” Fernández said. Fifteen years ago? How about last year? It may be that crime is not on the rise and that, in reality, it just seems like things are getting worse.
But Fernández, a man who repeatedly has declined to provide statistical data to back up seemingly optimistic claims about crime, is not the most inspirational source of confidence on this issue.
Meanwhile, the statistics aren’t looking too good. Over the past few weeks roughly as many BA Province policemen – Bonaerense – were killed as died during half of 2008. That may be sheer coincidence or just very bad luck. Fernández says Argentina is much safer than other countries in the region and that may well be true. Buenos Aires is infinitely safer than Caracas and Rio, but that’s little consolation to people here who feel crime is getting worse.
Polls show that crime, more than anything else, is the primary concern among Argentines. Even so, the issue was ignored entirely by Argentine President Cristina Fernández until just a few days ago. The president began speaking about the issue only this week after she was widely criticized for avoiding the topic.
Since 1999 an average of three active-duty policemen have been killed every month. (This figure inludes only Buenos Aires Province and Federal Police) The numbers were much higher in 2001 and 2002, when the average was seven police felled per month, according to a new study by the Centro de Estudios Nueva Mayoría.
Between 1999 and today 408 police have been killed in the line of duty. These statistics are disheartening at best, frightening at worst.
At least we know what the numbers are. We know how many have died. To a certain extent, we can have some sense, even if flawed, of whether crime is getting better or worse. But we have no such statistics about civilian deaths. What are they? Are things getting safer? Is Argentina a safer place to live today than it was last year or the year before that? We don’t know; we’re in the dark. Apparently, that’s exactly where the government wants us to be.
Link: Radio interview with BA Police Chief
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take a look at the 70s figures and you’ll find out something very interesting… That’s how everything started 30 years ago… We are going back, baby! They are f… back!
This is frightening. Are there any studies done as to the reason why such violence against policemen and violence overall is increasing now? Also what kind of incidents or what kind of incidents have these murders taken place? Is there a similarity between them all?
For what I here from Argentinians a fair share of these are because the police itself is very active in organised crime.
I still wonder whether that is true.
Let me get something… the bars show one-third of the deaths in 2008 vs 2003, and you call this worsening?
“But Fernández, a man who repeatedly has declined to provide statistical data to back up seemingly optimistic claims about crime, is not the most inspirational source of confidence on this issue.”
This is PURE BULLSHIT, and you know it.
Here are the stats…
http://www2.jus.gov.ar/politicacriminal/inicio.asp
When will your biased Anti-K bulshitting end, Tao?
And how well does the US embassy pay? I´m looking for work after the gloabl financial crisis hit the UK hard.I don´t mind writing anti-K stories, as long as it puts food on the table. Those seem to be in high demand.
FC
“It’s obvious and evident” that crime has gone up,” Buenos Aires Province Police Chief Juan Carlos Paggi said in a radio interview Thursday.”
Fernando, you might want to take your angry rant to the police chief, who lives on the frontline and probably knows better than anyone what is happening with crime. I’d take his word over yours any day. Meanwhile, BA Province policemen I have spoken with say the same thing.
The data you point to only cover up to 2007. They’re not relevant to this story.
Once again, you’re comparing apples and oranges here. The blue bar in 2009 clearly shows crime rising, indicating an upward trend. Will it continue? Who knows. I certainly don’t, but for the time being, it indicates more police are dying, and this is what this story is about, not 2003 or even 2008.
Taos