Rio Negro’s governor will denounce the group who tried to demolish Roca’s monument

Argentina, October 13, 2012

Río Negro’s governor, Alberto Weretilneck, referred to those who tried to break down the monument to Roca saying “we’ll make all complaints to justice.” Meanwhile, the head of the City Council, María Eugenia Martini, proposed a referendum to discuss the installation of a monument to cultural diversity.

Yesterday, the cooperative May 1 gathered at the Civic Center of Bariloche to demand labor and infrastructure issues but ended up in an attempt to destroy the monument to Julio Argentino Roca.

“They asked for work and the performance of some public works promised by the province,” said Martini.

And she added “the protest sparked a discussion that comes from many years ago. There is a contradiction that has to do with the past, but that happens in the present permanently. On one side there is the claim of many groups with the intention of removing the statue of Roca and, secondly, there are those who came yesterday to the Civic Center because they oppose to the demolition. “

“I think this contradiction is false because it has to do with our history and who we are. There is a proposal to place near the statue of Roca one representing the Indigenous Peoples. Thus it should be discussed the realization of a plebiscite, so the debate includes the opinion of a group that is important to listen” she concluded.