Another Update from the BBC!

Spain rejects Peron extradition

Isabel Peron has been living in Spain since 1981

A court in Spain has rejected a request from Buenos Aires to extradite former Argentine President Isabel Peron who is wanted for alleged human rights abuses.

The National Court in Madrid ruled that the charges did not constitute crimes against humanity and that therefore the statute of limitations had expired.

Ms Peron, 77, is wanted over alleged links to right-wing paramilitaries who operated during her 1974-1976 rule.

Argentina also wants to question her over the disappearance of two men.

'Ineffectual leader'

The Spanish court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to link Ms Peron to the disappearance of the two leftist activists in 1976.

Isabel Peron was in power for less than two years

It also said there was not enough evidence to show that she had anything to do with activities of the paramilitary squad - the Argentine Anti-communist Alliance.

Argentine investigators believe the squad kidnapped and killed about 1,500 government opponents, including politicians, lawyers and journalists.

Ms Peron, whose full name is Maria Estela Martinez de Peron, became the third wife of the three-times president of Argentina, Juan Domingo Peron several years after the death of his second wife, iconic Argentine first lady Eva Peron.

When Mr Peron died in office in 1974, his widow took over.

Historians say she was an ineffectual leader, manipulated by her ministers at a time when Argentina was wracked by violence involving left-wing guerrillas and right-wing death squads.

She was removed in a military coup in 1976 and held under house arrest for several years before moving to Spain in 1981.

An estimated 30,000 people were killed, or "disappeared", from 1976 to 1983, during the military's repression of alleged left-wing opponents, which came to be known as the "dirty war".

© MMVIII

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Update from the BBC

Argentina's economy chief quits

Mr Lousteau was behind a controversial tax rise on soybean exports

Argentina's economy minister, Martin Lousteau, has resigned after less than five months on the job, officials say.

He was behind a tax rise on soybean exports, which triggered a three-week strike by Argentine farmers that resulted in widespread food shortages.

At 36, Mr Lousteau was the youngest member of President Cristina's Fernandez's cabinet.

He also reportedly had run-ins with other ministers over inflation and the direction of the economy.

Reports said that Mr Lousteau, whose resignation has not been officially announced, would be replaced by Carlos Fernandez, head of the country's tax agency.

The farmers' strike led to food shortages in the country as farmers blocked trucks from delivering beef, chicken and produce.

The farmers have threatened to erect new barricades if the government does not offer concessions on the tax hike.

It was the biggest crisis faced by Ms Fernandez since she took office in December.

Mr Lousteau was one of few new faces in Ms Fernandez's cabinet, with most ministers retained from the administration of her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner.

© MMVIII

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Evita and Argentine History-Part 1

Europeans first arrived in the native-inhabited territory, which became Argentina, in the early 16th century. The Spaniards of the day, true to form, wiped out the indigenous population. After becoming a viceroyalty of Spain in the 1770s, Argentina achieved independence in 1816. Between the mid-19th century and 1946, Argentina swung from civilian to military rule and from radical to conservative policies. At this time, Argentina was the 10th richest nation, owing to its rich agricultural exports. Nevertheless, a socialist rise led to a coup, resulting in the rise of Lieutenant General Juan Peron Sosa as president in 1943. After winning the election of 1946, Peron instigated a policy of extreme nationalism and social improvement. His wife, Eva Duarte ("Evita"), being more charismatic than her husband (see photo) campaigned for the disenfranchised workers of the era ("descamisados," or the "shirtless ones."). They founded the Peronista movement, and after being overthrown in 1955, continued to direct the movement from Spanish exile. Just before that time, Evita, the paragon of the movement, died at an early age. The dream of Argentine nationalism seemed to die thereafter. The ensuing administrations failed to secure the full allegiance of either the people or the trade unions and Peron was triumphantly re-elected as president in 1973. On his death, a year later, his wife, Isabelita Peron, took over, but could not rekindle the ream of her magnetic predecessor Evita. Soon thereafter, chaos ensued and Isabelita was deposed by a military coup in 1976.

The legacy of Peron (and Evita) continues to inspire Argentinian politicians to this day. The end of the Peronista period heralded perhaps the darkest period in Argentinian history. Driven by an obsessive fear of ‘Communism’ and ‘subversion’ and supported by governments throughout the Americas (including Washington), the military regime instituted a reign of terror in which "disappearances" ("desaparecidos"), torture and extra-judicial murder were commonplace. The military’s blatant inability to run the economy did much to undermine any credibility they enjoyed. But the final straw was the invasion of the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) in 1982, which led to a humiliating defeat for the Argentinian military at the hands of a British task force and led swiftly to the collapse of the regime and the inauguration of a new era of civilian politics.

The Olympics and Farming...and your dinner

The Olympic torch passed through in Argentine soil sithout the problems faced in Paris. Although demonstrators turned out in droves, Argentina has a good relationship with China. Under former President Kirchner, agreements to cultivate soy is one of the ties that these two countries enjoy. What is that to Argentina? Hopefully, more money! What does it do for farmers? Argentina's farmers do prosper with some of these accords. However, last month, the new president, Cristina Kirchner, raised farm taxes by 45%. The famous produce and meat that Argentina is known for ended up on the pavement, as farmers protested this move. It looks like some settlements are being made, so as to put the finest meat and wines on the table, as we look forward to June's culinary delights over an asado (Argentine BBQ). In other words, there are no shortages or rationings going on. And the torch? Argentina was the only country in South America to have the torch come through. before you come, read about some of these issues I am bringing up, to really understand the Argentine's points of view. If you are able to read Spanish, check out www.clarin.com or www.buenosairesherald.com. Buen provecho!

Dario

The Second InterAmerican Congress of Emergency Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Emergency Medicine in Argentina is here! What happened to the group of friends (an intensivist, internist, cardiologist, and a nephrologist who directed a successful ambulance service) who drank espresso at a sidewalk cafe in Buenos Aires 7 years ago? The fire that began emergency medicine in Argentina. The organization that was created became the Sociedad Argentina de Emergencias (the Argentine Society of Emergency Medicine), now boasting a few thousand members! Every two years, they host an outstanding international conference in emergency, which have been the largest conferences in emergency medicine in Latin America. In 2006, several English speakers from the august bodies of ACEP and AAEM held a parallel English emergency medicine conference. This year, ACEP has partnered with the Sociedad Argentina de Emergencias to host a phenomenal educational event. Participants from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Chile will join our Argentine friends in this momentous occasion. Friends from England, Australia, France, Spain, Sweden, Israel, India and China will join in the festivities. The conference will take place June 11-13, 2008 in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. Besides, where else can you sip coffee and tango? Not at Starbucks USA! More information is on http://www.acep.org/meetings.aspx?id=22384 and http://www.cime2.com.ar