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Jujuy Resisté: indigenous communities and labor unions united in their fight for justice



There have been weeks of unrest in the northern province of Argentina, Jujuy, as Governor Gerardo Morales and his capitalist coalition have tried to force "reforms" to the provincial constitution. Governor Morales has tried to rush changes to the constitution which would open up more land for multinational corporations to mine and extract lithium.


Jujuy is a part of the "lithium triangle" comprised of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. It's projected that about 50% of the world's extractable lithium is buried within the triangle. While lithium extraction is already a huge business for the province and country, its expansion has been checked by indigenous communities and their land rights.


Many indigenous communities have for generations lived, cultivated, worshiped, and sustained themselves on land that Governor Morales is now trying to sell-off to multinational mining corporations. The proposed constitution "reform" will expand lithium extraction on to new land that would force further displacement of indigenous peoples and risk contamination of water supplies that indigenous communities rely on.


In an attempt to rush the process, the government truncated the review period and restricted public comment/feedback on the proposed "reform". So the people took to the streets. Since mid-June there have been daily clashes between peaceful protestors and perpetuators of state violence, law enforcement and the provincial guard. The government has responded to the people's opposition by arresting dozens of demonstrators and injuring hundreds more. One such casualty was a 17-year-old protestor, Mijael Lamas, who lost an eye after police shot him with a rubber bullet. The left-wing opposition party in the legislature, lead by the Party of Socialist Workers, have also joined protestors and faced abuse and arrest from their political opponents.


The opposition to the constitutional "reforms" have been lead by indigenous communities, especially indigenous women. Native women have been seen on the frontlines, and have been subjected to the harshest violence. When plain clothes officers tried to infiltrate the demonstrations, a group of Native women where the ones who discovered them and forced them out of the protest block, as seen in this video.


Simultaneously, as the province has tried to force these "reforms" it has also been in contract negotiations with the teacher's unions (Adep and Cedems). Elementary, middle, and high school teachers have been demanding wage increases to keep up with rampant inflation. They have also demanded wage re-opener clauses in their contracts to account for inflation if it continues to get worse or if more money is made available for schools. The government's initial refusal to negotiate raises, followed by a measly economic offer, have sent both teacher's unions on strike. According to union leadership, between 85%and 95% of their members have attended the pickets, marches, and protests in recent weeks.


In response to both public outcries for justice, the Governor issued a decree which functionally outlawed protest. It prohibited protestors from "remaining in public areas, disturbing the peace, hindering the free circulation of vehicles and/or pedestrians, causing fear in the population or illegally limiting in any way the free exercise of citizens rights." Consequences for disruptive demonstrations included detention and fines.


The unions and indigenous communities, under joint attack by their provincial government, merged their movements. Together they became, "Jujuy Resisté". An intersectional movement for economic, land, water, and indigenous justice.


Across Argentina there have been shows of solidarity. There have been marches of support in cities throughout country. The national primary teacher's union has called for a general strike. The Confederación General del Trabajo, which is Argentina's largest trade union, held general strikes in Buenos Aires and Cordoba on June 21st.


As the clashes continue, national and international attention has been drawn to Jujuy's fight for justice. Towards the end of June the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, met with indigenous leaders from Jujuy. Following that meeting at the president's residence the National Human Rights Secretariat called for investigations into state-violence by the Jujuy province.


The unified pressure of unions and indigenous communities has already yielded results. Governor Morales has rescinded or relaxed parts of his anti-protest decree. And steps have been taking to reject the constitutional "reforms" in part. But the movement continues in its fight for total victory.



 
 
 

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