2024-10-13 12:36:00
By PSTU – Argentina
Those of us who write the following account are students and activists who experienced what happened yesterday at the National University of La Matanza. We want to signal the beginning of this process and denounce the UNLaM authorities for prohibiting the entry of students through gangs and repressive forces.
After the deputies voted in favor of the veto of the finance law, the WhatsApp groups of the National University of La Matanza (UNLaM) began to collapse with messages of repudiation and the need to organize to defend the public university. In addition to the repudiation of Alejandro Finocchiaro, UNLaM professor and PRO deputy, who voted in favor, giving absolute support to the veto. Thus, from the self-convened group, an appeal was launched to all students, teachers and non-teachers, to be present at the University.
While this was happening, the UNLaM teachers’ union decided to declare a strike from 6pm until today, Thursday. Many teachers were not aware of this measure, but they approached the doors of the university. There were more and more of us, at the rate of “workers’ universities” and “whoever doesn’t like it, gets screwed”. Also present was the federal student center of La Liga, which decided to take to the streets, blocking Florencio Varela to make visible and reject the veto. At 6pm there were hundreds of us; UNLaM security asked those present to leave, interrupting afternoon classes to announce the university’s closure.
The situation worsened rapidly. Many of the students present asked for a meeting to discuss how to proceed, while the teaching union remained outside the institute. Even so, we self-convened students tried to enter the university with the idea of holding the assembly in the courtyard and democratically deciding the course to follow. At that time, taking over the university had not even been voted on by students, which contrasts with information spread by many media and UNLaM authorities.
As we tried to enter our university, we began to be hit, pushed, and kicked by security forces and university bullies. They brutally attacked classmates, broke cell phones and blocked students’ passage. They managed to close the gate, dividing the crowd trying to open the doors.
Shouting “open the gates and assemble!”, we were surrounded by administrative staff and thugs, many of whom taunted the students with insults and claims that we were not from the university. The situation was embarrassing. The president of the Student Center asked us for calm and peace, but what we asked for is that they open the door so we can have a meeting and vote on what to do. Something as simple and democratic as that. However, the rector’s orders took priority, dirtying the just and historic struggle of the UNLaM students.
In the end, a representative of the teaching and non-teaching union announced that he had decided to take the university and stay there. We all celebrated, but it felt like a student-less takeover, as the doors remained locked with padlocks and ropes to this day. Is this how you shoot? With bullies and repressive forces within the university, what should be an autonomous space? Or are we talking about another type of occupation? Thus preventing students from living in the plant, from holding public lessons and assemblies there? They didn’t want us students to go to college.
The atmosphere became tense and hostile, surprising many to see what the authorities allowed. There was an order from the rector’s office not to open the doors at any cost. We responded with violence, yes, because they came to attack us without any scruple, we have the right not only to stay at the university but to defend ourselves from repression and institutional violence. Casanova’s commissioner was present with the band; There are videos that show how their only function was to attack students and prevent entry to those outside. As time passed, more and more students and family members joined, and some teachers received support from the other side.
The violence from bullies and even student union members pushing classmates was shameful. Those of us inside began to notice the presence of repressive forces, many of them civilians, hoping to provoke even more. The highlight of the moment was the appearance of the rector Martínez, disguised and surrounded by criminals, who was booed when he declared that he would not open the gate. The staff and some teachers of public education covered the UNLaM logo so as not to be scandalized, because everything they experienced was filmed by several colleagues, recording the maneuvers they were carrying out.
We didn’t expect anything from the Federal Student Center of La Liga, but it still surprises us with its complicity with the adjustment policies of the government and the rectorate. They did not convene an assembly to democratically decide on the measures to be taken and supported the security agents who act against those fighting for public education, despite having rallied together hours earlier. That’s how hypocritical they are! On Tuesday 8th the meeting was held there, it was proposed to go to the center and talk to them, since they didn’t come closer. To ask what they intended to do about the veto and the education compliance, which we wanted to prevent violations, we went to Congress (yesterday). But once again they ignored the assembly, saying that they are behaving differently (they didn’t say how), that they asked for actions against the veto, we still don’t know what they were. There was no political will to do something together or to decide democratically.
In the end, after having discussed it in the assembly with those of us who were inside, it was decided to leave the university and hold the assembly all together in front of the door, there were not enough forces to support our presence there, while the forces of order and criminals surrounded us. The assembly voted on the public classes, an assembly for Monday 14 October, inviting the educational community and seeking coordination and building an interfaculty struggle plan.
Javier Milei’s government has lost more than it has gained
What UNLaM is experiencing is a historic process, created from below and in a democratic way, with many debates still to be opened, but with unity of action against the same enemy. Many universities across the country have been and are being taken over, and secondary schools are starting to organize themselves to defend their rights, adopting a collective perspective, because to win and veto Milei it is essential to unite all the ongoing struggles. We students must align our struggle with the demands of the other sectors that are being attacked and demand a struggle plan to overturn Milei’s economic plan.
*Currently UNLaM is not run by its students, but by the authorities and the Federal League. If there are no students, there is no shooting!
#University #Matanza #UNLaM #struggle