Photographer freed after being violently detained at protest

A collaborator with the AFP news agency, photojournalist Tomas Cuesta, was violently attacked and detained by security forces in Buenos Aires Wednesday.

Cuesta was freed later the evening after being detained with three other people at a pensioners's march that erupted into clashes with police.

For months, retirees and supporters have mounted a weekly march on Wednesdays to demand better pensions and other benefits in response to President Javier Milei's economic policies.

In March, one such demonstration was joined by football fans, and over 100 people were arrested after clashes left dozens injured.

On Wednesday there were fresh scuffles, and police use of tear gas, AFP observed.

Four people were arrested, including 29-year-old Cuesta, a regular AFP contributor, who was freed hours later.

Another photojournalist was also among those held.

Colleagues saw Cuesta – who was working for another organisation covering the rally – being forcefully tackled and pinned to the ground, with a knee pressed on his head. He was not injured, though he was hurt.

It was not clear if or when the other three would be released.

Miguel Gaya, lawyer for the ARGRA association of photojournalists, condemned "the repression of the press" by the MNilei government, stating that it was "executed by its security forces in a systematic and planned way."

Another press group described the scenes as an "attempt to intimidate journalists, photographers and communicators from various media" outlets.

National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich wrote on X Wednesday that the march was "not peaceful" and the protesters "came to incite violence."

Pensioners have suffered the most under Milei’s harsh austerity measures, which plunged Argentina into a deep recession for most of 2024 but led to a dramatic slowdown in price increases.

Pension increases having fallen far short of inflation over the past year, leading to a sharp decline in retirees' living conditions, made worse by the government's decision to scrap price controls on medicines.

– TIMES/AFP