Farm Protest
Demonstrations Planned for July 15th
The U.S. Embassy in Argentina advises American citizens residing in or traveling to Argentina that large-scale demonstrations are scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, in Buenos Aires and other locations.
Starting at noon, tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of a variable export tax on grains and oilseeds are expected to begin congregating in two locations for rallies. Government supporters will gather in the Plaza de los dos Congresos downtown at 3 p.m., while opponents will convene at 4:30 p.m. around the Monumento a los Espanoles in Palermo. Estimates of the expected crowd sizes vary widely, with some reports claiming as many as 300,000 people could take part in the two rallies.
U.S. citizens should take common-sense precautions and if possible, avoid these areas. The local media will provide additional information about the marches in the capital and other locations as it becomes available. The Monumento a los Espanoles, also known as the Monumento a la Carta Magna, is located at the intersections of Libertador and Sarmiento Avenues. The Plaza de los dos Congresos is located on Avenue Entre Rios between Avenues Hipolito Yrigoyen and Rivadavia.
Demonstrations in Argentina are usually nonviolent, but a protest over the same controversial issue in the Plaza de Mayo on July 7 resulted in some injuries and property damage.
Americans living or traveling in Argentina are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires through the Embassy website http://argentina.usembassy.gov. The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenida Colombia 4300 in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires (near the Plaza Italia stop on the "D" line subway). The main Embassy switchboard telephone is (54) (11) 5777-4533. Recorded consular information, including instructions on whom to contact in case of an American citizen emergency, is available at tel. (54) (11) 4514-1830. The main Embassy fax is (54) (11) 5777-4240. The Consular Section fax is (54) (11) 5777-4293. The Consular Section is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on American and Argentine holidays. Additional information on Embassy services is available on the Internet at http://argentina.usembassy.gov or by e-mail: BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov. .
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).