The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: May 27, 2007

Official News - page 8


REAL LIFE NEWS: ARGENTINIAN COMMUTERS FIGHT BACK

by Hazed

As an English person, when I am dissatisfied with the service offered by the railways, I grumble. I might make a tutting noise under my breath if forced to wait for a train that has been delayed or cancelled. I may even bring myself to write a letter of complaint to the company running the trains, should I find myself greatly inconvenienced by their poor performance.

Argentinian commuters, however, have a more robust way of expressing their displeasure. They riot. Last week, they were so angry at their country's privatised rail services that they went on the rampage, committing arson, looting and fighting, after there were delays at a station in Buenos Aires.

According to reports, enraged passengers "shattered windows, set fire to a ticket sales area, looted shops, and ripped payphones from walls." In retaliation, police fired rubber bullets and used teargas as the anarchy "spilled out to the street".

Youths also torched a motorbike and attempted to "break down wooden doors to a security office in the station" using metal poles. Officers faced "a hail of rocks" from the rioting commuters, and ended up arresting 16, including two minors, during the fracas.

A spokesman for the train operator said that the service was interrupted because "a train broke down just outside the station, preventing other trains from leaving." He added, "The problem happened at the worst moment."

For all those cheering the plucky Argentinian commuters, who might be tempted to emulate them the next time the 6.15 to Potters Bar is cancelled with no explanation, it's worth noting that the riot didn't actually help - it meant all other trains from the station were cancelled too, just spreading the misery around.

This isn't the first time the volatile Argentinians have kicked off at this station. A cancelled train last September provoked the incineration of three carriages, resulting in 7 arrests.


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