Dozens of people injured or wounded, numerous arrests, and attacks on journalists, photographers, and camera operators—this was the toll this Thursday from one of the most brutal crackdowns seen in the capital. The operation aimed to prevent a massive protest—the fifth of its kind—by students, faculty, university staff, and educators from reaching the National Congress Plaza. The demonstrators were demanding the funding owed to public universities—a payment ordered by judges in at least four separate rulings, which President Javier Milei’s administration has failed to honor, continuing instead to starve the education sector of resources.
The protesters—including high school students and various other social groups, such as the families of the unemployed, people with disabilities, and retirees—were marching peacefully when they faced a relentless, three-hour-long assault. They were subjected to a barrage of tear gas, rubber bullets, and high-pressure water cannons—all at once—amidst an at-times heavy downpour. Yet, the columns of young people refused to be stopped; even when forced back, they would regroup and return. The harrowing scene of this unprecedented repression stood in stark contrast to the peaceful conduct of the protesters, who, despite being soaked and struggling to breathe through the tear gas, continued to regroup and press forward. Journalists reported the presence of about 15 masked infiltrators who, positioned away from the main body of protesters, threw stones and other objects at police officers stationed behind barricades. This served as the pretext for the crackdown, which began just as university rectors were starting their speeches.
As night fell, police motorcycle units launched what amounted to a manhunt; at the time of writing, the total number of those arrested remains unknown. The new tactic involved creating clouds of gas, affecting all the residents in buildings near the Congress—a site that had been surrounded by barricades since early in the day. These barriers extended to every street leading to the area, transforming it into a war zone occupied by uniformed personnel.
The equipment and arsenal currently at the disposal of these forces—the most extensive and significant ever seen in the country for the purpose of internal repression—are supplied by Israel. Israel serves as the primary provider of weapons, ammunition, gear, pepper spray, and the advisors and instructors who train all branches of the security forces.
The day began with a sense of hope, amidst a crisis so severe that even pro-government media outlets could not conceal it. The Chamber of Deputies had the opportunity to strike down the “Decree of Necessity and Urgency” (DNU 70/2023)—a measure Milei announced on December 20, 2023, just 10 days after taking office.
This decree contained a governing agenda designed to dismantle the national state, destroy public education and healthcare, deregulate everything, privatize state-owned enterprises, and effectively replace the Constitution—bypassing the constitutional assembly process, which is the only legal mechanism for such a change. To date, every measure enacted by this administration has been implemented via executive decree.
To reinforce the provisions of DNU 70/2023, the so-called “Omnibus Law” (*Ley de Bases*) was submitted to Congress on December 27, 2023. Due to the weakness of the opposition, this legislation ended up granting the president—for a period of one year—full executive, legislative, and judicial powers. This is the same individual who appeared out of nowhere during the 2022–23 election campaign wielding a chainsaw, openly advocating for the end of the Argentine state and declaring himself “the mole” sent to destroy it from within.
