Julio A. Roca | Bariloche | Argentina
Since decades that the
statue of Julio A. Roca at the civic centre of Bariloche city have
been a stage for all kinds of protests, about different present and
past issues such as the “desaparecidos” of the last dictatorship
in Argentina, or the indigenous genocide led by Roca himself. Julio
Argentino Roca commanded the troops that murdered thousands of
indigenous people as part of the desert campaigns. During his two
presidencies he illegally handed over indigenous peoples lands to
local and foreign elites. Roca was the promoter of the cruel
Residence Law against the foreign workers and the author of the first
repressive laws against the labor movement.
Since the restoration
of Democracy in Argentina in 1983, several debates have arised
regarding the proposals for the statue transfer. The thinker,
historian and writer Osvaldo Bayer is at the forefront of the
movement Desmontenemos a Roca, bringing abundant documentation and
foundation to the debate on the genocide of the native peoples. More
information can be found here
