On the eve of a new anniversary of the 1976 Civic-Military Coup d'état, mayor Enrique Tomás Cresto called on the residents of Concordia to participate in the various activities taking place during the Week of Memory and to build unity and consensus among all those who "put the value of living in democracy and the defense of freedom ahead of any differences of opinion we may have".
"Every March 24th is a special date, one of reflection and memory, of demanding truth and justice for so many Argentines who suffered, in thousands of different ways, the Dictatorship that began on the tragic day of March 24, 1976," said mayor Cresto.
"In these days we must remember the '76 coup, but also all the coups d'état that Argentina suffered throughout the 20th century. Every time the country's democratic life was interrupted by the interests of concentrated power or the historical enemies of the popular classes, it was an attack on institutionalism, on the organization of the people, a blow to social achievements, to the progress of all Argentines. Each coup d'état inaugurated a time of persecution of popular militants, of regression of social rights, and of reorganization of the country's economy to the detriment of the people," stressed the mayor.
"In '76 my grandfather, Don Enrique Tomás Cresto, was governor of this province. He had promoted one of the most important economic development processes in the history of Entre Ríos. And the dictatorship went against him and against each of the political, union, and social militants. It overthrew him, held him illegally imprisoned, and my family suffered persecution along with thousands of people from Entre Ríos. Today we must have Memory of the darkest stage of our history so that it never happens again, in any of the forms that concentrated power groups use to take rights away from the most vulnerable sectors of the people for the benefit of a few," affirmed the mayor.
"Today our commitment is to defend democratic institutions," emphasized Cresto. "Defending democracy and keeping in mind the memory of so many men who did much for our country. This year marks two hundred years since San Martín's feat of the Crossing of the Andes. The most important feat in America and one of the most studied in world history. San Martín, Yrigoyen, Perón, Alfonsín, are some of the many great democratic men of our history that we must keep in mind today," he listed.
"The strengthening of democracy is built day by day," he added. "Seeking consensus and dialogue among all sectors, beyond the differences of opinion and criteria we may have. Building from each person's identity, the unity that allows us to advance in real improvements for our people. No institution of our homeland should be at the service of the interests of a few. We must deepen democracy in each of the places where we participate, in each of the areas we represent. Democracy, participation, consensus, and dialogue are synonyms in politics. Today more than ever," concluded Enrique Cresto.