Argentinian farmers arrested over bushfire arson
Argentinian farmers arrested over bushfire arson
20 April 2008
published by www.abc.net.au
Argentina — Argentinian police have arrested two farmers accused of starting fires which have raged near Buenos Aires for several days and cloaked the capital in dense smoke.
Authorities announced the arrests with great fanfare and said they were searching for a third man, a landowner. They also said they had captured a boat carrying petrol used to start the blazes.
The Government has said all along that farmers are responsible for starting the fires by burning crop stubble to enrich the soil.
The farmers have responded angrily, saying the Government is blaming them for political reasons. The two sides are involved in difficult negotiations in a dispute over taxes on agricultural exports.
