The trial of the general secretary of the railworkers union José Pedraza, and his right-hand man, Juan Carlos Fernández for the murder of Mariano Ferreyra began on Monday, 6th August at the Comodoro Py courthouse in Retiro. Ferreyra was killed on 20th October 2010 near the Roca train line in the Barracas neighbourhood. Ferreyra was a member of Partido Obrero, which had joined outsourced Roca railway workers on 20th October 2010 in a protest for equal pay, benefits and conditions as members of the Railway Union. The Partido Obrero was out in full force in Retiro and photographers Diego Espinosa and Patricio Murphy were on hand to capture the events.

Partido Obrero congregates en masse in Retiro to show their presence at the trial for the murder of Mariano Ferreyra (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Partido Obrero calls for justice at the trial for the murder of Mariano Ferryera at the Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Leaders of the Partidio Obrero, Néstor Pitrola and Jorge Altamira at the rally at Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Leader of the Partidio Obrero Jorge Altamira speaks at the rally at Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

The 'stage' in front of the Comodoro Py courthouse is protected by unionists with the press at the ready. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Flags calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Women hold signs calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Signs calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Jose Pedraza (right) enters the courtroom together with the rest of the accused to stand trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

The accident occurred this afternoon on platform two in Belgrano Norte terminal in Retiro. For unknown technical reasons, the train stopped abruptly, causing the back carriages to slam into each other. Fourteen passengers have been injured.

The injuries sustained include mild multiple trauma and cut wounds. The passengers, who were transferred to Fernández, Argerich and Rivadavia hospitals, have all been discharged.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the emergency services unit (SAME), has stated that the situation is “under control.”

Crescenti confirmed that one of the train carriages was incorrectly hooked, resulting in a “big jolt” and the subsequent accident.

Initial investigations indicate that the train braked abruptly, throwing passengers to the ground, but not causing enough impact to derail it.

The Belgrano Norte terminal, which is overseen by train company, Ferrovías, has remained in service despite the incident.

In addition to managing the Belgrano Norte service, the Ferrovías company took control of the Sarmiento and Mitre lines on 24th May, following the government’s termination of its contract with Buenos Aires’ Trains (TBA). The decision was taken in the wake of the Once crash on 22nd February which left 51 persons dead and more than 700 injured.

Police are investigating whether the murder of a Colombian man in Retiro on Tuesday was the product of a hit man.

Various news sources such as Clarín reported that the man was killed by either four or five bullets, and was between 35 and 40 years old.

Police reports say a robbery has been ruled out as a motive for the assassination. The victim was walking down Marcelo T. de Alvear, between Libertad and Talcahuano, when a man standing next to a motorcycle shot him in the head and back.

Witnesses told police that the shooter had arrived on a motorcycle and waited for the victim to appear. The assailant shot the man twice more after he had fallen, before abandoning his bike and fleeing on foot. He was chased by an area security guard, but managed to escape while running down Santa Fe Avenue.

The offender additionally left behind a 9mm pistol, which police have recovered and are taking as evidence.

Specialists are still working to identify the deceased, but have determined his Colombian nationality by the type of clothes he was wearing. Police are speculating that the crime was a “revenge killing” given the initial evidence, and InfoBAE has suggested it may have some connection with drug trafficking.

Police are still hoping security camera footage will shed light on the identity of the killer.

Long distance bus services departing from Retiro have been suspended for 24 hours, due to a UTA transport workers’ strike.

The suspension of the service was announced by the UTA union, and began this morning at midnight.

The move comes after workers are claiming overdue salary payments. According to the UTA union, workers are owed $700 from the companies, a salary increase that was agreed upon in September of last year.

Mario Caligari, press secretary for the union stated “The wage increase for long distance drivers that the UTA had agreed to with the companies should have come in to effect from January… but until now the drivers have not received a single peso.”

The suspension of the long distance bus service is nationwide, and is affecting thousands of people across the country.

The strike is total, and no coaches have left Buenos Aires or Greater Buenos Aires since midnight,” added Caligari.

A huge block of cement and iron sheets containing two hundred artless beds in rows, hosting Buenos Aires’ destitute people, keeping them from sleeping on the cold asphalt. There is talk of Parador Retiro, a nightly refuge for people with no other place to stay and, in difference to most other homes, without any conditions other than soberness, no violence and a free bed.

Every evening, the old railway building close to the centre fills up with different characters and Jorge Colas accompanied them with his camera during some of their nights. The director portrays in 84 minutes the thoughts, moods and lives inside the complex, making a movie in form of a raw observation with neither arranged scenes or interviews, nor artificial effects in sound or vision.

There are long minutes of silence, abstruse conversations and grievance as well as music sessions, laugther and communal feeling. Some express their desire to leave that life behind, some seem to be content in their situation, some use it as a base for a new start after coming out of prison and others just go there because they’re old and don’t have family help.

Frequent visitors are drug addicts, alcoholics and others with chronic problems not compatible with a regular home’s restrictions. The policy of freedom has caught on, and two more of these homes, one in Parque Patricios and the other one in Barracas, are in construction. While the visitors are so far just male, one of the new centres will be exclusively for women.

It’s the simplicity that characterises the institution and is also demonstrated in the film. People who go there get nothing than a towel, a warm meal and a bed. They can borrow board games at the office and there is a first aider on hand in the case of need.

The unemotional concept of the movie, showing the everyday life inside the building, gives it a very realistic and affecting touch. There’s nothing like a plot and it just portraits the characteristics of the forced shared living space. The fun this heterogenic group has in there, the depressing search for distraction, the anxious and nihilistic views of life and the perseverative nocturne tristesse in the block seem to be forgotten when the lights turn off. Then, they are just a bunch of people, satisfied with having a bed for the night. A film without frills about lives without frills.

Parador Retiro is shown every Saturday in September at Malba, Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415. It starts at 6:30 pm and the entrance is $10, $5 for students and pensioners.

Residents of Villa 31 today reacted to the news that the Buenos Aires government intends to demolish 50 houses in the neighbourhood by blocking off access to nearby Retiro bus terminal.

The protest, which occurred at midday, lasted for around an hour before being broken up by the police.

The demonstration came after reports that the porteño government plans to demolish 50 of the 600 properties in the informal settlement, which the government says don’t conform to the minimum safety regulations and are in “imminent risk of collapsing”.

All of these properties are between three and six stories high, making them more dangerous.

But, furious and concerned at the idea of losing their homes, residents sought to demonstrate their disapproval today as Amalia Aima, of Villa 31, told La Nación: “The people went out today to show their indignation at the rumours of the government destroying the neighbourhood.

“We are now waiting for the judicial recess to finish but we knew that something was going to happen.”

The news of the local government’s intentions comes as the row between them and the national government over building materials continues.

The local government, headed by Mauricio Macri, want to prevent the entry of vans carrying building materials into the problematic, over-crowded barrio but Aníbal Fernández, of the Minstry of Justice and Security, fervently disagrees with the proposal.

The two have already exchanged blows with Fernández labelling Macri “vague and uncultured” while Macri accused Fernández of “always making excuses” and said that agreeing to the proposal was “his [Fernández] resposability and he has to carry it out.”

The future of many properties in the shantytown remains uncertain.