Powerful Argentinean labor leader arrested for murder

Authorities in Argentina arrested a powerful labor leader on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder of a 23-year-old political activist during a protest last year.

José Pedraza, the secretary general of the railroad union, Unión Ferroviaria, was detained at dawn along with his assistant Juan Carlos Fernández after a judge in Buenos Aires issued arrest warrants as part of the investigation.

Mariano Ferreyra, a member of the Argentina's Workers Party (PO) was killed during a protest last October in a labor dispute among rail employees. The killing sparked outrage throughout the country. Thousands took to the streets to demand justice and put pressure on the government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to find the murderers. Unión Ferroviaria is closely aligned to the Fernández de Kirchner government.

"I would be surprised if Pedraza wasn't involved," said the victim's brother

"We are extremely happy by this news," said Néstor Pitrola, the head of the PO about the arrests. "They have found the masterminds because there isn't any doubt that Unión Ferroviaria's chiefs were behind this criminal act. The money came from Unión Ferroviaria to carry out this killing, and we had been waiting for this outcome."

Ferreyra, an activist since his early teens, was shot while marching with subcontracted employees who had been fired for attempting to blockade a Buenos Aires train line. A scuffle broke out when they were confronted by union members and several others were injured.

One witness said that after Ferreyra was shot someone cheered and shouted: "One less lefty."

"If this hadn't happened [the arrests], I would have been demoralized," said the victim's brother Pablo Ferreyra in an interview with the Buenos Aires daily La Nación. "I will leave the courts to decide whether Pedraza was responsible; I have my own opinion on the matter. But I think it would be very strange if Pedraza weren't involved, at least in organizing the demonstration that ended with my brother's death."

Unión Ferroviaria officers were meeting with members at press time to discuss how to handle the current situation while their boss and the number two in command sat in jail.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Labor Minister Carlos Tomada said "there was always the possibility" that Pedraza was involved but said it was ultimately up to the courts to determine the truth.