Saturday 10 January 2009, San José, Costa
Rica
Torrijos to SICA Summit
in Nicaragua
Guatemala Promises
Security
Venezuela Probes
Attack on Chavez Supporters
Most Buenos Aires
Citizens Feel Insecure
No Visas for Ecuadorians
Visiting Cuba
|
Most Buenos Aires
Citizens Feel Insecure
Buenos Aires - Nine out
of 10 people living in
the Argentine capital of
Buenos Aires and its
suburbs worry about
crime and personal
safety, according to a
survey conducted by the
Research Center of
Citizens' Convergence,
the local media said on
Friday.
In 2008, 94 percent of
the people surveyed
suffered directly or
indirectly from criminal
incidents, while 83
percent believed that
the government was not
in a position to solve
the problem.
The center created a
Citizen's Fear Index
(ITC) based on surveys
of 800 residents living
in the Metropolitan Area
of Buenos Aires (AMBA).
The 2007 ITC showed that
86 percent of residents
had a least one relative
falling victim to crime
during that year, and 62
percent considered the
authorities unable to
ease widespread
insecurity.
The 2008 data, however,
showed a higher rate of
victims and a growing
concern about personal
and property safety.
The survey showed that
65 percent of
respondents believed
Argentina was the most
insecure country in
Latin America, while
35percent expected their
lives and those of their
relatives to be still
worse in 2009.
In addition, the 2008
ITC indicated that eight
out of 10 people had a
"serious or regular
feeling of insecurity
about their future."
In terms of the specific
causes of insecurity, 78
percent of the
inhabitants of AMBA
surveyed identified
drugs, 69 percent
mentioned corruption and
50 percent unemployment.
Some 51 percent
considered that better
enforcement laws would
improve the situation,
41 percent believed the
death penalty was very
necessary, and 49
percent agreed the
government should allow
citizens to possess
weapons to protect
themselves.
Only 9 percent of the
people trusted the
Argentine Federal Police
(PFA) and only 3 percent
trusted the Police of
Buenos Aires.
The feeling of
insecurity has spread to
other aspects of
people's lives. Seven
out of 10 worry about
not having access to
health care, about 60
percent are afraid of
inadequate pensions, and
58 percent fear
unemployment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
