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Protesters have set up camp and taken over the Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires for the second day in a row, demanding that activist, lawmaker and Indigenous leader, Milagro Sala be released from prison.
Sala was arrested last week in Argentina’s Jujuy province at the orders of Governor Gerardo Morales for criticizing the policies of President Mauricio Macri’s government.
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Activist Milagro Sala was arrested Jan 16 in Argentina - supporters say because she was leading anti-gov't protests. https://t.co/8JnvwGGOig
— reported.ly (@reportedly)
January 28, 2016
She has already been in prison for 12 days, with officials saying that enough evidence exists to keep the Indigenous rights leader detained.
GALLERY: Furious at Milagro Sala Arrest, Argentines Hold Open Town Hall
Outraged social movements have slammed the arrest as illegitimate. A mass demonstration began in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires Wednesday with protesters setting up camp in the Plaza de Mayo, vowing not to move until the vocal social leader is freed.
Carpa en Plaza de Mayo pidiendo la libertad de la presa política #MilagroSala pic.twitter.com/gduxTn3rav
— Gerardo Giglio (@Gerardo_GiglioD)
January 28, 2016
Local media La Nacion published a letter Thursday that was reportedly written by Sala from her prison cell, thanking her supporters and telling them “we cannot give up, in this fight or any others.”
“We will stay until Milagra is released because she is a political prisoner and there is no reason to keep her custody,” said Alejandro Garfagnini, the national representative for Tupac Amaru, the indigenous community that Sala leads.
Officials have shown no sign that Sala will be released, saying she is currently facing charges that could see her imprisoned for up to six years, according to local media.
WATCH: Hundreds in Argentina Demonstrate in Support of Jailed Leader Milagro Sala
