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News > Latin America

Top Human Rights Group Demands Justice for Santiago Maldonado

  • Maldonado was a young activist living in Argentina's Patagonia region.

    Maldonado was a young activist living in Argentina's Patagonia region. | Photo: Official Facebook Page of Justice for Santiago Maldonado

Published 21 October 2017
Opinion

Police say Maldonado's body was found in a river after going missing for more than two months.

Amnesty International has asked the government of Argentina to guarantee justice after the family of Santiago Maldonado confirmed that his body was found, after almost 80 days since he disappeared.

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Maldonado's Brother Accuses Argentina's Government of Hypocrisy

Santiago's family believes his body was placed in the Chubut River earlier this week, after he was taken during a protest in Mapuche territory that was cleared by police on Aug. 1.

"In this tragic moment, we join the family of Santiago and we will not rest until justice is done and all responsible people at all levels of government are prosecuted," Amnesty International Argentina Director Mariela Belski said.

Santiago's brother, Sergio, told reporters outside the morgue in Buenos Aires that relatives were able to identify his body by his tattoos. "It's Santiago," he said.

"This does not take away from the fact that police are responsible ... we are going to continue the investigation to know the truth and to have justice," Sergio said.

Authorities said the autopsy on Santiago's body will take about a week to show results on the actual causes of his death. 

Several human rights organizations and students gathered in the historic Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires to demand justice for Santiago as well as the resignation of Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich.

They alleged police are responsible for his disappearance. 

His body was found days before key regional elections in Argentina.

"The authorities must ensure that an independent investigation is carried out to determine who was responsible for the disappearance and death of Santiago, who ordered it, and who knew it and didn't act," Belski said.

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