August 5, 2016
Photo: Bill Hackwell
The president of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo remains defiant despite the politicized prosecution against her.
An Argentine judge has cancelled the arrest warrant against human rights activist and president of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Hebe de Bonafini, official sources announced Friday.
The 90-year-old iconic activist was summoned to appear in court to testify in a case that accuses the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo — an organization that searches for missing children from the dictatorship era — of siphoning off public funds from a social housing program known as “Shared Dreams.”
However, she announced Friday she would not go to court to testify and instead was going to attend a rally in the coastal city of Mar del Plata. Bonafini is asked to give evidence over the alleged embezzlement of millions of dollars, but she is not personally accused in the case.
“She says she will continue her normal life, she also says that if they want to her to testify they will have to arrest her,” said Eduardo Fachal, attorney for the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, in a radio interview.
The judge, Marcelo Martinez de Giorgi, who issued the arrest warrant against her, said this morning that “the arrest warrant means that she can be arrested at any time.” However, that measure has been dropped.
Police were dispatched to arrest Bonafini on Thursday, but they failed to detain her due to a human chain of supporters who blocked off the area in which she is currently residing in the capital of Buenos Aires.
Civil society groups and politicians around the world have condemned what they say is the politicized prosecution of those who oppose the conservative government of President Mauricio Macri.
Bonafini is recognized worldwide for leading the fight for justice for victims of the 1976-83 dictatorship in Argentina; she has two sons who were “disappeared” by the military government.
Source: Telesur