Argentine political prisoner Milagro Sala reimprisoned, flouting IACHR ruling

[sandensea]

Argentine Indigenous leader Milagro Sala has been removed from house arrest this morning and taken to prison, in what her lawyer describes as an abduction done without notification or knowledge of the defense.

Her reinmprisonment flouts a July 28 ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ordering officials to comply with a formal UN request to release Sala from prison. IACHR rulings are legally binding in Argentina.

Sala's defense attorney, Elizabeth Gómez, described the move as an "abduction" by police forces against the elected lawmaker and activist. "It is an absolute illegality, reminding us of the darkest times of our country."

IACHR President Francisco Eguiguren condemned the decision, comparing it to the case of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who was arrested on incitement charges in 2014 and who following international appeals was transferred to house arrest this July.

House arrest

Sala had been transferred to house arrest on August 31 pursuant to the IACHR ruling a month earlier.

Jujuy Province Governor Gerardo Morales, who ordered Sala's detention, resisted the IACHR ruling and then "complied" by having her moved to an abandoned house lacking doors, windows, basic amenities, or connections to public utilities.

Following the governor's refusal to fund improvements, private donations were raised for its refurbishment.

The Sala case

Sala, now 53, was ordered arrested on January 16, 2016, by Governor Morales on unsubstantiated charges of “inciting violence” — a charge that was later dropped.

She was charged nearly a year later with embezzlement, extortion, and conspiracy related to government earmarks for housing projects managed by the Túpac Amaru Association and related charges.

Critics note that prosecutors have offered no proof to substantiate charges, relying only on hearsay from individuals including an illiterate man who was later awarded a public contract and an ex-convict who was released despite serving a sentence for murder.

Citing lack of evidence and serious irregularities such as the use of bribed witnesses, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled on October 21, 2016, that Sala's detention is in fact arbitrary, and urged President Mauricio Macri (a close ally of Morales) to release her immediately. The IACHR did likewise on December 4.

At: https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Milagro-Salas-Transfer-Was-An-Abduction-Attorneys-Claim-20171014-0010.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Unspeakable villains. Beyond forgiveness. Something needs to be done immediately.

Milagro Sala has been used as an example to would-be dissenters. She is being used to paralyze people with fear this could happen to them.

Putting her in a house like that with no water, light, heating, cooling, food preparation or storage possible, no windows or doors is the act of true sociopaths.

Hope there are people who can take this up with an even higher court.

Something must be done, so soon.

This good, courageous woman has been through hell repeatedly at the hands of the filthy fascist monsters.

Hope ALL the people of the country, and throughout the Americas are listening, watching, and talking about this.

Thank you, sandensea.

(Of course, in this country the right-wing would be 100% supportive this evil, just as they were with the torture and murder of 30,000 people only several decades ago.)

[sandensea]

2. U.S. right-wingers would indeed

When Clarín chief foreign correspondent Gustavo Sierra interviewed Joe Arpaio a few years ago, Arpaio spoke approvingly of the Dirty War, adding that " it's a good thing it happened, since it would have been a shame to have the Commies take over (there was never the slightest chance of that) and cause us to miss out on your great beef and wines."

As for Milagro Sala, you'll be happy to know that supporters of hers donated funds to have that house refurbished, such that she at least spent her 6 weeks' house arrest comfortably - after 20 months in jail without trial or even proof of a crime (unlike Macri and half his cabinet).

Sala's designated 'house arrest' site, as offered by Gov. Morales (Sala's supporters made it livable at their expense, despite its being gov't property):



Her reincarceration follows a massive, well-orchestrated social media campaign (probably launched by Macri's own people) calling for her house arrest to be rescinded.

Polls were beginning to show that a sizable number of RW voters might have stayed home for the October 22 midterms if they didn't get their way. So, the rule of law be damned.