31 Jul 2019 | 10:50 PM UTC
Argentina: Protests in Buenos Aires and Bariloche August 1
Activists to hold protests in Buenos Aires and Bariloche August 1; heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions expected
Event
Activists have announced protests in Buenos Aires and San Carlos de Bariloche (Rio Negro province) on Thursday, August 1, to mark the second anniversary of the disappearance and death of activist Santiago Maldonado. In Bariloche, demonstrators plan to meet at the corner of Onelli and Moreno streets at 16:30 (local time) and march to the civic center. In Buenos Aires, demonstrators plan to hold a rally at Plaza de Mayo at 17:00. Similar protests are possible in urban centers nationwide.
A heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are expected around protest sites.
Context
Santiago Maldonado disappeared on August 1, 2017, after attending a protest in support of the Mapuche community in Chubut province which ended in violent clashes with the Argentine National Gendarmerie. Maldonado's body was found in the Chubut River two months later and his cause of death was ruled an accidental drowning. Maldonado's family and supporters believe that Maldonado died under suspicious circumstances, and the legal battles following his disappearance and death have drawn international attention from rights organizations.
Advice
Individuals in Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires and Bariloche, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all demonstrations as a precaution, anticipate disruptions, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.
