Argentine human rights activist Hebe de Bonafini is indicted over misuse of funds at "Shared Dreams" foundation

Record ID: 876257

  • Title: Argentine human rights activist Hebe de Bonafini is indicted over misuse of funds at "Shared Dreams" foundation
  • Date: 16th May 2017
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BUILDERS WORKING ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL HOUSING, WITH MACHINERY BONAFINI LOOKING ON PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE SOCIAL HOUSING BUILDING WORKERS GATHERED AND TALKING BANNER READING (Spanish): "MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO, NOT A STEP BACK!" BONAFINI WALKING PEOPLE CLAPPING BONAFINI WALKING, WOMEN HELPING HER, PEOPLE CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2017 16:11
  • Keywords: Hugo Chavez Cristina Fernandez Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Hebe de Bonafini
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA0046H39V0J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An Argentine judge ordered the indictment of Hebe de Bonafini, head of the prominent human rights group Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, on Monday (May 15), as well as others accused of defrauding the treasury, local media reported.
    Eighty-eight-year-old Bonafini has been implicated in an investigation looking into the siphoning off of funds totalling about US$12.8 million by the government-funded project called "Shared Dreams."
    According to local media reports, federal judge Marcelo Martinez also included brothers Sergio and Pablo Schoklender in the indictment as well as former Deputy Public Works Minister Jose Lopez, who was arrested last year on suspicion of money laundering.
    The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo were in charge of running "Shared dreams," a program aimed at the construction of social housing, created by leftist former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.
    Bonafini said she is being persecuted for her beliefs and in a video, and sarcastically thanked Argentina's President Mauricio Macri, of the the centre-right.
    The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo work to reunite family members who were separated during the country's brutal dictatorship in the late 70's and early 80's. A military crackdown on leftist activists at the time saw many people disappear.
    The group, in their iconic white head scarves, have helped raise awareness of the human rights violations that were occurring. The group says some 30,000 people - including students, journalists and trade unionists - were kidnapped and murdered after the military seized control of the country in 1976.
    The right Argentina has claimed over the years they conducted a necessary war campaign against a militant movement.
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