Argentina: Ebe de Bonafini, the voice of the “Mothers of Plata de Mayo”, has died

Ebe de Bonafini, the voice of the “Mothers of Plata de Mayo” and militant activist against the violation of human rights during the Argentine dictatorship, died on Sunday 20/11 at the age of 93.

“The beloved Ebe, Mother of Plata de Mayo, world symbol of the struggle for human rights, pride of Argentina. God called you on National Sovereignty Day…It should not be a coincidence. Just thank you and goodbye,” Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner wrote on Twitter.

Who was Ebe Bonafini?

Ebe Bonafini lost her two sons in the dictatorial regime’s “Dirty War” (1970s and 1980s) against dissident activists, academics and politicians. Thirty thousand people were killed or disappeared then, according to estimates. Her two sons were never found and were presumed dead.

She became famous when, together with 13 other women, they started looking for their children who had been kidnapped by the security forces. Since their first gathering on April 30, 1977, the Mothers of Plata de Mayo have played an important role in the defense of human rights in Argentina.

However, some of Ebe Bonafini’s positions created controversy when she expressed her support for the 9/11 attacks in the US, when she said that Pope John Paul will burn in hell for his solidarity with the mothers of imprisoned members of the main organization ETA… In 2011 she was the subject of a fraud investigation, while her unwavering support for the Kirchner couple also caused controversy.

But more than 40 years after the first march, the Mothers of Plata de Mayo remain a powerful symbol of Argentina and continue to rally for justice.

“The government and people of Argentina recognize in her an international symbol in the search for memory, truth and justice for the 30,000 disappeared,” said a statement from the office of President Alberto Fernandez.

“As the founder of the Mothers of Plata de Mayo, she shed light on the dark night of the dictatorship”