MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UN requests to know why Argentine social leader Milagro Sala remains in jail

Charges were filed against Sala in January for instigation of ''crimes and sedition'', after staging a sit-in against Jujuy Governor Gerardo Morales, an ally of Macri.

United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention wants Argentine President Mauricio Macri to explain why social leader Milagro Sala has been in jail for almost two months. The request comes two weeks after the UN Group accepted a filing submitted by the Centre of Legal and Social Studies (CELS), Amnesty International and Andhes, a group of lawyers from the northern area of the country.

 “Now the government needs to answer to the UN Working Group why the Túpac Amaru leader is in custody,” stated CELS in a press release.

In its brief, the human rights group explained that charges had been filed against Sala in January for the instigation of crimes and sedition, after staging a sit-in against Jujuy Governor Gerardo Morales, an ally of Macri.

Sala was arrested on January 16. Although, on January, Judge Gastón Mercau considered that Sala should be released for staging a protest, the magistrate on the same day said that the Kirchnerite Parlasur lawmaker should remain behind bars after accepting new charges against her for allegedly committing fraud in a housing program and with the distribution of federal funds for the needy.

Human Rights Secretary Claudio Avruj stated yesterday that they had sent representatives to Jujuy province in order to confirm that Sala’s constitutional guarantees are being respected.

Days ago, human rights groups demanded Macri to put an end to the campaign against Sala during a meeting they held at the Olivos presidential residence.

The grass roots leader Sala sent a letter to Pope Francis requesting his intervention in the dispute, but the Vatican never replied the letter and the Argentine pope sent her a rosary, which was interpreted as a (controversial)signal of support.