Hate crime in Bali: Rodrigo Ventosilla's family denounced the authorities for torture
Peruvian trans activist and economist Rodrigo Ventosilla died in Bali under unknown circumstances after police tortured him and his husband Sebastián Marallano.
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The family of Peruvian economist and trans activist Rodrigo Ventosilla, who died in Bali on August 11 , denounced the authorities for the crime of torture.
“From the defense of Rodrigo Ventosilla and Sebastián Marallano, we have filed a complaint for the crime of torture. It is against all Indonesian and Peruvian officials who participated in the attacks on the physical integrity and human rights of both men,” said Julio Arbizú, the families' lawyer, at a press conference.
The lawyer is referring to the events of the week of August 6-11 when a honeymoon trip for a trans male couple turned into a nightmare .
“In the complaint we filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Peruvian consul in Bali, Julio Tenorio, is charged with the crime of commission by omission. It must be understood that the Peruvian State, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has an obligation to ensure the physical integrity and lives of our citizens. This is fundamental. Anyone who shirks this obligation is committing a crime, as in this case,” the lawyer added.
The family is still waiting for Rodrigo's body to be released so that the Peruvian Institute of Legal Medicine can conduct the necessary forensic examination. They are trying to determine the cause of his death in a hospital, as this aspect remains unclear.
Chronology of the violence
Upon arriving in the Asian country on August 6, Rodrigo Ventosilla was arrested by police at Denpasar airport. He was accused of drug trafficking for possessing medication related to his mental health treatment. He had a prescription for the medication. Sebastián Marallano, his new husband, arrived on a different flight and was also arrested when he tried to help his wife.
The relatives claim that to release them, the Indonesian police first asked for $13,000 and then $100,000.
On August 7, the family contacted the Peruvian consul, Julio Tenorio, and informed him about the couple's situation. However, according to them, the consul showed no concern for the case and did not visit them.
The Peruvian trans community appealed for support to raise funds to bring Sebastián back and repatriate Rodrigo's body. Rodrigo was one of the founders of the organization Diversidades Trans Masculinas (DTM) . The appeal for help spread rapidly through social media amidst confusion and a lack of information about the case. Meanwhile, activists, along with Sebastián's sister, began making arrangements for her to travel to Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo's family also traveled to Indonesia to try to clarify the events that led to his death and to begin the process of repatriating his body. This situation was complicated by the inefficient work of the Peruvian authorities in that country.
The role of the Peruvian Foreign Ministry
Ignoring phone calls and communications through his personal WhatsApp, Julio Tenorio decided to go to the place only one day after Rodrigo Ventosilla's death.
“It must be emphasized that Mr. Julio Tenorio, knowing what his duties were towards his fellow citizens, waited until August 12th to assist Rodrigo and Sebastián,” stated Luzmo Enriquez, official spokesperson for the family's support team.
On August 24, the Peruvian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the case via its official Twitter account, downplaying the complaints of Peruvian citizens. They neither mentioned nor implied that they sided with the Indonesian government.
Following the statement, the family rejected the Foreign Ministry's denial that transphobia had occurred. They believe it revictimizes Sebastian and invalidates his testimony, which they also find biased, insufficient, and lacking in empathy.
Two days later, on August 26, due to the criticism received, the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement changing the tone of its position.
Sebas and Rodrigo
Sebas and Rodrigo's love story culminated in marriage on May 31st in Chile. They chose to marry there because same-sex couples cannot marry in Peru.
“It’s crazy how social rituals operate. Beyond the criticism of marriage’s function as a patriarchal figure and enforcer of compulsory heteronormativity, and all that ‘woke’ stuff, for trans people like me or my sweetheart, it’s a representation of our commitments to ourselves. It’s a pact of self-giving and the opportunity to share this love with our loved ones and the world. Marrying this little darling, putting on a ring that tells us we have each other feels like a burst of security and deservingness that we don’t always have; it’s very beautiful,” Sebastián said on his wedding day.
It is because of Rodrigo's character—his humor and affectionate nature, but also his resilience and fighting spirit—that transgender groups have taken to the streets to demand justice. In addition to being a renowned activist, Rodrigo was an economist and was pursuing postgraduate studies at Harvard University .
Calls for justice
On August 26, a sit-in was held in front of the Foreign Ministry building in downtown Lima, and on Sunday the 28th, a vigil was held in front of the Indonesian embassy in the district of San Isidro.
Continuing with the demonstrations on the case, trans rights advocates, friends and family are calling for a new sit-in in Rodrigo's name, demanding that upon the arrival of his body, an autopsy be performed as quickly as possible.
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