Georgina Orellano was released: she had been detained following a meeting about the suspicious death of a trans woman
Georgina Orellano, a sex worker and general secretary of AMMAR, was arrested early this morning along with two colleagues, Estrella Sanmapiña and Victoria Arriondo. The story behind it: the suspicious death of a trans and migrant colleague, and a context of institutional violence against sex workers.
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[NEWS UPDATED at 2 PM]
Georgina Orellano, a sex worker and general secretary of AMMAR, was arrested early this morning along with two colleagues, Estrella Sanmapiña and Victoria Arriondo, by the Buenos Aires City Police from Precinct 1C. She and Victoria were released shortly after 1:30 p.m. Estrella will remain in custody in connection with another case. All three were held in custody by Malena Mercuriali of the East Flagrancy Unit at Police Station 1, located at 150 Suipacha Street, Buenos Aires City. They were assisted by various Public Defenders on duty in the judicial district.
Human rights organizations and feminist groups had been calling for her immediate release and denounced her arbitrary detention within a context of institutional violence.
According to Presentes' reconstruction of events, the arrest occurred in connection with another recent incident: the suspicious death of Rachell, a trans woman, migrant, and sex worker. Georgina was returning from an AMMAR assembly, where she and her colleagues mourned Rachell's death and demanded justice. "They were arrested for being at the Hotel Río de la Plata in Constitución, lighting candles, demanding answers and justice for Rachell, a trans woman and migrant who was murdered yesterday," AMMAR stated.
In reality, the women had already dispersed. “Georgina was opening her front door when she was intercepted and arrested by several officers in an operation involving at least five patrol cars. Victoria, the woman who was with her, was also arrested there. A few blocks away, in the same operation, Estrella was arrested and forced to undress in the street,” said Victoria Montenegro, who was among the first to arrive after the arrests.
From Police Station 1C in Entre Ríos and San Juan they were transferred to Suipacha 150, where the organizations called for people to attend to demand their release.
“The arrest occurred as part of a disproportionate operation involving six patrol cars from Police Station 1C, immediately after the workers intervened in the suspicious death of one of their colleagues,” the CTA reported.
The three women are accused of "aggravated damage and arson." This morning it was still unknown which prosecutor's office is handling the case. The accusation is related to a trash can that was set on fire.
Rachell's suspicious death
Two days ago, Rachell was at a hotel in Constitución when she suffered a health problem. The hotel called the police. Some say they saw her with her hands bound and that the officers dragged her through the hotel. They later stated that they tried to resuscitate her. The autopsy results are not yet available. This account is based on conversations with Victoria Montenegro.
The arrest comes amid a context of institutional violence. “The escalation of this violence and the utter dehumanization of this group and these individuals is deeply concerning. Furthermore, this violence, which is inherently unconstitutional, is being displayed openly. It attempts to instill fear as a means of subjugating society, and it is crucial to call for action against it,” Montenegro stated.
The increase in this violence and context of systematic harassment was also highlighted by the CTA Autónoma (Autonomous Workers' Central Union). They emphasized that it has been "reported by sex workers in Constitución, who point to daily police operations. According to the victims' accounts, these actions include theft of money, violent searches, and situations of extreme vulnerability, such as the case of Estrella, who was arrested a few blocks from Georgina's house and forced to undress in the street.".
Opening photo: Wikimedia commons. Ella Collaborative Coverage – https://www.flickr.com/photos/145674318@N05/45631214694
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