What breaking the silence’s sister Martha did after leaving Catamarca

Netflix’s shocking documentary Breaking the silence: The Maria Solidad case Recounts the 1990 brutal rape and murder of 17-year-old Maria Solidad in Catamarca, Argentina. Maria was a student at the Colegio del Carmen y San Jose in Catamarca. It was on September 9, 1990 that Maria disappeared from a school dance, and Her body was found two days later in a ditch outside the city. The main suspect in her murder was Guillermo Luque, a congressman’s son, but the city’s corruption is so pervasive that it took eight years to bring him to justice.

Catamarca was then ruled by mobsters, and their protected offspring dominated the city’s nightlife. It was a common practice that these rich and protected young men took refuge in poor girls whom they called “chinitas”. who threatened their families, they should not follow. Guillermo Luque was connected. He did not prepare for the student uprising that arose from Maria’s murder, their March of Silenceor the strength of character and purpose of Breaking the silence: The Maria Solidad case True hero, the school’s rector, Sister Martha Peloni.

Sister Martha was deeply affected by the reaction of people to the murder of Maria Soledad

Martha Pelloni joined the marches of silence

Born in 1943 in Buenos Aires to an army veteran, and Lieut CinemaholicMartha was a teenage rebel herself, with strong opinions that led her to take up the habit at the age of 24. She earned a degree in Philosophy, Letters and Educational Sciences from the University of Koyo In 1968, but it was in 1987, after a diagnosis of breast cancer, her life changed. After the operation, she rededicated herself to the service of others and found her way to the Colegio del Carmen in Catamarca, where she became rector.

After María Solidad’s murder, at first Sister Marta felt that it was too dangerous for the girls to go to the streets, but eventually convinced and then played a central role in their organization, Culminating in the Seventh March of Silence, which drew 30,000 people: “It took us two years of struggle and as many as 80 marches were held,she later said. She also bravely testified in court when many refused to do so in fear of their lives, and she spoke at the 1991 National March for Justice, which sparked the change in Catamarca that the marchers had Searched.

President Mendem personally intervened to move her from Catamarca

Sister Martha played a prominent role in local elections

The national march forced President Carlos Menem’s hand, and in April 1991 he intervened in Catamarca. Despite his close friendship with provincial governor Ramon Saudi, He removed the governor and announced a federal administration for the new elections in the province.. The elections proved crucial in the advancement of Maria Solidad’s case, although it would take several years to come to trial. Sad to say, Sister Martha was prominent in the campaign of progressive candidate Arnoldo Catilla, who triumphed over Saudi in the subsequent vote.

Shortly after, Sister Martha Pelloni received word that she had moved from Catamarca to Corrientes. She became too recognized and outspoken in Maria Solidad’s matter, and the strong suspicion was that Menem was instrumental in orchestrating her removal. In the following years, Sister Martha returned to Catamarca and gave her evidence, again in the face of threats and intimidation. Trials of Guillermo Luque and Luis Tula, Maria’s boyfriend who played a key role in her death. Both were found guilty and imprisoned – Luke for 27 years, and Tula for nine years.

Sister Martha founded the Network for Stolen Children

In her eighties, Sister Martha is still active

Once in Corrientes, Sister Martha’s work simply accelerated – businessinsider.com Reports that in the city of Goia she became principal of Santa Teresa de Jesus School, run by the Teresian Carmelite missionary sisters, and in 2009 she founded the network for stolen children. The non-profit has grown to more than 35 centers across Argentina, offering a safe space for families and children of abuse. Each center handles between 30 and 50 cases each year. To this day, and at the age of 83, Sister Martha holds community meetings on the 11th of every month to celebrate Mass and discuss injustice.

Now living in Santos Lugares in Buenos Aires province, she is also the creator of the Santa Teresa Foundation, helping and training agricultural workers. Over 1000 km and 35 years away from Catamarca, Where Sister Martha began her stubborn resistance to violence against womenShe is still in the forefront for several reasons Global Sisters Report. in Breaking the silence: The Maria Solidad case, Her quiet determination to see justice done is inspiring and uplifting.

Source: Global Sisters Report, Cinemaholic, businessinsider.com