A young transgender man from Peru, a student at the Harvard Kennedy School, died on August 11 in the custody of the Denpasar police in Indonesia, after being arrested and allegedly mistreated along with his husband, according to family and human rights organizations.
Rodrigo Ventocilla, 32, died after suffering acts of
"transphobia and racial discrimination"
, as his loved ones claim on social networks.
He was a recognized activist of the trans community in his country: he created an organization called Diversidades Trans Masculinas and was doing a postgraduate degree in Public Administration in the United States.
Ventocilla traveled to Bali to celebrate his honeymoon and on August 6, upon arrival at the Denpasar airport, the authorities arrested him for drug trafficking for the medicines he had in his possession and that he was consuming as part of a mental health treatment. .
All had a prescription, according to a statement from the family published this week.
Her husband Sebastián, who arrived on another flight, was also arrested after he tried to help Rodrigo.
This is also denounced by the publication of the relatives in which they affirm that the police of that country demanded up to 100,000 dollars for each one to release them.
"During that afternoon both were victims of police violence, their vital human rights such as health, freedom
, access to legal defense, information and non-discrimination were violated in multiple ways," the statement said.
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After not hearing from them, on August 9 the Indonesian authorities informed their relatives in Peru that both had decompensated and had to be transferred to the hospital.
Ventocilla was hospitalized with stomach pain and vomiting according to an Indonesian media quoted by The Harvard Crimson newspaper, then had to be transferred to another hospital where his condition worsened and he died on August 11.
"At all times the Indonesian police hindered access to the hospital
both to the lawyers hired by the family, and to the Harvard students who assisted them," the family said.
Request an independent autopsy
In response to the questions, Stefanus Satake Bayu Setiano, a spokesman for the Indonesian police, assured the Indonesian media that Rodrigo died after consuming unseized drugs during his arrest on August 8.
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His family stated that until now they do not know the cause of death and that the authorities "have prevented an independent autopsy."
"Even after Rodrigo's death, and without having any complaint or charge against him,
Sebastián remained guarded and detained by the police in the hospital,"
the statement said.
He was able to return to Peru on August 17.
From her Twitter, the Minister of Development and Social Inclusion of Peru, Diana Boluarte, stated that "a deep investigation is required" into the death of the young man in police custody.
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Human rights organizations asked the Peruvian consulate in Indonesia to assume "responsibility" for the alleged omissions and asked to investigate the head of the Peruvian consular section, Julio Eduardo Tenorio Pereyra.
They also demanded reports from the Indonesian police about his actions during the arrests.
"Nothing will return Rodrigo or Sebastian's integrity, however, our demand for justice and truth also pursues the objective of improving the quality of assistance service to nationals abroad without preferences of class, gender, ethnicity. or others,” their loved ones wrote.