The tragic death of a photojournalist — being treated as murder — is now having its motives called into question as her camera and laptop are still missing coincidentally close to an anti-government protest she photographed.
The body of Albertina Martínez Burgos, a Chilean photojournalist, was found on November 21st in the capital of Chile, Santiago. This discovery was made just two days after she had been seen at a nearby protest between police and anti-government protestors which is said to have turned violent. What's worse, is "the pictures she took that day have vanished," her sister points out. Not only that, but the bag with her camera and laptop are also missing.
The above Tweet is one of many calling for justice for Martínez and that an inquest be conducted. The Guardian reports that sources close to the investigation are treating the death as a robbery with homicide, but the specific nature of the items taken and the timing of the tragedy have called the motives further in to question. UNESCO Director-General, Audre Azoulay, has joined the call to action for Chilean authorities to thoroughly investigate this with the safety of journalists being a core value for them.
A horrendous loss of life and one with potentially severe knock-on effects should it be successfully linked with Martínez's photography of the Chilean protests in Santiago.
These are perilous times for being a purveyor of information that's damaging to power.
There is one recent movie about a remote settlement in the country that comes to mind...
Fascism is on the rise around the world, fueled by the stock market.