In Memoriam: Patricio Rice
Eind vorige week bereikte ons het nieuws van het plotselinge overlijden van Patricio Rice, bekende mensenrechtenverdediger uit Argentinie. We vinden het moeilijk te geloven, omdat we hem een paar dagen geleden nog zagen, vol leven en energie. Zijn laatste weken stonden volledig ten dienste van de strijd voor mensenrechten en tegen marteling en gedwongen verdwijningen.
Ewoud Plate van Aim for human rights brengt ons gevoel onder woorden:
On June 13th Patricio travelled to The Netherlands to spend three days in our office to take charge of the administration of the International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), alter which he flew back to Argentina with a suitcase full of materials for relatives of disappeared persons. One week later he was participating in an encounter on torture in The United States, to land once more in Europe to attend, on our invitation, some reflection workshops about new challenges to the struggle against enforced disappearances. On the evening of the last day of these workshops we find Patricio meeting with relatives of disappeared persons based in Geneva and informing about the campaign.
And in the messages that now come in (from Nepal, South Africa, Italy, Lebanon, Germany, Kashmir, .., from everywhere) one can notice ho many links he forged, and how many people he inspired. I also read that Patricio took advantage of each step on his way back to Argentina to campaign for the ratification of the Convention on Protection from Enforced Disappearances.
I had asked him: “Patricio, crossing the Atlantic twice in Three weeks is that not too much?”. ‘Yes, it’s madness, but there is no other solution”.
This is how we will remember him: tireless on his personal crusade to defend human rights and exchange with other defenders and relatives (he himself preferred the term “survivors”). Patricio became the main linking pin between activists from various continents engaged in the struggle against enforced disappearances. Playing this role, Patricio contributed to most of the activities of the Programme Linking Solidarity from its very beginning, bringing in his knowledge and experience, but also his sense of humour and the generosity of his character.
It is incredible that it was a heart attack that stopped you on your most epic life. Your heart was so big, that in the end it failed on you.
Adiós Patricio. We will continue your struggle, following your example.
Utrecht, 9 July 2010
Ewoud Plate and colleagues from Linking Solidarity and Aim for human rights
