Following the death of Hebe de Bonafini, the Government of Argentina decreed three days of national mourning and "pays tribute to Hebe, her memory and her struggle that will always be present as a guide in difficult times."  

Buenos Aires, November 20 (RHC)-- Following the death of Hebe de Bonafini, the Government of Argentina decreed three days of national mourning and "pays tribute to Hebe, her memory and her struggle that will always be present as a guide in difficult times."  President Alberto Fernández said the mourning period was in homage to "a tireless fighter for human rights" who "put light in the midst of the dark night of the military dictatorship."

"The Government and the Argentinean people recognize in her an international symbol of the search for memory, truth and justice for the 30,000 disappeared," the president said.  "As founder of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo she put light in the middle of the dark night of the military dictatorship and sowed the way for the recovery of democracy forty years ago." 

For its part, Hebe de Bonafini's family asked for "privacy" to "mourn" on this day for her death, which took place this Sunday, in a statement released hours after the death.  The text, signed by her daughter Alejandra, recognizes that the family is aware of the "love of the people for Hebe," but requests "privacy" for this day and adds that this Monday they will inform about "which will be the spaces for the tributes and remembrances."

"These are very difficult moments of deep sadness and we understand the love of the people for Hebe, but at this moment as a family we have the need to mourn the Mother of Plaza de Mayo, Hebe, in privacy, so we will inform as of tomorrow (Monday) what will be the spaces for the tributes and memorials," the statement said.

According to the text, Hebe de Bonafini passed away at 9:20 a.m. (12:20 GMT) this Sunday after several "days of hospitalization at the Italian Hospital" in La Plata, capital of the province of Buenos Aires, during which she received "demonstrations of love, accompaniment and concern", just as "throughout her militant career."

The family took advantage of the text to thank the health personnel of the center for assisting the human rights activist "with much love and respect."  "We will continue to find Hebe in the Plaza and in the struggles of the people!"