Thread by @teaandreverie

I am not okay tonight.

*TW: kidnap/murder*

Last Friday, Andrea Bharatt, a young 23 year old woman was on her way home from work at the magistrate's court, in Trinidad. 1/

She and her co-worker took a taxi home, her co worker was dropped off and she was kidnapped. When her father called her phone, a man picked up and threatened to cut her ears off if he did not receive a ransom. 2/

The country went into a hyper vigilant mode searching for her everywhere with a $50K TT reward. A prominent business owner offered $400K for her safe return. 3/

Today her body was found. Dead, decomposing and face unrecognizable. She was identified by whatever clothes remained on her, which was her underwear before she was killed and flung down a precipice. 4/

They killed her.

For no good reason. For being a woman. For having to need public transport to go home. For wanted to act on their urges and not able to live with the shame. 5/

Tonight my heart is breaking. For someone I have never met, for someone who deserved life, to live out her twenties into an entire lifetime of happiness and experiences. For parents who had to see this nightmare unfold. 6/

I left Trinidad because I never felt safe.

It is the 12th most dangerous country in the world. We have a population of 1.4 million, yet #Femicide and domestic violence are rampant.

In 2018: 3.4 gender based deaths/ 100,000.
In 2019: 20 gender based deaths. 7/

(Data: ECLAC)

These statistics are not news to anyone. We have long been fighting it. See NGO's like @feminitt

Just a year ago, there was a huge movement to raise awareness. 8/

google.com/amp/s/globalvo…

So after all of this- What is the government going to do to keep our women safe? So they can use public transport in *broad daylight* and not have to stay on the phone with someone/ fear for their lives/ be beaten and killed? 9/

My question is how many more? How many lives of women have to be sacrificed only to be victim blamed and excuses made for these men suffering from #toxicmasculinity? Look at this newspaper headline. Tell me what is wrong here- 10/

Who is next? My sister? My cousin? My niece?

I am angry tonight. I am helpless.

Women sacrificed their lives, their education, their rights, their jobs during the pandemic. Men are excused, given opportunities, are given positions of power to control OUR bodies & lives. 11/

We are tired. We are scared & sick of this. Please don't let Andrea's death be in vain. Say her name, say all of their names over & over.

And parents, teach your boys. Teach them respect for all, to express their emotions, control their urges & to fight for women's rights. 12/

This is a matter of life and death.

Fin.

AN UPDATE

Out of 7 suspects who kidnapped #AndreaBharatt, two are now dead. The main killer was walking around with 70 police charges of kidnapping and rape. 45 of them were pending because the police never made it to the hearing and he was OUT ON BAIL.

Our country has been protesting against ALL the women brutally raped, kidnapped and murdered while men perpetrators are let off on bail. Today is DAY 6 of country wide protests in memory of ALL women who are facing this gender based violence every single day.

The governement told us that her autopsy was inconclusive, that her body was too decomposed to deduce a cause of death. Private citizens paid for a 2nd autopsy & found that she was violently hit by a blunt object on her head, fell back, shattered her skull dying from hemmorhage

The government has not condemed the actions or tried to guide the population. Many women are coming forward and speaking out of their abuse, and naming their abusers. We want action and change!

As an amendment: I have no political allegiance. My previous tweet re: "the government" was a blanket phrase, referring to the police services, who released the 1st autopsy information. Not the Prime Minister or members of his cabinet.

I will say that the opposition is not doing much about it either. A Facebook post is just not enough.

Today's updates on the #AndreaBharatt murder protests in #Trinidad:
1. Two more suspects have been held, including a 24 y.o man & his common law wife.

2. Tomorrow is her funeral, many businesses in Trinidad are closing to honor her and focus on spreading awareness for justice.

3. News reports give a story on how easy it is to create fake taxi license plates for $200 TTD (one was used to pick up Andrea on her way home)

4. former AG blocks a bill which was introduced to stop granting bail to murderers.

5. Nationwide peaceful protests and rallies continue while the use of pepper spray is the new issue being debated by officials.

#Stopthesilence #TrinidadProtests #JusticforAndrea #ProtectWomenInTT

I am unsure of who to credit for above photos but if you do know the source please let me know!

Tonight country wide vigils continue. pictures are Barataria, Trinidad #AndreaBharattMurder

The above photos were largely in tribute to #AshantiRiley (18 y.o) who was brutally stabbed last December & thrown off a cliff. She was 1 of 47 deaths of women & girls in #Trinidad in 2020. Another stark statistic is that 416 women & girls went missing last year among 745 people