Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

Argentine torturers lose immunity

category international | miscellaneous | news report author Wednesday August 13, 2003 18:27author by Joe Take

The Amnesty issued in 1983 to protect the perpetrators of the dirty war of 1976-83 opens up the prospect of hundreds of torturers and murders finally facing charges.

The Argentine Congress has scrapped the controversial amnesty laws passed in 1983 to protect the State torturers and murderers of the Argentine Military Junta’s dirty war. The amnesty was a running sore in Argentine Society, poisoning national politics, as veteran torturers bragged about their careers in the fight against communism. Argentina did experience a limited campaign of Communist insurgency, which was used by the Junta to attack progressive elements of Argentine society. 20-30,000 men, women and children were abducted, tortured and or murdered as “leftists” often singled out where their work (doctors, priests, “intellectuals”) made them suspect .

It should beggar belief that the scum of Argentina have been untouchable for 20 years, but having enjoyed US approval during the period 1976-83, it is not difficult to guess why it was so hard to finally put an end to the obscenity. It well known that many veterans of the dirty war found refuge in the land of the free. Many are doubtless making travel arrangements as we speak.

Related Link: http://www.yendor.com/vanished/

Comments (4 of 4)

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Let's hope
author by kokomeropublication date Wed Aug 13, 2003 19:48author address author phone

that Pinochet and his crew are next! It's payback time.

the Cold War was a dirty war
author by Seáinínpublication date Wed Aug 13, 2003 21:00author address author phone

but still, all's well that ends well. The good guys won and the world is now reaping the benefits.

Good Guys won?
author by Jo Takepublication date Thu Aug 14, 2003 11:48author address author phone

What benefits? "Freedom?", Democracy?". If you think anybody "won" you are including these torturers with the winners and by implication the "losers" were the victims of their foul atrocities. Your disgusting comment insults the memory of these victims and your need to show misplaced arrogance. Shame on you for your offensive puerile drum beating and facile analogies.

Do we inhabit the same planet?
author by kokomeropublication date Thu Aug 14, 2003 13:47author address author phone

Last time I looked Seanin, Argentina was an economic basket case where barter is now the predominant means for what little commerce continues.

This degeneration into farce was presided over by a string of autocratic right-wing governments and the IMF.

Worse still the ruling oligarchy took what all of the real money (ordinary citizens money) was left in the banks out of the country in a convoy of trucks and planes before the banking system collapsed.

This amnesty is a metaphorical bone which is being thrown to the masses to deflect from the disasterous situation they are in.

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