Last Argentine dictator jailed for 25 years

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Last Argentine dictator jailed for 25 years
Reuters
Tuesday, April 20, 2010; 6:19 PM

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The last leader of Argentina's 1976-83 dictatorship was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Tuesday for his involvement in the kidnapping, torture and murder of 56 people in a clandestine concentration camp.

Reynaldo Bignone, 82, was convicted along with six other former military and police officers for ordering beatings and electrocutions of dissidents of the military regime.

Dozens of relatives holding pictures of the dictatorship's victims cheered after a judge read out the ruling in a makeshift courtroom set up in a gymnasium.

"Justice was slow in coming but it has finally arrived," said Estela de Carlotto, head of the human rights group Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

More than 11,000 people died or disappeared during Argentina's "Dirty War," a systematic crackdown on leftists and other opponents of the military regime. Human rights groups say the number is closer to 30,000.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042004265.html

---

Published on Saturday, August 28, 2004 by the Guardian/UK
Kissinger Backed Dirty War Against Left in Argentina
Transcripts show former secretary of state urged violent crackdown on opposition

by Julian Borger in Washington and Uki Goni in Buenos Aires

Henry Kissinger gave Argentina's military junta the green light to suppress political opposition at the start of the "dirty war" in 1976, telling the country's foreign minister: "If there are things that have to be done, you should do them quickly," according to newly-declassified documents published yesterday.

State department documents show the former secretary of state urged Argentina to crush the opposition just months after it seized power and before the US Congress convened to consider sanctions.

"We won't cause you unnecessary difficulties. If you can finish before Congress gets back, the better," Mr Kissinger told Admiral Cesar Augusto Guzzetti, the foreign minister, according to the State Department's transcript.

Carlos Osorio, an analyst at the National Security Archive, a US pressure group which published the transcript, said it was likely to be seen by historians as "a smoking gun".

It is likely to be seized on by Mr Kissinger's critics who have been calling for him to face charges for abetting war crimes and human rights abuses in Cambodia, Chile and Argentina.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0828-02.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Argentina ex-dictator Gen Bignone jailed for 25 years

Page last updated at 23:02 GMT, Tuesday, 20 April 2010 00:02 UK
Argentina ex-dictator Gen Bignone jailed for 25 years

Argentina's former military ruler Reynaldo Bignone has been sentenced to 25 years for human rights abuses committed almost three decades ago.

Gen Bignone, 82, ordered abductions and torture while second in command of the country's largest torture centre between 1978 and 1979.

Relatives of victims held up photos of their loved ones and cheered at the end of the trial in Buenos Aires.

Six officials from the same era were also handed jail terms.

Gen Bignone, who served as de facto president between 1982-83, was found guilty of involvement in 56 cases of murder, torture and kidnappings.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8633823.stm

http://de.academic.ru.nyud.net:8090/pictures/dewiki/114/rbignone.jpg http://blstb.msn.com.nyud.net:8090/i/AC/AD9748E78E15B289FE3696F05358.jpg

http://www.tn.com.ar.nyud.net:8090/2009/11/02/thumb/juiciobignone.jpg

[RedCloud]

2. Almost 25 years too late for it to be really meaningful.

[Zynx]

3. I'm not going to complain in this case. There was a strong chance that justice would never be done.

[sabrina 1]

9. Yes, it's late, but better late than never. This shows that

war criminals can never rest easy. It also tells the world that torture and assassinations are NOT acceptable. With this country making torture and assassinations politically acceptable, it is good to see that in other parts of the world, once a country returns to the rule of law, those who engage in such practices can someday face charges for their crimes. I also think it helps the families of those who were the victims of those crimes.

Mostly it sends a message. It is symbolic of a desire in the world for respect for human life, something we have lost here. I'm sure our own torturers will get an uneasy feeling when they see that the world still rejects the inhumane treatment of other human beings, despite all their attempts to excuse it.

Reagan, Bush Sr., Kissenger, and their gang of war criminals got away with their crimes, especially in that part of the world. I'm sure they will go down in South and Central American history as the bad guys that they were, and this ruling helps to ensure that.

If they had been held accountable, if Clinton had not let them off the hook, they could not have returned to engage in the destruction of the lives of so many others. And we are letting them go again, because, we are told, we must look forward. But who knows what could happen ten or fifteen years for now? We too might return to the rule of law and hold our war criminals responsible.

[formercia]

4. The 'Dirty War' didn't happen in a vacuum.

During that period, the Argentines were well involved in Central America as well. I helped to train some of them.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Didnd't know about that. They are involved with the white separatists in Bolivia, now, same guys.

Central America. That is intensely interesting. I'll be thinking about that one from now on. It certainly opens a door I didn't know was there!

Thanks for the information.

[Flaneur]

6. Right. Helping the Contras.

The '70s and '80s were ugly times in Latin America. First the Southern Cone dictatorships, then the Central American wars. The US could always be counted on to side with the rightists.

[Louisiana1976]

7. With what we know about Kissinger's support of torture

and other atrocities in Argentina, Chile and elsewhere, why does he still garner so much respect?

[eppur_se_muova]

8. So when do we jail our last Dicktator?

[Liberation Angel]

11. we will jail them

one day

if Obama has the courage

I am hopeful Holder will one day soon reach conclusions that prosecutions are necessary but I would not expect this too soon for political expediency reasons.

But 25 years?

No

five maybe

maybe sooner

at least some perp walks
Please?

[unkachuck]

10. I'm now doing my happy-dance....

....I would do my full-blown, no holes barred, very-happy-happy dance if he was executed....

[librechik]

12. Bushies can be in their 80s and they can be caught. It happens.

Flipping on my "hope" button. Thank you , enlightened Argentina.

[Blue_Tires]

13. ttt