Argentina: Controversy Over Potential Videla Burial Site

Officials of the Argentine city of Mercedes are none too pleased that their neighborhood will reportedly be chosen as the burial site for former “Dirty War”-era dictator Jorge Videla.

“He must have been the most nefarious person this country has ever had and it’s a weight that the people of Mercedes must carry,” said Marcelo Melo, the city’s human rights government representative.

Despite his “repudiation” of burying the infamous ex-strongman in Mercedes, Melo noted “we cannot prevent his family from bringing his remains to privately-owned burial plots.”

Some residents of the city where Videla was born and raised are upset over the burial plans announced by the late ruler’s lawyer.

“We had to put up with many hardship during the dictatorship.  I don’t want him in my city,” said Aida Ibaldi according to infobae.com.

“Videla’s family has his body, which was not tortured or abused, and they can bury him when and where they want,” said Juan Ignacio Ustarroz, the nephew of one of the tens of thousands of Argentines who “disappeared” during Videla’s five years in power.

In anticipation of the burial, nineteen social and political organizations will hold a protest against Videla on Wednesday night.  The demonstrators are expected to gather outside of the cemetery in Mercedes where posters of some of the local political activists killed under the Videla military regime have been placed.

The 87-year-old passed away in a civilian prison on Friday where he was serving a fifty-year sentence for the illegal kidnapping of dozens of babies from political prisoners.   Videla had also been serving a life sentence since 2010 for the deaths of thirty-one dissidents during his de facto presidency.

Videla’s death comes as proceedings began in a trial over Plan Condor, a secret intelligence operation by South American dictators to kidnap and murder their opponents. Videla was one of the most senior former officials indicted by prosecutors and he neglected to provide testimony to the case.  Nevertheless, prosecutors hope there is some evidence they can use that Videla has not taken to his grave:

Ex-Argentine Dictators Sentenced Over Illegal Adoptions

In a historic decision an Argentine court sentenced former dictators Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone for the kidnapping and illegal adoptions of thirty-five children during the “Dirty War” era.

Videla, who has already been sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity, received the punishment of an additional fifty years behind bars. Bignone, who is also serving a lengthy prison sentences for human rights crimes in the early 1980s, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Videla claimed during testimony last week that the accusations against him were “erroneous” and that the mothers kidnapped by security forces were “active militants in the machinery of terrorism”. Nevertheless, the court agreed with prosecutor Martín Niklison’s arguments alleging that Videla and Bignone knowingly executed a “systematic plan” to rob babies between 1976 and 1983.

Video of the Day: From gaucho pants to a "presidenta"?

Last night's The Colbert Report touched briefly on the election of Cristina Kirchner on Sunday as Argentina's first female elected president. Colbert did not drag out his Latino alter ego "Esteban Colberto" for the segment though he naturally expressed worry over the Kirchner-Clinton similarities.

Did I mention that "Dirty War" ex-dictator Jorge Videla may have been a hermaphrodite according to Colbert?

(Video link):

“Dirty War” leaders face justice

Last night’s march by The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (image) was a fitting end to the week where three former leaders during Argentina’s “Dirty War” period suffered legal setbacks.

On Wednesday a federal court overturned the pardons to ex-president Jorge Rafael Videla and naval chief Eduardo Massera, which would force them to serve previous life sentences for human rights violations. Though the decision was largely symbolic since Videla and Massera are currently under house arrest for other crimes, human rights activists and families of “Dirty War” victims were pleased with the court’s ruling:

“‘This restores the route to justice and democracy,’ said Andrea Pochak of the Centre for Legal and Social Studies, a human rights group that has followed dirty war cases. ‘It is a gesture of vital importance for the future.’”

In addition, former president Reynaldo Bignone will go on trial with six others after being accused of kidnapping babies of people killed and “disappeared” in the early 1980s. Thousands of Argentines grew up with foster parents after being forcefully separated from their parents who were politically persecuted. The issue remains a sensible one and has even been portrayed in a popular Argentine telenovela.

Links- Reuters, Sydney Morning Herald, BBC News, The Latin Americanist

Image- BBC News