Human Rights victory in Argentina

Former Argentine dictator Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri was arrested today as responsible for the fate of 18 activists at the beginning of the eighties. Courts decision involves another 41 former army officials and retired policemen.

In 1983, a Human Rights organization together with families of the victims, demanded Galtieri for his liability in the kidnapping and body “missing” of persons. Among the claimants are sons of remarkable personalities of Argentina culture.

Some of them were kidnapped in border countries as Brazil and Uruguay as part of the “Condor Plan” masterminded by the CIA to eradicate the “advance of communism” in Latin America during the seventies. In turn, Army Press Department expressed in a short statement that the force would obey Judge sentence and will cooperate to comply with justice requirements.

The Former Army Commander was President of Argentina during the Falkland or Malvinas war against England, and had been previously jailed by the Armed Forces for “lack of skills” during the war. In 1989, constitutional President Carlos Menem exonerated him.

Galtieri, now 76 years old, had been declared non guilty for violation of human rights by the courts, during the trial to the “Juntas” in 1984. This is the main reason why he can be sentenced now, because the other army officials exonerated by Menem cannot be sued again for the same cause.

Photo: Galtieri with the Pope Juan Pablo II during the Falklands War in 1982.

Hernan Etchaleco PRAVDA.RU Argentina

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