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Former Argentine President Jailed for Crimes Against Humanity

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Former Argentine President Jailed for Crimes Against Humanity FORMER ARGENTINE PRESIDENT JAILED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY Reynaldo Bignone served as de facto president of Argentina in 1982 and 1983 21 April 2010 Amnesty International has welcomed the prison sentence handed to a former Argentine president responsible for crimes against humanity in the 1970s. Reynaldo Bignone, a former military general, was found guilty of torture, murder and several kidnappings that occurred while he was commander of the notorious Campo de Mayo detention centre between 1976 and 1978. The 82-year-old, who was appointed de facto president of Argentina by the military junta in 1982, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail. Five other military officers were also given long jail sentences by a court in Buenos Aires province on Wednesday. "This judgement represents another important step in the fight against impunity that has, until recently, been enjoyed by the leaders of Argentina's military regime - now infamous for their role in human rights abuses,” said Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty International's Americas Deputy Director. Hundreds of people, including relatives of the victims, testified at the trial, which started in November 2009. Former military officers Santiago Omar Riveros and Fernando Exequiel Verplaetsen were also sentenced to 25 years in prison, while three others were sentenced to between 17 and 20- years for human rights violations. A former police officer was acquitted. Campo de Mayo was one of the largest clandestine camps in operation under Argentina's military regime (1976 to 1983). It is estimated that 5,000 prisoners were held in the camp. "Victims of torture and enforced disappearance in Campo de Mayo have waited too long for justice. These sentences send an important message to Argentina and other countries that human rights violations will not go unpunished," said Guadalupe Marengo. Bignone was the last of four de facto military presidents in Argentina during the last military regime, ruling in 1982 and 1983. He is known for granting amnesty to human rights perpetrators and for ordering the destruction of documents about the torture and enforced disappearances of political opponents. During Argentina’s military government thousands of people were forcibly disappeared, unlawfully executed and tortured. The amnesty laws in Argentina that had protected the security forces from prosecution were declared null and void in June 2005. The laws were introduced by the government of President Raúl Alfonsín in 1986-87. Subsequently, the government of President Carlos Menem granted a presidential pardon to members of the military forces implicated in human rights violations. At the end of 2009, more than 600 hundred people were facing criminal proceedings for human rights violations in Argentina. Trials have resulted in more than 60 convictions so far. "Argentina is continuing to take steps in the right direction to end impunity for past human rights violations, despite difficulties and setbacks. The justice process must continue without delay and with the necessary resources to ensure that impunity is brought to an end," said Guadalupe Marengo GENERAL DURING ARGENTINA'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON 14 August 2009 A former general who ran a detention centre during Argentina's military dictatorship has been sentenced to life in prison for human rights violations. Santiago Omar Riveros was commander of the notorious Campo de Mayo prison near Buenos Aires where an estimated 5,000 prisoners were held during the 1976-83 dictatorship. Santiago Omar Riveros was found guilty on Thursday of torturing and beating to death Floreal Avellaneda, a 15 year old boy, and of abducting his mother Iris. The two were abducted one month after the 1976 military coup, in order to find out the whereabouts of Floreal Avellaneda's father, a Communist Party Union leader of the same name. Iris was released after nearly three years of detention and torture; her son's body was found washed up on the Uruguayan coast, bound by the hands and feet, and with signs of beating. "This sentence is an important achievement in the fight for justice for the victims of Argentina's 'dirty war' and the struggle against impunity enjoyed by so many of the perpetrators," said Javier Zuniga, Amnesty International's special adviser. The teenager's father said he was satisfied with the verdict, but called for Santiago Omar Riveros to receive no clemency. "The sentence must be served in a common prison. Even if he dies in prison, he will never suffer what we suffered," he said. The former general, who is now 86, is accused of more than 40 crimes against humanity involving victims of the era's so-called "disappeared". During the years of military rule, headed by General Leopoldo Galtieri, around 30,000 people vanished at the hands of the security forces and are still unaccounted for. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WELCOMES LIFE SENTENCES FOR ARGENTINEAN MILITARY OFFICERS 29 August 2008 Two officers during Argentina's oppressive military regime were given life sentences for the kidnapping, torture and disappearance of former senator Guillermo Vargas Aignasse in April 1976. Amnesty International said the sentences against former military general Luciano Benjamín Menéndez and his subordinate Antonio Bussi are further testimony that crimes such as torture and disappearances have no place in today’s world. “The sentences against Bussi and Menéndez are proof of the steps Argentina is taking to deal with its past,” said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International. Amnesty International also called on the Argentinean authorities to take more effective action to protect witnesses and allocate all necessary resources to the investigation of the disappearance of Jorge Julio López – who has been missing since 17 September 2006, after he acted as a witness in a separate trial of the former Director of Investigations of the Buenos Aires Province Police, Miguel Etchecolatz. Background Information During Argentina’s military government (1976 to 1983) thousands of people were “disappeared”, extrajudicially executed and tortured. More than 9,000 people are officially listed as having disappeared during the military's systematic crackdown on leftist opponents; however, human rights groups have estimated the number of victims to be 30,000. The amnesty laws in Argentina which had protected the security forces from prosecution were declared null and void in June 2005. Luciano Benjamin Menéndez (81) was the commander of the regional Third Army Corps in Córdoba and controlled one of the regime's most notorious torture centres. Antonio Bussi (82) led military operations in Tucumán and eventually governed the province after the 1976 military coup. Córdoba and Tucumán were among the most affected areas by human rights violations during the military regime. Menéndez, six other former military officials and one civilian were also convicted in July 2008 for the kidnapping, torture and extrajudicial executions of four people in 1977. .
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