During the horrific military dictatorship that ruled Argentina in the 1970s and 1980s, 19 former military officers were found guilty of crimes against humanity, including the kidnapping of auto factory workers, and were given prison sentences on Wednesday.
Following that South American nation’s decades-long, bloody internal conflict, the most recent trials in Argentina come after last week’s truth commission report from Colombia. Pent-up demands for justice eventually result in some victories.
The penalties imposed by the federal court in the nation’s capital, Buenos Aires, include convictions for crimes against 350 victims perpetrated under the military administration that ruled the nation from 1976 to 1983, including forced disappearances, killings, torture, and kidnapping of children.
Human rights organizations estimate that the dictatorship left up to 30,000 people missing, however exact numbers are still up for contention.
One of those sentenced was former general Santiago Riveros, who had already been found guilty of violating human rights in prior trials. According to Wednesday’s verdict, he was held responsible for more than a hundred crimes, including kidnapping, rape, and murder, and was sentenced to a life term in prison.
Convictions were also rendered for allegations that seven employees were abducted at a Mercedes Benz facility in the suburbs of Buenos Aires starting in 1976 by military personnel with the support of corporate officials.
Executives allegedly complained to military authorities that the employees who had been abducted either belonged to unions or tried to organize workers.
Six of the workers were brought to the notorious Campo de Mayo military installation, a clandestine location that served as a concentration camp; all are currently believed to be dead.
Campo de Mayo, a detention facility outside of Buenos Aires, is believed to have housed close to 6,000 prisoners, many of whom are now considered missing.
