by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Alfredo Astiz was convicted last Wednesday, along with 15 other men, for crimes against humanity committed during Argentina’s 1976-1983 dictatorship.  Astiz, who was nicknamed the “Angel of Death” for his innocent good looks, was a symbol of the brutality experienced during the dictatorship.

Other officers convicted with Astiz were Jorge Acosta “The Tiger,” Antonio Pernias and Ricardo Cavallo.  Twelve men, including Astiz, Acosta, Pernias and Cavallo were sentenced to life in prison.  Four others were sentenced to 18-25 years in prison.  The 22 month trial has been applauded by human rights activists as a huge step towards justice and truth in what has been termed Argentina’s “Dirty War”.

During the trial 79 survivors of the Naval Mechanics School, known as ESMA, testified.  ESMA was one of Argentina’s primary torture and killing centers during the 6 year military dictatorship.  Argentinian men and women were kidnapped, brought to the center, detained, tortured and killed.  It is estimated that of the 5,000 people kidnapped and brought to ESMA, only 200 survived.

Astiz was a young naval officer for ESMA who posed as an innocent civilian desperately searching for his brother who had disappeared.  He was able to infiltrate the group the Mothers of Plaza de Mayor in this way.  Three founding members of the group, Azucena Villaflor, Esther Ballestrino and Maria Ponce were all kidnapped and killed by Astiz.

He is responsible for the killings of two French nuns in 1977, Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet.  He was convicted in 1990 in absentia by French courts for these two murders.  Other European nations requested his extradition over the years including Spain, Sweden and Italy.  As well, he has been charged with the disappearance of Rudolfo Walsh, an investigative journalist and guerilla fighter during the war.

Most of the victims from ESMA were never found.  The junta soldiers often utilized firing squads.  Another method commonly used was the practice of drugging people, loading them onto planes and then dropping them, still alive, into the Atlantic Ocean.  Human rights organizations estimate that 30,000 people were killed in all of Argentina during the short 6 year period of the dictatorship.

In 1983, when the dictatorship finally fell, many junta officials were arrested, but in 1987 an Amnesty Law was passed.  This law permitted many of those who had committed grievous crimes against humanity to escape prosecution.  Astiz was one of those who benefited from this law.  He tried to live a normal life but was often harassed in the streets by those who recognized him for his crimes.

In 2005 the Argentinian Supreme Court revoked the Amnesty Law at the urging of then-President Kirchner and paved the way to Astiz’s recent conviction.  Kirchner’s wife, the current President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez has also supported the trial and conviction of these men.  Kirchner and Fernandez met when they were both student activists during the Dirty War.  Several of their friends were victims who “disappeared” during this time.

Astiz has claimed that the trials are unjust and illegitimate prosecution promulgated for the political leverage they will give to Fernandez.  His unrepentant opinion on the trial is that “the government doesn’t hesitate in its revenge against the people who combated terrorism.”

When the sentence was read Astiz showed almost no emotion, he stared forwards and lightly brushed a patriotic ribbon pinned to his lapel.  His sister, Lucrecia Astiz, objected to the sentence expressing outrage that Astiz is being held responsible for his actions as he was only 23 and simply followed the orders given to him.

Earlier, in a 2008 interview with Tres Puntos magazine, Astiz showed no remorse for his actions during the war.  He bragged that he was the best trained man in Argentina to kill politicians and journalists.  He also stated that he didn’t betray the Mother of Plaza de Mayor because he never was one of them.

During the trial, Astiz seemed to thrive on shocking those present.  On the first day he entered the courtroom with the book “Return to Kill.”  ­­During the trial he continually called the trial a “lynching.”  Then, on the last day of the trial he handed the judges a copy of Argentina’s constitution with instructions that it be given to the Argentinian Supreme Court.

Hundreds of family members of those who disappeared into ESMA stood outside the courthouse as the sentences were read.  Many wept and others danced in the streets when the convictions came out.

“Ole, ole they will have the same fate as the Nazis, wherever they go we will find them,” was chanted loudly.

For more information, please see;

BBC News – Argentina “Angel of Death” Alfredo Astiz Convicted – 27 October 2011

Buenos Aires Herald – French Foreign Minister Says Astiz Sentence is an “Honor to Argentina” – 27 October 2011

Christian Science Monitor – Argentina’s “Blond Angel of Death” Convicted for Role in Dirty War – 27 October 2011

International Business Times – “Angel of Death” Sentenced to Life in Argentina – 27 October 2011

New York Times – Argentina: 12 Given Life Sentence for Crimes During Dictatorship – 27 October 2011

Reuters Africa – Life Sentence for Argentine Blond Angel of Death – 27 October 2011

CBS News – Argentina’s “Angel of Death” Sent to Prison – 26 October 2011