By Sovereign Hager
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-Trial began for General Bignone, Argentina’s last dictator, and five former generals who are accused of kidnappings and murders during the early 1980’s. Court papers charge Bignone with “ultimate responsibility” for fifty-six cases of torture and illegal searches during this period.
As head of a military junta from 1982 to 1983, General Bignone protected the military during Argentina’s transition to democracy. He granted amnesty to human rights violators and oversaw the destruction of documents containing evidence of torture and disappearances of political opponents. Five former generals, a former colonel, and a former police commissioner are on trial with Bignone. All of the defendants deny the charges against them.
Argentine courts overthrew the amnesty law, and Bignone was formally charged in 2003. The trail was delayed until now. The trial is taking place in a small indoor stadium to accommodate a large crowd, including witnesses, federal officials, members of activist groups, and family members of the disappeared.
More than one hundred family members attended the first proceeding on Monday, some of them held photos of victims as the defendants entered the court room. Around one hundred and thirty witnesses, many of them survivors of torture, will testify.
The fifty-six cases of torture and kidnapping allegedly took place at Campo de Mayo, a military installation. General Santiago Omar Riveros, the base’s intelligence chief, is suspected of giving orders to kill some of the kidnapped individuals.
Bignone is eighty-one and has been under house arrest. He faces two other trials: one in the abduction and disappearance of doctors and nurses at a hospital and another in the case of two soldiers when he was head of the military college. The current trial is expected to last through February.
An estimated 5,000 people were held at the Campo de Mayo, one of the largest death camps in operation during the Argentine dictatorship. An official report lists 13,000 people as being killed during the 1976 to 1983 dictatorship era. Human rights groups estimate the number of dead to be closer to 30,000.
For more information, please see:
BBC-Argentine Ex-Leader Goes on Trial-3 November 2009
AP-Last Argentine Dictator, Ex-Generals go on Trial-2 November 2009
CNN-Former Argentina Dictator, 5 Others on Trial, Accused of Rights Abuses-2 November 2009
New York Times-Trial Begins for a Former President of Argentina-2 November 2009
