Argentina's 'Dirty War''

1. 1976- 1983 Argentina's 'Dirty War''

2. Leading up to... • 1973- Juan Perón (le recuerdas?) presidente • Su esposa Isabel vice presidente • 1974- Juan murió- Isabel es presidente • Isabel no era fuerte politicamente (signed decrees to wipe out left-wing terrorists- anti- international communism) • Una junta creó un golpe de estado y controló el gobierno

3. Whoa, whoa, beep, beep, back the truck up! • Junta- a small group leading a country. (after a coup and before a government has been instituted) • In argentina- led by the military (leader- Jorge Rafael Videla) • Golpe (coup)- a sudden and decisive action in politics, esp. one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force. • Similar to a govt overthrow or rebellion

4. The down and dirty of it • Occurred against the subversive and dissident people of Argentina (aka- people against the government). • Many innocent people were affected as well. • Anywhere from 10,000-30,000 people were claimed as 'casualties' of the war

5. Preguntas? • Should this be called a war? • Why or why not? • What could other countries have done to help in this war? • Who should be blamed for this war?

6. Los Desaparecidos • n 1976, one of the generals predicted, "We are going to have to kill 50,000 people: 25,000 subversives, 20,000 sympathizers, and we will make 5,000 mistakes.” • Both opponents of govt and innocent people • Detainees held under Poder Ejecutivo Nacional (PEN) • Middle of the night • Usually taken to government detention centers • Later tortured and killed

7. Los Desaparecidos • Many human rights organizations upset • Relatives of the victims uncovered evidence that some children taken from their mothers soon after birth were being raised as the adopted children of military men, as in the case of Silvia Quintela. For three decades, the Grand-Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group founded in 1977, has been demanding the return of these kidnapped children, estimated to number as many as five hundred. 77 of the kidnapped children have been located so far.

8. Los desparecidos • Included foreigners helping in Argentina • Affected Church • Few people detained confessed of being against the government • Even fewer confessed of being communists

9. Preguntas • Why do you think the grandmothers of the disappeared still protest every week? • How do you think the Argentine government could have justified these killings? • Is this way of 'getting rid of communism' effective? When did this objective change? • How does this affect YOUR outlook on Argentina? What about the world's outlook?

10. The end • Foreign problems end national problem • Junta looked bad to world (human rights), so launched campaign to regain Falkland Islands (las islas Malvinas) • Problem since 1820: English owns islands, Argentina claims islands • Junta wanted to win islands to gain popularity • Battles lasted 72 days • Winner: England, with 9,800 POWs

11. Like a dog with its tail between its legs • Junta- after loss- retracted ban on political parties and opinions • Dec. 10, 1983- civilian government took power • Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín

12. Today • Group in NY using blood samples to identify disappearance victims • 600 skeletons found on mass grave • 2,000+ blood samples taken • Many skeletons show gun shot wounds or signs of torture • Only 12,000 officially listed as dead or missing- only 300 bodies identified

14. How do you think this affects Argentina today?