News of dictatorship

Argentine seeks military trial in Italy over dictatorship deaths

09-09-2024 15:55 Lieutenant colonel Carlos Luis Malatto, accused of the murder of eight people during the country's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, seeks a military trial in Italy.

Madres de Plaza de Mayo activist Herenia Sánchez de Viamonte dies at 97

09-09-2024 14:12 Tributes paid to human rights activist and teacher, who passed away at the age of 97; Sánchez de Viamonte, who co-founded La Plata branch of Madres de Plaza de Mayo, remembered for tireless search for her son and daughter-in-law, who were kidnapped by the military dictatorship in 1977.

30,000? The debate about how many were disappeared in Argentina

10-08-2024 06:55 How many people went missing in Argentina in total as victims of state terrorism and forced disappearances during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship? And why is it important to differentiate between those categories in order to clear up debates, even when installed due to cruelty or cynicism? Why does the canonic figure of 30,000 continue to be so powerful? And what can academic research contribute?

Lula reinstates commission to probe Brazil dictatorship crimes

05-07-2024 17:16 President Lula orders reinstatement of a special commission on crimes during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, which had been dissolved by his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

Milei reopens debate about dictatorship, Armed Forces

04-04-2024 18:51 President enrages human rights groups by questioning estimate of those disappeared by junta’s security forces and calls for “reconciliation” of the military in Argentina.

Alberto González: ESMA torturer – and vice-president’s mentor

29-03-2024 21:02 He headed the dreaded “underground” of the ESMA Navy Mechanics School concentration camp. Convicted for crimes against humanity, Alberto González was also the first dictatorship-era criminal to be sentenced for rape. He is also the mentor of Argentina’s Vice-President Victoria Villarruel.

by Juan Luis González

48 years and 100 days later

23-03-2024 06:34 Tomorrow is the 48th anniversary of the 1976 military coup, while last Tuesday marked the classic first 100 days of the Javier Milei Presidency.

Judge asks Uruguay to repatriate Navy plane used in the Condor Plan

21-03-2024 14:05 Court demands repatriation of plane in Uruguay that was used to transfer detainees during the Operation Condor plan of coordination between South American dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s.

Paraguay policeman gets 30-year sentence for dictatorship torture

20-02-2024 16:02 A Paraguayan court has sentenced an 87-year-old former policeman to 30 years in jail for brutal torture carried out during the country's military dictatorship.

Chile to reopen probe into mystery death of poet Pablo Neruda

20-02-2024 15:32 An appeals court in Santiago ordered the reopening of the investigation into the death of Neruda, who many believe was poisoned by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

Protesters in Buenos Aires admonish incoming government’s ‘denialism’

24-11-2023 16:53 Activists join weekly Madres de Plaza de Mayo march to admonish Javier Milei and Victoria Villarruel over their “denialism” of state terrorism during 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

Victoria Villarruel: First vice-president to play down dictatorship’s crimes

22-11-2023 11:37 By presenting herself as a militant of "complete memory," the La Libertad Avanza vice-president-elect has constructed her political figure around the controversial “theory of two demons,” equating left-wing killings with state terrorism.

Victoria Villarruel criticises ESMA dictatorship world heritage site

14-11-2023 13:55 Far-right vice-presidential candidate Victoria Villarruel suggests ESMA memory site, once home to detention and extermination camp, should be turned into a school; Javier Milei’s running-mate alleges widespread corruption in government’s human rights policies.

Dictatorship killer Jorge ‘El Tigre’ Acosta hopeful of Milei presidency

27-10-2023 13:13 The former leader of the ESMA killer task group expresses hope that "moment of truth is near" as Javier Milei qualifies for presidential run-off vote.

Court confirms life sentences for Jorge ‘Tigre’ Acosta and 39 others

19-09-2023 16:34 Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber dismissed appeals by 40 individuals convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in jail.

UNESCO strives to ensure memory remains part of global heritage

19-09-2023 13:11 While UNESCO has universalist aspirations, memorials are ripe for appropriation for political causes – especially where they touch on bloody events of the past.

It’s not just the economy, stupid!

09-09-2023 05:25 In the last general elections in 2019 PASO primary winner Alberto Fernández was seconded by a woman whom nobody underestimated and today’s PASO primary winner Milei is seconded by a woman who perhaps should not be underestimated either.

Outcry at event puts Villarruel's dictatorship beliefs in spotlight

05-09-2023 16:23 Demonstrators protest against Victoria Villarruel's event paying tribute to "the victims of terrorism" held at the City Legislature.

Ex-Molinos executive arrested for role in dictatorship crimes

06-07-2023 00:52 Emilio Parodi, 82, arrested at home in Vicente López for alleged crimes against humanity; Former manager of Molinos Río de La Plata food company being investigated for role in kidnapping and disappearance of 23 workers during the era of state terrorism.

Aircraft used in 1977 death flight repatriated to Argentina

27-06-2023 11:07 Skyvan PA-51 cargo plane used in the 1977 flight in which three members of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo human rights group and two French nuns, among others, were killed is successfully repatriated and returned to Argentina.