GUERRA SUCIA: ARGENTINA'S DIRTY WAR

GUERRA SUCIA: ARGENTINA’S DIRTY WAR

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INEQUALITY & LATIN AMERICA

“LatinAmericaismuchmoreunequalthanotherregions.Thereasonishistory.Europeancolonisation setapatternofexploitationofindigenousIndians.Itslegacy,andthatofslavery,liveon.Thishelpstoexplaintheethniccharacterofsomeoftheregion'sinequality.”

– TheEconomist

THINK-PAIR-SHARE

• Whydoyouthinkit’simportanttothinkabouteconomicandsocialinequalitywhendiscussingLatinAmerica?

• Whatimpactdoyouthinkinequalityhasonwhatwe’reabouttostudy?

THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE& THE COLD WAR

• Throughoutthe1950s&60spoliticalandeconomicproblemshelpedleadtowidespreadunrestthroughoutmuchofLatin&SouthAmerica.

• In1959,CubabecamethefirstcommunistgovernmentintheWesternHemisphere byoverthrowingaUSbackeddictator,FulgencinoBatista.

• TheUSwasafraidthatwithsupportfromCubaandtheUSSR,morecountriesintheWesternHemispherewouldturntocommunism.

Fidel Castro Celebrates Victory in Cuba

ALLIANCEFORPROGRESS• PresidentKennedyproposedan“AllianceforProgress”,a10yearplanwhichwouldprovide:• economicaid• militaryaid(counterinsurgency)

• Thegoaloftheeconomicaidwastocombatinequalitythrough• Improvingeducation&combatingilliteracy• ImprovingIndustrialproductivity&landuse• Improvingpublichealth• Pricestability• Establishmentofdemocraticgovernments

VenezuelanPresidentRómuloBetancourtandU.S.PresidentJohnF.KennedyatLaMorita,Venezuela,duringanofficialmeetingfortheAllianceforProgressin1961

ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS

• Thegoalofmilitaryaidaidwastocombatcommunismusingatwoprongedapproach:

1. TheUSmilitarywouldpreventanyexternalcommunistinvasionsorthreats.

2. LatinAmericanarmieswoulddefendagainstthe “internalenemiesoffreedom”.• Referredtoascounterinsurgency

ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS: RESULTS

• Althoughsomegainsweremadebythe1970s(improvementstopublichealthandhigherliteracyrates),manyoftheeconomicplansweredeemedafailure• Inequalitywasstillhigh• Pricestabilityandeconomicgrowthdidn’tlast

• Thiswasduetomultiplefactors:• ResistancetolandandeconomicreformsbywealthyelitesandUSbusinessinterests• InsufficientUSaid• LackofUSfocusontheregion• Theriseofanti-democraticmilitarydictatorships

MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS IN LATIN AMERICA

• Ironically,muchofthemilitaryaidprovidedbytheUS,allowedtheseanti-democraticmilitaryregimestogainpoliticalpower.o Buildingdemocraticgovernmentsbecamelessimportantthanfighting

communists.

FEATURES OF MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS• Manyofthesedictatorshipsbrutallyrepressedtheirpeopleandcrackeddownonanytypeofpoliticalexpression.

• Inmanycases,enemiesofthestatecouldinclude:o Politicalpartieso Laborunionso SchoolsandUniversitieso Professionalassociationso Journalists

• Anydissentwasmetwithharshretaliation.o Tortureo Exileo Incarcerationo Executiono Rape

THINK-PAIR-SHARE

• WhydoyouthinktheUSwasworriedaboutLatinAmericancountriesturningtowardscommunism?

• HowmighttheAllianceforProgresspreventcountriesfromturningtocommunism?

• DoyouthinktheAllianceforProgresswasagoodidea?Whyorwhynot?

• WhydoyouthinktheAllianceforProgressfailedtohelpLatinAmerica?

• HowdoyouthinktheUnitedStatesgovernmentreactedtotheriseofmilitarydictatorshipsacrossLatinAmerica?

THE PERÓN DECADE• JuanPeronwasapopular,yetcontroversial,militaryleaderelectedtothepresidencyin1946.

• Althoughheruledbydecree,heandhiswife,Evita,wereverypopular.

• Whilepresidenthe:o Establishedapoliticalmovement,“Peronism”,whichunitedleft&rightwingpoliticalmovements

o legitimizedtradeunionso extendedpoliticalrightstotheworkingclasso securedvotingrightsforwomeno openeduniversityeducationtoallcapableArgentinians.

THE PERÓN DECADE

• EconomicdifficultiesandrisinginflationinunderminedPerón’spresidencyintheearly1950s.Evita’s deathin1952furtherhurthispopularity.

• In1955,hewasdeposedbyamilitarycoupandwasexiledtoSpain.

Evita’s funeral

ARGENTINA IN THE 60S & 70S• Aseriesofciviliangovernmentsandmilitarygovernmentstookpowerthroughoutthe1960s.o BothsoughttobanorseverelylimitPerónism (JusticialistParty).

o ManyofthereformsPerón implementedwererepealed.

• Thisperiodwasmarkedbyinstabilityandbyrampantantigovernmentfeelings:o Economicproblemso Strikeso Protestso Riotso Politicalkidnappingso Guerrillawarfareagainstthestatebyleftistgroupso Violenceagainstleftistgroupsbyrightwinggroups

TheMontoneros wereacommunistguerillagroupthatkidnappedandmurderedvariousgovernmentofficials

RETURN OF PERÓN• Intheearly1970s,themilitarygovernmentrelaxedrestrictionsonthePerónistas.o In1973,HectorCámpora,aPerónloyalist,waselectedpresident.

o Heresignedafewmonthsafterbeingelected,pavingthewayforJuanPeron’sreturn.

• Perón wasanineffectivepresidentduetochronicillnessandhediedin1974.o Hiswife,Isabel,becamepresidentuponhisdeath.

Perón’s funeral

IsabelPerón

PRESIDENCY OF ISABEL PERÓN• Whilepresident,Isabelcreatedthe“TripleA”(Alianza ArgentinaAnticomunista),adeathsquadtotakeonrevolutionarygroups.o Suspectedofkillingatleast1,100people.oWipedouttheMontoneros.

• ShewasunpopularduetocorruptionandfailuretotackleArgentina’sproblems.

• In1976,shewasdeposedbyamilitarycoup.Shewasarrestedandplacedunderhousearrest.ShewasexiledtoSpainin1981andstilllivestheretoday.

MILITARY JUNTA

• LedbyGeneralJorgeRafaelVidela

• Originalaimwastorestoresocialorder

• Initiallysupportedbymuchofthepress&public

THINK-PAIR-SHARE• WhydoyouthinkthemilitarydeposedPerón in1955?

• Whydoyouthinkthevariousgovernments(civilian&military)duringthe1950s&60splacedrestrictionsonPerónism?

• WhatroledoyouthinktheColdWarplayedinArgentinainthe1960s?

• WhydoyouthinkIsabelPerón createdadeathsquad?HowmightthisinfluenceArgentina’spoliticslater?

• WhydoyouthinkmanyArgentinianssupportedthejuntaatfirst?

DIRTY WAR (1976 – 1983) • Whatbeganasanattempttorestoreorder,quicklyturnedintowaronArgentina’sowncitizens.

• ElProceso – “theProcess”orthereorganization– aperiodofwide-scalerepressionofthegeneralpublic:o Tradeunionistso Studentso Intellectualso Journalistso Writerso Humanrightsactivists

DIRTY WAR (1976 – 1983)• Methodsofsuppressiono Incarcerationo Tortureo Rapeo Killingo Kidnapping

• TwomethodswerespecifictotheDirtyWar:

1. Deathflights– prisonerswereexecutedbybeingthrownoutofairplanesalive.

2. Thechildrenof“losdesaparecidos”weretakenfromtheirparentsandgiventosupportersofthejunta.

LosDesparedcidos orthedisappeared

DIRTY WAR (1976 – 1983)

• LasAbuelas dePlazadeMayo&LasMadresdePlazadeMayoo Twohumanrightsgroupsmadeupofthemothersandgrandmothersofthedisappeared.§ PlazadeMayoisthemainsquareinBuenosAiresanditisthefocalpointofpoliticallifeinArgentina.

o Ledprotestsagainstthehumanrightsabusescommittedbythejunta

o Somewere“disappeared” ThesymbolofLasMadres&LasAbuelas – awhiteheadscarf– inPlazadeMayo

FALKLANDS/MALVINAS WAR• ThejuntadidlittletoimprovetheproblemsfacingArgentina:o Widespreadsocialunresto Economicdecline

• In1981,GeneralLeopoldo Galtieri becamepresident.

• TodistractfromArgentina’sproblems,helaunchedaninvasionoftheBritishcontrolledFalklandIslandsin1982.

• ManyArgentinesinitiallysupportedtheinvasionbecausetheybelievedthattheFalklandIslandsshouldbelongtoArgentina,notBritain.o MalvinasiswhattheArgentinescalltheIslands.

FALKLAND/MALVINAS WAR

• ThewarwasadisasterforArgentina.o Theirarmysurrenderedin74days

• Thisfailureendedthejunta’scontroloverArgentina.

• In1983,Raúl Alfonsín (acivilian)waselectedpresident.

THINK-PAIR-SHARE• WhydoyouthinkIsabelPerón’s governmentandthejuntausedextralegalmeanstodealwiththeguerillasandotherpeopletheydeemedsubversives?

• WhydoyouthinkthatthejuntabegantoexpanditsDirtyWaroperationstocitizenswhoweren’tguerillas?

• WhatroledidtheFalklandWarplayinendingtheDirtyWar?

• WhydoyouthinkitisreferredtoastheDirtyWar?Whatnamewouldyouuse?

• WhatdoyouthinkpresentdayArgentinian’saredoingtorememberthevictimsoftheDirtyWar?

AFTERMATH OF THE DIRTY WAR• NationalCommissionontheDisappearanceofPersonso Anorganizationinvestigatedthefateofthedisappeared.

o Nunca Mas – thereportissuedbytheCommission

• Afterthereport,Alfonsin attemptedtoprosecutetheperpetratorsoftheDirtyWar

• Thegovernmentsuccessfullytriedhigh-rankingofficials,includingJorgeVidela.

AFTERMATH OF THE DIRTY WAR• Inresponsetotheprosecutions,severaljuniorofficersstarteduprisingsinvariouspartsofthecountry.

• In1986and1987,CongresspassedthePardonLaws,theFinalLineandDueObedience,whichendedprosecutionsofmilitaryandsecurityofficersforcrimescommittedduringthemilitarydictatorship.

• In1990,afterfiveyearsinprison,GeneralVidela andotherhighrankingofficialswerepardoned,despitethepublic’sopposition.

AFTERMATH OF THE DIRTY WAR

• In2005,ajudgeruledthatthepardonlawswereunconstitutionalandVidela wasplacedunderhousearrestin2006.

• In2010,hewasputontrialagainforhumanrightsviolations.Hewasconvictedandsenttoprison.

• In2012,hewasconvictedofkidnappingthechildrenofthedisappeared.

• Hediedinprisonin2013.

AFTERMATH OF THE DIRTY WAR

• From2005to2011,259peoplewereconvictedofcrimesrelatingtotheDirtyWar.

• LasAbuelas dePlazadeMayostillcontinuetheirworktryingtolocatetheirgrandchildren.

• Asof2013,109ofthe500suspectedchildrenhavebeenidentified.

REMEMBERING THE DIRTY WAR• In2006,24MarchwasdesignatedasapublicholidayinArgentina,theDayofRemembranceforTruthandJustice.

• Onthe30thanniversaryofthecoup,ahugecrowdfilledthestreetstorememberwhathappenedduringthemilitarygovernment,andensureitdidnothappenagain.

• Itwasannouncedin2007thatthetheNavySchoolofMechanics(ESMA)– anotoriousdetentionandtorturecenter– wouldbecomeamuseumtohonorthevictimsoftheDirtyWar.

THINK-PAIR-SHARE• IfyouwereacitizenofArgentina,howdoyouthinkyouwouldreacttotheDirtyWar(support,protest,staysilent,etc.)?Why?

• TheUnitedStateshaslongbeeninvolvedintheaffairsofmanyLatinAmericannations(MonroeDoctrine,RooseveltCorollary,BayofPigsInvasion,etc.)DoyouthinktheUnitedStateswasawareoftheDirtyWar?Ifso,howdoyouthinktheUSresponded?

• Baseduponworldeventsofthe1950s– 80s,whymighttheUSviewthejuntaasanally,despitetheirknownhumanrightsabuses?

US & THE DIRTY WAR• By1976,theUSCongresswasconsideringplacingeconomicsanctionsonArgentinaforhumanrightsabuses.

• Aroundthesametime,USAmbassador,RobertHill,pressedthemilitarytostopitshumanrightsabuses,buthewastoldthatthejuntahadWashington’ssupport.

• Secretly,USSecretaryofState,HenryKissingerassuredthejuntathatPresidentNixonsupportedwhattheyweredoing.

“Look, our basic attitude is that we would like you to succeed. I have an old-fashioned view that friends ought to be supported. What is not understood in the United States is that you have a civil war. We read about human rights problems but not the context. The quicker you succeed, the better. The human rights problem is a growing one. Your ambassador can apprise you. We want a stable situation. We won’t cause you unnecessary difficulties. If you can finish before Congress gets back, the better. Whatever freedoms you could restore would help.”

Henry Kissinger to Argentine Foreign Minister, Augusto Guzzetti; October 1976

US & THE DIRTY WAR• In1976,PresidentJimmyCarterwaselected.

• DuringhisonetermherefocusedUSforeignpolicytoincludemoreemphasisonhumanrights.

• Hepubliclycondemnedthejunta’shumanrightsabusesandimposedsanctionsuponthemilitary.

• In1980,PresidentRonaldReaganwaselected.

• Hisforeignpolicytookamorehardlineapproachtocommunismandheestablishedfriendlierrelationswiththejunta.

LAS ABULEAS DE PLAZA DE MAYO & THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY

ThisfilmtellsthestoryofLasAbuelas dePlazadeMayo,anArgentinianhumanrightsorganizationofgrandmotherscommittedtofindingtheirlostgrandchildren.Theybelievethesegrandchildrenwerestolenbytheir

governmentduringthecountry’smilitarydictatorshipfrom1976-1983,aperiodinArgentina’shistoryreferredtoastheDirtyWar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MpAuPwlA7o&feature=youtu.be

SOURCES• http://www.coldwarstudies.com/2013/03/14/pope-francis-and-the-cold-war-in-latin-

america/

• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kennedy-proposes-alliance-for-progress

• http://www.ratical.org/ratitorsCorner/12.21.99.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_progress

• http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB104/herald.pdf

• http://www.cartercenter.org/news/upcoming_events/conversations/index.html

• http://books.google.com/books?id=vJrzQO3umO8C&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&dq=jimmy+carter+foreign+policy+argentina&source=bl&ots=gnQsImAw5T&sig=k-nGssIkRhJFupYhhJW6i2PSMwM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7LGwUsmaJ4SqkQeL5YGoBQ&ved=0CF4Q6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=jimmy%20carter%20foreign%20policy%20argentina&f=false

• http://www.economist.com/node/2193852

• Rosenberg, Mark. Americas: An Anthology. Print.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_war

Documents

GUERRA SUCIA: ARGENTINA'S DIRTY WAR