‘Dirty War’ discovery sparks outcry

BUENOS AIRES – Argentina’s Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo chanted “justice!” and vowed to go to court after forensic experts announced that they had identified the remains of the founder of the human rights group, 28 years after her death.

Azucena Villaflor and two other Mothers missing since December 1977 have been identified through DNA tests on skeletal remains unearthed from a rural cemetery, forensic anthropologist Carlos Somigliana told reporters on Friday. Villaflor, Esther Ballestrino de Careaga and Maria Eugenia Ponce de Bianco where kidnapped in December 1977 and never seen alive again.Reportedly whisked to a torture centre and then made to disappear, human rights campaigners say they were prominent early victims of the 1976-83 military dictatorship that waged a ‘Dirty War’ crackdown on opposition foes.Several of the now-greying Mothers joined the news conference and wept when forensic anthropologist Carlos Somigliana announced the findings.The human rights group said it would ask the courts to fully prosecute those responsible for the three women’s deaths.”We will not forget, we will not forgive! Punishment for those responsible!” the mothers chanted.More than 12 000 people disappeared during the junta’s 1976-83 crackdown on dissent known and the vast majority have never been found or identified.Friday’s development was the latest in a year of surprising twists: Nine junta leaders were tried in 1985 on charges of abduction, torture and execution.They were imprisoned and later pardoned in 1990 by then-President Carlos Menem.Subsequent trials were held for other lower-ranking officers, who were also pardoned.- Nampa-APVillaflor, Esther Ballestrino de Careaga and Maria Eugenia Ponce de Bianco where kidnapped in December 1977 and never seen alive again.Reportedly whisked to a torture centre and then made to disappear, human rights campaigners say they were prominent early victims of the 1976-83 military dictatorship that waged a ‘Dirty War’ crackdown on opposition foes.Several of the now-greying Mothers joined the news conference and wept when forensic anthropologist Carlos Somigliana announced the findings.The human rights group said it would ask the courts to fully prosecute those responsible for the three women’s deaths.”We will not forget, we will not forgive! Punishment for those responsible!” the mothers chanted.More than 12 000 people disappeared during the junta’s 1976-83 crackdown on dissent known and the vast majority have never been found or identified.Friday’s development was the latest in a year of surprising twists: Nine junta leaders were tried in 1985 on charges of abduction, torture and execution.They were imprisoned and later pardoned in 1990 by then-President Carlos Menem.Subsequent trials were held for other lower-ranking officers, who were also pardoned.- Nampa-AP