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Former Argentine dictator and other officers convicted for baby thefts

Friday, July 6th 2012 - 06:56 UTC
Full article 36 comments

An Argentine court has sentenced former dictator General Jorge Videla to 50 years in jail for stealing babies from political prisoners. There were also heavy penalties for other military officers involved in the practice. Read full article

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  • Guzz

    These are the scumbags that invaded the Falklands, dissendents of your own ideology. I spit on them, and you whom thinks like them.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 08:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Welsh Wizard

    This episode is one of the darkest stains on the history and collective consciousness of Argentina. Their actions were deplorable, without precedent and represent the most mephitic side of human nature. Their incarceration should be celebrated and remembered so that this may never happen again. I stand shoulder to shoulder with those victims of this foul regime and hope that they may finally find some solace that these men have been balanced by the scales of justice, and found wanting.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 09:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Orbit

    Guzz ... who is 'you' ?

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 10:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    The damned Latin American oligarchy, including Paraguayan colorado party and bloody all who defends them

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 10:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Self Determination

    Why has it taken so long, with 'democratic' governments since 1982 ?
    Looks like they have enjoyed 30 years of freedom unlike their poor victims.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    Because the military made sure the right-wing got the power when they re-established “democracy”. They declared amnesty. A law that we still can't remove in Uruguay, although we tried twice, and will continue to push through.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 10:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Self Determination

    @6
    Interesting, I wasn't aware of the amnesty
    It would appear the present CFK government is undermining economic and political freedom of the people.I wouldnt be surprised if certain trade unionists were arrested.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    Nah, in Argentina, the Kirchners removed the amnesty applied on the dictators, and imprisoned them all :)
    Varela is in jail already, this is just another sentence to his already long list...

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Welsh Wizard

    @7

    This amnestry was very similar to the amnesty applied in cambodia. Could you explain your point about politaical freedom in relation to this article as I'm not quite getting you...

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    One has to feel, for those poor children , and the loss of there parents,

    apparently most, still do not know, if indeed there parents, are actualy the real ones,

    a mess to say the least .

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    A hard thing, Briton, is to find your son or brother 30 years later and realize that the effects of time are in no way reversible...

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    yes,
    a very sad event, i was listining to this on the bbc news late last night,

    very sad .

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 11:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Welsh Wizard

    @ 11 Guzz

    Very true and something even harder to find that the brother you've longed to meet now possibly stands for everything you are against. This was, after all, the purpose of this. Breed the left wing out of the population and ensure that the dictatorship continues unopposed...vile in the extreme

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 12:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    13
    One doesn't think that far, I'm afraid... One is so stuck in the past, living every second of lost time in the blink of an age. And then, as Cardozo puts it, accepts it...

    These parasites hurt humanity. Another thing they did was to invade the Falklands, of course sending the kids of their opponents to fight their war.
    In Uruguay they tortured people and kidnapped babies, In Argentina they disappeared people and kidnapped babies. In Chile they tried mass executions as they way to eradicate the left, and I would guess they kidnapped babies as well.
    It didn't work, we are still standing, stronger than ever, still waiting for our cousins to come home

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 12:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Simon68

    5 Self Determination (#)

    The 1983 government of Ricardo Alfonsin put these bastards on trial and condemned them, Carlos Menem pardoned them.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 01:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Self Determination

    @9
    Political freedom? ...we know about bought votes, nepotism,corruption.La Campora intimidation,decrying the opposition,etc ,etc. The parallel I am trying to draw is what will this increasingly desperate government do to opponents when things inevitably get worse.At least the military has been weakened.
    I certainly hope no more lives are lost.A sad period of history .

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    Indeed, Simon is right Self Det, Menem was the crook who pardoned them.
    In Uruguay they have been able to walk the streets all along...

    That aside, where do you get that info on bought votes from? La Campora intimidating? Decrying the opposition???

    All this is happening in your head or alternatively in your local newspaper...

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 02:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    When are they going to imprison all the other argie war criminals? You know the ones I mean.
    These ones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xqwNsmzCbM
    When are they going to put all these away for 30 years apiece?

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 02:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Simon68

    17 Guzz (#):

    Unfortunately self Determination is right about vote buying, intimidation, demonizing the opposition, corruption, etc. These are things we have to live with, our government is not a clean one, but if you are truthfull with yourself you must admit that none of our governments, niether here or in Europe are anything to write home about!!!!

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 03:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    Galtieri was one of them to be pardoned by Menem. The Kirchner regime wanted to put him on trial again 2002, but the bastard managed to die in a hospital before that.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 03:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • SussieUS

    Same in Vietnam
    The US soldiers impregnated asian women knowing the race cannot be mix.
    The asian women could not delivered an 8 pound child. Many asian women bled to death. The babies that survived were sent to the US as the Operation Babylift with thousands of mixed children place for adoption. What a mess!

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 06:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    @21
    What in the name of God has that got to do with the rise and fall of he dictators of South America, Miss Sussie?

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 06:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Orbit

    @22 It's another gin soaked incontinent bag lady rant. Not suprised by the O/T comment, although I'm puzzled why there was no reference to all men on here being transvestites. However its early, and we have front row seats.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 06:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    Great job Cristina!
    Videla and friends burn in hell.

    Jul 06th, 2012 - 07:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @14 Guzz
    I am not aware of any children kidnapped by the military in the pinocho era.

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 12:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Deja vu!
    Seems to me that I have read of similiar crimes, committed by similiar types of people in recent European history. Would anyone care to draw the comparison.
    On a personal point of view. They should have hanged all the bastards involved!

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 12:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    RC
    Finally we agree :)

    Let me point out that these were the cretins that invaded the Falklands.
    Allies of USA they implemented an experiment together with Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay on how to best eradicate the left.
    Dilma was tortured in Brazil, Pepe Mujica was tortured and imprisoned for 14 years. The people in power in SA today are the very same people that they tried to eradicate. The oligarchy has finally lost its grip on the continent, as for 2002, when it occured, you can see MASSIVE improvements in just about every SA nation. You guys should bloody cheer on us!
    If it wasn't for that little issue with those islands...

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 12:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Simon68

    In Argentina, before the Milicos took power in 1976, we had a peronist government, or perhaps mis-government. This was the origin of the “Dirty War”.
    The ERP and Montoneros fought an internecine war with the milicos and often between themselves that caused the deat of an unknown number of civilians before the Junta took power.
    There has never been a single investigation of what happened pre-1976, and those who lost loved ones to the ERP and Montos apparently do not have the same human rights as the terrorist do.
    This doesn't mean that the terrorism of the Argentine state was right, it was horrendous and should be paid for by the death penalty, but so should the other side pay for its crimes.
    Within the state of law everyone should be considered equal before the law.

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 01:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    @27Guzz
    I am stunned and shocked, amazed truly amazed. Lets agree to disagree, because I have the slightest, just the miniscule idea, that your take and my take on European history clash. Whilst you refer to the US I refer my friend, to that most henious of political parties, the National Socialist Party of Geremany. The NSDAP. better known as the Nazis. Sorry old mate.

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 01:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    The Uruguayan right wing says the same about our Tupamaros.
    The response is always the same;
    1. In our constitutions it clearly says that we should deny any imposter that takes the power by force
    2. The reason why the people revolted against the “democracies” before the coups, was because a major part of the population were not being involved in the distribution of the countrys wealth.
    3. The revolutionaries have served any crime they might have commited before the coup, while the coup lasted. Any “crime” thereafter is no crime as our constitutions protects our rights against terrorism of the state.
    4. (For Uruguay only) Liber Arce, civilian and student, was the first one to die.

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 01:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Guzz
    Ther are crimes and there are crimes, some are so dispicable that you you can not compare them. There does come a time when the ends, do not justify the means!

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 01:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    RC
    I understand you meant the Germans. Your language is clear and easy to understand, don't you worry. We still agree :)

    I too mean the Germans, and as you say yourself, they should've been hanged. These men, the ones that comes with the similarities, are the same ones that invaded the islands, the ones that turtured, murdered and kidnapped babies.

    I too believe they should've hanged them all

    So we DO agree :)

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 08:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    RC
    I thought you were referring to the Franco dictatorship and the baby kidnappings there.

    Guzz,
    I agree with you on the notion of justice for those responsible for the crimes committed during the days of the dictatorships, but not on your idea that there was a massive leap forward in SA in 2002 when the oligarchies lost control.

    If you look at Chile for example. The leap forward came during the dictatorship and subsequent democratic gov’ts have continued on the same road. Chile is the country that has seen the greatest economic growth on the continent and it is largely still oligarchic.

    In order to not repeat the errors of the past it is important to recognise the wrongs on both sides, before and after the dictatorships. The policies of the left in the 70s would have and did perpetuate poverty on the continent. Many normal people here suffered persecution for not being card-carrying members of the socialist party in Allende’s day, not to mention theft of property. I am not saying that justified what followed. We suffered, but we have moved on.

    If, as you say “One is so stuck in the past” you run the risk of not noticing the dangerous polarization that is taking place again. Chavez is the new Castro and his troops showing up in Uruguay and his meddling in Paraguay have worrying parallels to Cuban forces deploying to Chile. This is bad news for democracy and bad news for the continent.

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 03:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Guzz

    Condorito
    There are things one does not forgive nor forget.
    Only time we live in the past is when it comes to our desaparecidos.
    Otherwise we are light years ahead our oligarchs :)

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 05:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    As Mr Mandela said: “Forgive but don't forget.”

    Jul 07th, 2012 - 08:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    Theres not much I can add to the great contributions from Guzz et all above, just to add my congratulations to Cristina and Nestor for righting this great historical wrong. If they had done nothing else right and all the bad things they are accused of (which I don't accept) this would probably have made up for it in the overall balance. I hope one day Britian's own criminal former leader, Tony Blair, is sent to jail for all his evil works

    Jul 09th, 2012 - 07:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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