LATIN AMERICA REGIONAL AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS 25 AUGUST 1977[SANITIZED] - 1977/08/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03000037
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 38
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: August 25, 1977

Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C03000037
Latin America
Secret'
EO 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
EO 13526 3.5(c)
NR
REGIONAL AND
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
SOURCED
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RP ALA 77-054
25 August 1977
3.5(c)
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3.5(c)
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LATIN AMERICA
25 August 1977
CONTENTS
3.5(c)
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Argentina: Changes in the Human
Rights Situation
7
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Argentina: Changes in the Human Rights Situation
s The government reportedly has recently made a num-
ber of changes in its countersubversive campaign that
appear to be aimed at lessening human rights abuses and
hastening the judicial resolution of some subversive
cases. Nevertheless, the day-to-day fight against sub-
version reportedly still involves serious violations of
human rights. Several recent "disappearances" are evi-
dence of what appears to be an increasing use of violence
and illegal counterterrorist techniques by small groups
within the military and security forces, apparently for
internal political purposes. Such activity is more a
reflection of the regime's inability to control hard
liners in the military than an indication that the gov-
ernment condones the Use of these techniques.
The government has already taken steps to reduce
blatant human rights abuses and to lessen the enormous
margin for error tolerated in the official fight against
terrorism. More cases are being turned over to military
and civilian tribunals, thus reducing the number of de-
tainees in executive custody under state-of-seige pro-
visions. This change marks only the increased use of
the judicial system, however, and will not necessarily
result in improved prisoner conditions. Seriously com-
promised terrorists continue to be treated harshly and
systematically eliminated.
As a result of the significantly reduced capability
of the terrorist organization, the government is treat-
ing with special considerations, including reduced sen-
tences, those arrested who are only marginally affiliated
with subversives. Some detainees have been released,
and others have been authorized to leave the country.
The government also has published lists of those released
and tried. According to US Embassy sources, a central-
ized computer information retrieval system and new re-
quirements for multiple prior clearances on suspected
subversives have reduced the chances of "mistakes."
RP ALA 77-054
25 August 1977
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3.5(c)
3.3(b)(1)
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) C