CASUAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TEMPORARY KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS IN ARGENTINA - 1982/05/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626778
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 15, 1982

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SITUATION LISTING DATE 05/26/82//146
SITUATION: FALKLAND
SUBJECT CATAGORY: FILE X
MESSAGE / ANNOTATION:
MESSAGE;
-EIA108
00 RUEADWW
OE RUEAIIA #0388 1351752
ZNY SSSSS
o 51754Z MAY 82
RUEKJCS/DIA
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT
RUEAIJU/NPIC
RUEHSE/SECRET SERVICE
RUEHF8/FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
RUEBWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE
RUEADWW/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
RUEADWW/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF
RUEOFAA/CDR JSOC FT BRAGG NC
RULPALJ/USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PA
RUCBSAA/CINCLANT NORFOLK VA.
8T
DIST;
15 MAY 1982
EO 13526
3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
EO 13526
3.5(c)
3.3(b)(1)
REPORT CLASS-S E
COUNTRY: ARGENTINA/UNITED KINGOUM
SUBJECT: CASUAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TEMPORARY KIDNAPPING OF
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS IN ARGENTINA (DOI: ABOUT 14 MAY
1982)
3.3(b)(1)
3.5(c)
3.3(b)(1)
3.5(c)
3.3(b)(1)
1. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED ON ABOUT 14 MAY 1982
BY A MEMBER ( _ �) THE TEMPORARY KIDNAPPING
OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS IN bUENOS AIRES DURING THE WEEK OF 9 MAY:
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3.5(c)
3.3(b)(1)
3.5(c)
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c0):(
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A. PRESIDENT LEOPOLDO ((GALTIERRI)) IS PERSONNALY INTERESTED
IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE KIDNAPPINGS THAT ARE BEING CARRIED OUT By
THE INTERNAL SECURITY SECTION OF THE SIE, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMY
BELIEVES THE ACTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT BY MEMBERS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
WARFARE COMPENENT OF THE 601ST INTELLIGENCE BATTALION, THE OPERATIONAL
ARM OF THE SIE. THE SIE IS HOPEFUL IT WILL BE ABLE TO.ARREST TWO OF
THE KIDNAPPERS DURING.THE WEEKEND OF L5-16 MAY, AND THE SIE WILL
TRY TO.GET THEM TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED.
8, THERE IS ONLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AVAILABLE TO IDENTIFY
THE PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE KIDNAPPING. IF SUSPECTS ARE ARRESTED, IT
WILL BE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN CONFESSIONS FROM THEM BECAUSE THeIR FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES WOULD BE THE PERSONS INTERROGATING THEM, AND THE LATTER
CAN BE ASSUMED TO BE LESS THAN ZEALOUS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THE FACTS,
MANY PEOPLE IN THE 601ST BATTALION.KNOW'THE NAMES 3.3(b)(1)
UF THE PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE KIDNAPPINGS, BUT THE "CODE OF HONOR" OF
THE 601ST BATTALION WOULD NOT PERMIT THEM TO INFORM ON THEIR FRIENDS,
IN ADDITION,- THERE IS DIVIDED OPINION WITHIN THE INTERNAL SECORITY.
SECTION OF THE SIE THAT IS DOING THE INVESTIGATING. SOME PERSONNEL
ARE NOT SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATING AT ALL, AND THOSE WHO ARE TRYING To
DO THE INVESTIGATION ARE CONSIDERED OUTSIDERS AND ARE GETTING NO
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COOPERATION FROM THIER COLLEAGUES.) 3.5(c)
C. NO INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE MOTIVATION FOR THE
KIDNAPPINGS; WITHIN THE SIE, THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THE PERSONS
INVOLVED DID IT BECAUSE OF THEIR PERSONAL ANTI-BRITISH
AND ANT1.41.S, RESPONSE TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS PROBLEM. THERE IS.
ALSO NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WHETHER SENIOR -LEVELS OF THE 601ST
BATTALION AUTHORIZED THE KIDNAPPINGS; IF THERE WERE SUCH AUTHORIZATION,
IT IS SPECULATED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO DESTABILIZE GALTIERI
BECAUSE OF HIS ASSUMED CONCESSIONS TO THE BRITISH OR TO FORCE
A BREAKDOWN IN THE TALKS WITH THE BRITISH AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
D. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS PROGRESS IN. DETERMININGTHE
IDENTITIES OF THE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE, THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT INTENDS
TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT IT HAS DETERMINED THEIR IDENTITIES; THIS
STATEMENT COULD BE MADE AS EARLY AS THE WEEKEND OF .0-16 MAY, .
IN MAKING SUCH A STATEMENT, GALTIERI OBVIOUSLY HAS THE FOLLOWING OPTION5
OPEN TO HIM: TO ADMIT THAT PERSONNEL OR EVEN OFFICIALS OF THE SIE WERE
INVOLVED AND WILL BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL; TO CLAIM THAT IT WAS THE wORK
OF A RENEGADE GROUP THAT HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE SECURITY SERVICES
DURING THE "DIRTY WAR" AGAINST TERRORISTS; OR TO CLAIM THAT IT WAS
PAGE 5 3.5(c)
()ONE BY TFRRnRIcTc wHn WFRF TRVINn Tn FMRARRASS THF GOI/FRNMFNT
2,
KIDNAPPINGS, THE JOURNALISTS WHO WERE SEIZED WERE 3.3(b)(1)
SIMPLY TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY; THERE WERE NO ADVANCE PLANS TO SEIZE
THOSE PARTICULAR JOURNALISTS.
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MESSAGE / ANNOTATION;
3.3(b)(1)
3, THE IMPLICATION OF THIS INFORMATION I.S:THAT
NO SERIOUS ATTEMPT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY TO IDENTIFY AND PUNISH THE
PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KIDNAPPING OF THE JOURNALISTS. IT IS NOT
CLEAR WHETHER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMY OR THE PRESIDENT IS AWARE OF
THE CASUAL NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.)
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