RABBIS VISIT TIMERMAN - 1979/04/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626840
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: April 2, 1979

BUENOS AIRES* -
2 44(79-111 43
VEL
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DCM
POL 3
POL/R
DAO
ECOM
USICA
CHRON
RION
AMEFSASSY BUENOS AIRES
CIANWICMMW
CONFIDENTIAL
Man GDS 4/2/85.(HALLMAN, WILLIAM H.)
SHUM AR
(C) RABBIS VISIT TIMERMAN
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL BUENOS AIRES 2515
REF: BUENOS AIRES 2513
1. (C - Entire Text).
2. Rabbi Theodore Friedman of South Orange, New Jersey
(presently residing in Jerusalem) and his son Rabbi Hillel
Friedman of Spring Valley, New York, visited Jacobo
Timerman on the afternoon of March 30. They found him
in reasonably good spirits but determined to begin a
hunger campaign on April 16 if he is not released. The
visitors and Rabbi Marshall Meyer, who was with them,
tried to dissuade him. (Embassy Comment: They generally
share Embassy view that if indeed the Argentine Government
is about to free Timerman action to force this quickly
might lead to a negative decision -- rather than GOA's -
appearing to bow under pressure.)
OR-P
3. 44eore Friedman said he planned to telephone Pat
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CONFIDENTIAL
CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION AFFROVI33 BY:
DGM:MCh
CLASSIFICATION
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aPTIONAL FORM 153
Wannedy FS4131
Apsuarv1915
Dept of State
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60152-201
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CONFIDENTIAL 2
Page of
Classificatoon PAM
Derian on his return to New Jersey Che left 4/1) to
discuss his visit and the Timerman case further.
Timerman commented during visit he would also like
to see Ambassador Castro.
CASTRO
CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
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OPTIONAL FORM 152e(H)
(Formerly FS-413(I4)a.)
January 1976
Dept of State
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..)JJ ( 0 4
Mr. Long. Thank you.
The gentleman from Massachusetts.
Com
Mr. Sma
109
N.OAJAk \J2-0.10.A
Al ad :211-v.o..4
ci-Acikt\
)Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won't take
but a minute. I understand that no one has asked Mr. Irving
Tragen a question today. (Laughter) And I just want
him to justify his salary.
Mr. Long. You might ask him how much his salary
is. (Laughter)
Mr. ,figa-th. At least it will show in the record
you were here.
Mr. Tragen. Thank you.
CoArr
Mr. SmTtft. That is the only reason I am asking
it. (Laughter) He caught me as I came in.
But on page 2 of your statement, you say human
rights is a major preoccupation of the OAS and American
Declaration of Rights and Duties, the plan was adopted in 194S
the:. ,onoral Amoriran Commi�.;Ion of -an 1" 't �Itoe
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5 invested tens of thousands of complaints and violations of
the rights of groups and individuals and you mention
reports on Chile, Uruguay, Nicaragua. I don't see anything
in there about Argentina. As you may know, I have been
\\
'1
77/714A n41/
very interested in TimMrmans, who has been incarcerated
for a long period of time. I went-to visit him in jail.
He is out of jail. He is incarcerated in his home.
It is one of the worst violations I think of human rights
I have ever seen.
I have done everything humanly possible to try to
get this man out of the country. U.S. News and World
Report, one of the magazines last week, had a feature
story on it.
What is OAS doing if anything to get that man
released?
Mr. Tragen. I can't respond specifically to Mr.
TinTkrmins' case which I happen to 1-now fairly Won, too,
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6 but after substantial negotiation the Government of
Argentina has now extended an invitation to the Inter-
American Human Rights Commission to come to Argentina,.
The visit is scheduled for the last week in May and the
first week in June. It is the first visit of its kind
that this government has permitted. It is the Inter-
American Human Rights Commission which has full authority
in accordance with the terms of reference of the Commission
to deal with any of the problems that exist in Argentina.
What trmentioned, sir,AW
the American Declaration of
itiza
Human Rights in 1948 wee signed by all of the mombPr
countries. The Etl.mmissaAran�wa-s�se3/4-3.1p,---ty.e3 Inter-American
Human Rights Commission was set up in 1959.
CONTe_
Mr. Sarth. I am familiar with that. I just want to
know what are you going to do for Jacob� Timmermans and
if you over get down to Argentina, start investigating
humln r3qhts, you will nevor get out of then,. They
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7 will keep you busy for the rest of your life and everybody
-)
else's life on this Committee; thousands, thousands of
people who have been incarcerated, taken out of their
homes late at night, never to be seen again by their
families. It is one of the worst blatant countries
against human rights in the world..
Just before :his bill is marked up in April or
May, maybe May, I want a report on what you people did
down there in Argentina to get Jec000 Timmerman, out of that
country. Somebody has got to make thoso people listen.
That man has done nothing. He was found not guilt. by
a military tribunal. What more does he have to do?
I am aerious. I am sig.:, of these clubs we've got
around here, pull down the shades, have a couple of
martinis and say how great they are. I want to sec
how great you are getting Jacobo Timmermans out of
ArconLina.
�
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8 Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Long. Thank you.
Mr. Tragen:
In response to your question about what the US
Government has done about the situation of Mr. Timmerman,
I submit the following:
The US Government has made repeated
efforts on behalf of Mr. Timmerman. President
Carter raised his case with President Videla when
the latter was in Washington for the Panama Canal
Treaties signing ceremony. Secretary of.State
Vance reviewed his case in detail when he visited
Argentina in November of 1977. Since then,*our
Ambassador and Department of State officials have
continued to press for the resolution of Mr. Timmerman's
case. At present he is under house arrest, and
Argentina's Supreme Court has ruled his detention
under "Poder Ejecutivo Nacional" illegal.
Mr. Timmerman is seeking his immediate freedom and
is challenging his continued detention under the
"actos institucionales".
As the Subcommittee knows, the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (IAHRC) is scheduled to
visit Argentina at the end of may and the beginning
of June 1979. In view of the Commission's mandate,
and its specific interest in freedom of the press,
Mr. Timmerman's problem is the kind of case in which
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the US believes the Human Rights Commission will take
an active interest during its on-site visit.
We remain hopefulthat the Government of
Argentina will release Mr. Timmerman, and will
continue our efforts to encourage that end.
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