DETENTION OF LA OPINION'S DIRECTOR JACOBO TIMERMAN - 1977/04/28

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626853
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: April 28, 1977

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Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626853
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
VULLL
CairROU XII 3133
28 APR 77 1355
INDICATE
E] COLLECT
pCHARGE TO
E.O. 11652:
TAGS:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
INFO:
AMB
DCPOLM
POL/R.
Ecax
USIS
RF
CHRON
FROM
AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
CLASSIFICATION
CONFDENTIAL
GDS
PINEV SHIM AR
Detention of La Opinion's Director JacoboUnerman
SECSTATEWASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSYMONTEVIDEO
CONFIDENTIAL BUEN3S AIRES 3133
REF: (a) State 90875, (b) State 92286, (c) Buenos Aires 3052,
(d) Buenos Aires 3054
1. Hector Timanman, age 23, thanked Embassy for Department's
expression of concern for his father, Jacobo Timerman, which we
informed him, had been transmitted to GOA "informally via diplo-
matic channels."
2. The son stated that, as Jacobo was being held incommunicado
in La Plata under the Executive power, none of the family had
seen him yet. However, according to those (Enrique Jara and Ramiro
de Casasbellas) who were required to participate in a cross exam-
ination with Timerman, he appeared to be in a bad mental state.
As far as they could tell, however, he had not been tortured.�
3. Commenting on what appears to be parts of Timerman's sworn
testimony to the police, which was reprinted at length in
DRAFTED BY
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Prensan3f Apr 26, editor Mario Diament (who accompanied -1
the son to the Embassy) stated that he believed that Timenman's
affirmationsof being a "left-Zionist" and a"mmalcbme'were
made of his own freewill, although probably taken out of
context deliberately. According to Diament, Timm= regards
himself as a marxist, but anti-communist, intellectual and a
Zionist in the sense that he supports the existence of the
State of Israel.
4, In response to our question, Hector stated that at one time
David Graiver had a 457 interest in the two enterprises "Olte
and "(haulm", and Timerman and Abraham Ruteilberg had 55%.
However, Graiver's share was reduced so that at present his
heirs have no more than a 2% interest. At no time, Hector
stated, was Graiver represented an the board nor did he take
any part in the newspaper's decisionmaking.
5. Nbting that the legal justification for Jacobo's preventive
had been
detention/significantly reduced frau suspicion of subversive
links to "economic crimes untrelated to'Subversion," Hector
said he believe4 that this related to the accusation by Graiver's
TAARAT, LidiA Papaeo, that Timerman had failed to hold a stock-
/ holde&smeetingias required ET Argentine lawibefore increasing
the enterprise's capital in order to reduce Graiver's share of
ownership. Hector denied Mrs. Graiver's chargesfsaying that
v a stockholderVmeeting was duly held at the time.
L__ 6. Hector denied that exPresident Lanusse held any shares in __j
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CIONFIDINTIAL PRIM .3� of
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r-- the enterprise. --1
7. Neither Hector nor Diament had any information concerning
the whereabouts of the missing Edgardo
8. Asked why he thought his father had been jailed in the first
place, Hector said he believed that the Provincial Police and
Army officers who initiated the investigation were inspired by
antisemitism and were seeking to take over the government.
Somewhat excitedly, he likened the present climate in Argentina
to that in Germany just before Hitler's putsch. Diament
feared that President Videlawould be unable to rein in First
Corps Commander General Suarez Mason and Governor St. Jean.
Diament noted that Suarez Mason was due to be retired by the end
of this year under Army regulations and so he had to move soon
if he wished to seize power.
might be
9. Dia'ment thought that a. popular mood/created to single out
Jewish firms Afikainactodialimuccixambobactsioxismaddiangema and
alleged that the coup plotters were being supported by financial
interests which stood to gain commercially frail the investiga-
tion. Diament alleged that "La Prensa's" publication of
extracts fron'rhmInman's testimony was prima facie evidence
that those leaking the information had "graduated!' from the
provincial paper "La Nueva Provincia" to the "big time" and
that "La Prensa" was becoming the mouthpiece for the hardline con-
spirators. "La Nacion" and"Men"had benefited handily from
CONFIDENTIAL
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OPTIONAL FORM 169A
(Formerly F8-413A)
January 1976
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Classification MRN
. .
the sale of Graiver's paper plant, "Papel Prensa," at windfall-1
prices. Another firm financing General Suarez Mason's ambi-
tions, rdament charged, was after Graiver's Bristol couaercial
center complex in a choice site adjacent to the Casino in Mar
del Plata.
10. According to "La. Prensa," and subsequently repeated in other
local newspapers, Thmmmmulhas testified that Graiver originally
held 45% in "La Opinion," Tinerman 45% and Rutemberg 10%. Had-
ever, Mts. Graiver alleged that RuteMberg's shares really belonged
to Graiver and that she had his certificates in her possession.
According to her statenimt, Rutemberg received paymEnt, presum-
ably for these shares, in 1976. According to "La Prensa's"
account, fallowing Graiver's death, Timerman, without giving
due notice to the Graiver family, reorganized the capital of
'vibe' so that Timenuma acquired a 65% interest, Rutemberg
304 arid the Graivers' interest was reduced to 5%. In the
ammiegy, "Gustavo" was reorganized so that Thmerman acquired
68%, Rutemberg 30% and the Graiver estate reduced to 2%.
11. In a separate conversation with the Ambassador, "Herald"
editor Robert Cox stated that he also had heard that Timenman
Was in bad marital shape, crying, etc. Commenting on Timenman's
alleged testimony as leaked to the press, Cdt's
editorial of April 27 noted that it
03NFTDENTIAL
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MRN
rsmacked of the confessions of "crimes against the people" so �I
typical of East European political trials. "Yet," noted the
"Herald'*" editorial, "even in the leaks (which are frau un-
named sources), Mr. Timermsn is not charged with involvement in
subversion. The financial juggling denounced sounds suspect;
but we are being fed allegations, not proof. Some things with
which he is charged, or is alleged to have confessed, are quite
ridiculous. What is wrong with being a leftwing Zionist? It
sounds like one of Mr. Timerman' a jokes. Is it wrong to have
set up a newspaper along the lines of "Le Monde" (that was
certainly no secret) ...If Mr. TinTerman is suspected of comnitting
a crime, he should be tried in a court of law."
also
12. The military evidently/are Am having second thoughts about
the press leaks. In an apparent attanpt to quell the wave of
rumors, the First Army Command, presumably reflecting the out-
look of Army G4 General GalLino, the military investigating judge
appointed by President Videla in the Graivar affair, issued a
warning that press accounts concerning the investigation were
the responsibility of the editors who published them.
13. Enrique Jara's interview with the Uruguayan 'Nundo Color"
has been reprinted hicsiez=milkinimmitemtating that he
had been offeredAa position in the OAS (as executive secretary
of the Human Rights Committee) by the United State, miss
he is also quoted as
ifeadteandidarmaz/saying he had broken with Timsrman and would never
Timerman
L work with him againeven if were found not guilty of the
OONFIDENTIAL
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January 1975
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UUMLUNEKLUN Foest of
Clangfication
E charges against hi9because Timerman had lied to Jara pre- --1
sumably about the ownership arrangement in "La Opinion").
14. "La Opinion" has announced that during the forced absence
of Jacobo Timerman, the editorial staff under the direction
of Casasbellas was assuming responsibility for the newspaper's
editorial policy. Diament told, us this was intended to mini-
mize the possibility of any further moves by the government
against the newspaper. In response to our question, Hector
denied that the paper was in any financial difficulty and asserted
the newspaper would continue to be published unless it were
Intervened by the military authorities.
15. The editors of "LaCpiniad'also called for a thorough in-
vestigation of the Graiver affair "to its ultimate consequences..."
(FranciscoMmique, uticse name has also been featanuirnomirl-
ently in the accusations that have circulated, also called for
a thorough investigation in his newspaper. bUnrique defended
Graiver, saying that there had not been any imputations
against his moral character when, he served as Secretary in
Manrique's Ministry of Social Welfare in the Lanusse government.
If Graiver was subsequently corrupted, Mianriquewrote, let's
find out who corruptadhimnqmatter whether the corrupters
wear military uniforms, are men of the cloth, or from any
other walk of life.)
r.nwmpiarrau.
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16. COMMENT: While; as we have reported earlier, antisemitiam --1
to some degree has motivated those who initiated the investi-
gation, this is not the major element in the Graiver affair.
The Timennsiboy's comparisons withliWzi Germany are grossly
exaggerated. However, the Jewish community is concerned that,
because of the high profile of Jews involved in this case, it
could lead to ,a snowballing effect of further antisemiticmgAms.
manifestations.
CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626853
OPTIONAL FORM 159A
(Formerly F9-419A)
January 1975
Dept of State