TIMERMAN RELEASE - MORE POSITIVE SIGNALS - 1978/03/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626869
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: March 30, 1978

Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
F-x #
CN 2377
3020152 MAR 78
INDICATE
cJ COLLECT
=CHARGE TO
FROM
AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
CLASSIFICATION
�=ec
CONFIDENTIAL
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: SHUM, AR
TIMERMAN'S RELEASE - MORE POSITIVE SIGNALS
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
AMB
DCM
POL3
POLR
ECOM
USIS
SCI
CONS
RF
CHRON
SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL BUENOS AIRES
REF: BUENOS AIRES 2225
1. Following Ambassador Castro's meeting with Army
Chief of Staff Gen. Viola in which the latter promised
there would be forward movement in the Timerman case,
the Ambassador met with Mrs. Timerman on Thursday,
March 30. The wife of the imprisoned editor of LA OPINION
related that the family had received a number of assurances
that her husband would shortly be transferred from prison
to a modified form of detention, either house arrest or
conditional liberty (e.g., his movements restricted to
Buenos Aires). She stated that hopes were very high.
2. A senior Navy staff member informed Embassy PolOff
Wednesday, March 29 that the Secretary Generals of the
Argentine Armed Forces had agreed to a Navy proposal
to transfer Jacobo Timerman to house arrest
2377
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DRAFTING DATE
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CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION APPOVED BY
POL:FAHarris
3/30/78
277
A/POL:AGFreeman CIF1/""
CLEARANCES:
50153-101
ilatattRITAMME
DCM:MChapli
CONFIDENTIAL
CLASSIFICATION
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
OPTIONAL FORM 153
(Formerly F8-413)
January 1975
Dept of State
1./
50153-201
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Page 2 of
Z377
MRN
rimmat "at the end of the month". The Navy has agreed-1
to provide guards for the Timerman residence to insure
his well-being.
3. Hector Timerman, the publisher's son, also met with
Embassy PolOff on March 29. The young Timerman said that
the family had been assured by a senior naval officer
over the weekend that his father's release from prison
was imminent.
4. The Timerman proceedings of the National Council for
patrimonial responsibility (CONAREPA) are also moving
towards a conclusion. Hector Timerman reported that the
family's attorney was told by Army General Auditor Cuesta,
the President of the CONAREPA, last week that the CONAREPA
until
has given the state prosecutor tarktic the end of March to
finish his examination of the legality of the acquisition
of Timerman's assets and possessions. General Cuesta said
that if the government prosecutor is unable to raise any
questions regarding the legality of Timerman's possessions
that CONAREPA will lift the freeze on Timerman's possessions.
5. Hector Timerman reiterated that his father's only
major possession is 45% of the LA OPINION newspaper and
publishing plant. David Graiver's widow owns the other
but these itssets'aretlocked by the government.
45% of the shares/ The newspaper's former General Manager
Mr. Rothenburg controls the other 107, which he was given
by Graiver and Timerman. Rothenburg now lives in Spailn
CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
OPTIONAL FORM 153A
(Formerly FS-413A)
January 1975
Dept of State
50153-201
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
CONFIDENTIAL
�
Classification
Page 3 of
g 3 7 1
MAN
ri-acobo Timerman refused an early offer of Graiver'-]
widow to sell the outstanding shares of LA OPINION as he
did not have sufficient capital for the purchase. Hector
Timerman added that his father and Rothenburg had
controlling interest of the newspaper and saw no need to
raise the large amount of capital to purchase the out-
standing 4570. Mrs. Timerman informed the Ambassador that
a proposal to increase the number of LA OPINION shares
had never been acted on. She said that the newspaper was
prosperous when it was taken over, but that the family had
no expectation or interest in compensation. Their only
interest was Mr. Timerman's freedom.
6. EMBASSY COMMENT: The strength and multiplicity of
the signals both we and the Timerman family have been
receiving lead us to be optimistic that Timerman will be
transferred to house arrest within a relatively short
timeframe.
CASTRO
CONFIDENTIAL
Classzfication
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626869
OPTIONAL FORM 153A
(Formerly FS-413A)
January 1975
Dept of State