[SANITIZED]ARGENTINA: HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES - 1983/12/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628025
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: December 15, 1983

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LATIN AMERICA BRIEF OCPAS LAE 83-242 FOR 15 DECEMBER 1983.
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CONTENTS
2. ARGENTINA: HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES
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2. ARGENTINA: HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES
PRESIDENT ALFONSIN'S QUICK ACTION IN MOVING TO TRY MILITARY
LEADERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IS UNLIKELY TO PROVOKE A SERIOUS
REACTION IN THE ARMED FORCES, UNLESS THE EFFORT BECOMES FAR MORE
EXTENSIVE.
ALFONSIN HAS ORDERED TRIALS FOR NINE MEMBERS OF THE JUNTA WHO
SERVED BETWEEN THE MILITARY TAKEOVER IN 1976 AND MID-1982. THEY WILL
BE TRIED BEFORE MILITARY COURTS, BUT ANY APPEALS WILL GO TO CIVILIAN
TRIBUNALS. LOWER RANKING SECURITY OFFICIALS ALSO WILL BE SUBJECT TO
PROSECUTION IF THEY WERE NOT ACTING UNDER SPECIFIC ORDERS
THE PRESIDENT ALSO HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION
REPEALING AMNESTY AND ANTISUBVERSION LAWS PASSED IN THE LAST MONTHS
OF THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. ACCORDING TO ALFONSIN, HOWEVER, HE WILL
ASK FOR NEW LAWS TO COUNTER SUBVERSION. MOREOVER, HE SAYS SEVEN
TERRORIST LEADERS NOW IN EXILE WILL STAND TRIAL IF THEY RETURN TO
ARGENTINA.
COMMENT: ALFONSIN HAS ENOUGH LATITUDE TO TAKE THESE INITIAL
STEPS, BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPECTED AND BECAUSE THE MILITARY IS TOO
DISORGANIZED TO OPPOSE THEM. THE PRESIDENT'S FAST ACTION IN CARRYING
OUT HIS CAMPAIGN PLEDGES MAY PREEMPT--IF ONLY TEMPORARILY--HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE CALLED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS.
MOREOVER, AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, HE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
PROSECUTIONS.
MILITARY OFFICERS ARE LIKELY TO BE PLEASED WITH HIS PLANS TO
TRY TERRORISTS AND TO ADOPT TOUGH ANTISUBVERSIVE MEASURES. ON THE
OTHER HAND. THEY WILL BE APPREHENSIVE THAT THE CIVILIAN APPELLATE
PROCESS COULD CAUSE A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
ANTICIPATE AND DEAL WITH. MILITARY OPPOSITION TO ALFONSIN WILL
INTENSIFY TO THE EXTENT HE GOES BEYOND CURRENT PLANS TO PROSECUTE,
ONLY SOME FORMER MEMBERS OF THE JUNTA.
3.5(c)
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3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO6628025
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3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628025
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628025
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