INR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS NO. 106, MAY 18, 1979 - 1979/05/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01057226
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 18, 1979

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INR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS
TRANSFERRED/RECOMMEND RELEASE
CONCURRENCEREQUrS'1 b tie, 1979
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Argentina
Broaching the "Disappeareds" Problem. The Argentine
government is compiling information on persons who have
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allegedly disappeared in the political violence of recent
ars, according to knowledgeable Argentine military sources.
The effort apparently began about a month ago on orders that
reportedly came "from the top."
Representatives of the Army and Navy told a visting US
Army officer that:
--information gathered from subordinate units with security
responsibilities is being compared with central police,
military, and government files to determine whether
alleged "disappeareds" are dead, jailed, or missing (no
information); �and
--the most difficult problem is posed by cases wherein
persons killed in combat operations were either unidenti-
fiable or carrying one or more false identification
documents.
An Army intelligence source confirmed to an Embassy officer
that research on the "disappeareds" issue is under way. He
noted, that while the government has lists of dead terrorists,
there are many cases that remain unexplained. In recent weeks,
intelligence officers have been contacting families of the
"disappeared" in search of .information that might clarify
specific incidents, but the results have been limited. Accord-
ing to the intelligence officer, security units have apparently
destroyed records that would link them to disappearance cases.
A reported comment by former Corps I Commander Major
General Suarez Mason concerning death warrants that he had
signed leads our Embassy to believe that extensive records do,
or at least did at one time, exist. In the Embassy's judgment,
P_APret0( however, such records as may exist be revealed.
FORN IR6 0093 79 May 9.i1CONFIDENTIAL
J.�
INR Comment: The Argentine government has not been
responsive on the "disappeareds" issue. There has been no
massive public demand for an official accounting, and govern-
ment leaders have often rationalized their position with the
argument that it is better to leave the past behind and con-
centrate on reconstructing the country. There are indications
however, that the governing junta and President Videla may
have concluded that an accounting--however partial--will have
to be rendered eventually, and that it is best to undertake
the job while the armed forces are firmly in control.
(CONFIDENTIAL/NOFORN)
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IAHRC Visit on Track. The Inter-American Human Rights
Commission (IAHRC) will proceed with its visit to Argentina
following the election of new members of the Special General
Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on
May 22. We have also learned that the Commission is satis-
fied that the Argentine mission to the OAS is giving its full
cooperation. The Argentine mission has stated that it is
authorized to accept any date for the visit selected by the
IAHRC. (CONFIDENTIAL, State 118291, May 10)
INR Comment: The visit was originally scheduled for
May 28 through June 9. Despite fears in some quarters, it
is not likely that the Argentines will use the election of
new IAHRC members as a pretext to seek a postponement of the
on site investigation of human conditions in Argentina.
(CONFIDENTIAL)
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