GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR HANDLING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXCESSES COMMITTED DURING THE ANTI-SUBVERSIVE CAMPAIGN - 1983/04/22

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06698564
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: April 22, 1983

DIRECTORATE OF
OPERATIONS
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INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION CABLE
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
IN 83 1037439
PAGE 001 OF 4
THIS IS AM INFORMATION REPORT. AI FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
REPORT CLAssius....m-e-v-wwimm-1
EXCLUSIVE DISSEMINATION TO ADDRESSES LISTED IN FINAL PARAGRAPH
DIST: 22 APRIL 1983
COUNTRY: ARGENTINA
SUBJ: OOVERMNINT PLANS FOR HANDLING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EXCESSES CONNITTED DURING THE ANTI-SUBVERSIVE CAMPAIGN
SUMMARY: THE CHIEF Of TwE FEDERAL POLICE TOLD
ITHAT THE MILITARY JUNTA WILL
ISSUE A DOCUMENT IN WHICH THE COFOUNDERS IN CHIEF OF THE
THREE SERVICES DURING TME 'DIRTY WAR. WILL ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY THEIR SUBORDINATES:
THE POLICE CHIEF ADDED THAT ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
TNE ACTIONS TAKEN WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE THEN-PRESIDENT,
PERONIST ISABEL PERCH. HE ADDED. HOWEVER. THAT IT IS
UNLIKELY A GENERAL AMNESTY WILL BE ISSUED. THE cmur OF
POLICE ASSURED ITHAT THE FEDERAL POLICE.
AS AN INSTITUTION. WILL ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ANSWERING CHARGES BEING MADE AGAINST INDIVIDUAL POLICEMEN.
AND HE ENCOURAGED TO AVOID UNILATERAL ACTIONS THAT
COULD FURTHER COMPLICATE THE MATTER. I
3.3(b)(1
3.3(b)(1)
3.3(b)(1)
TEXT. I. ON 21 APRIL 1983. RETURED GENERAL
JUAN BAUTISTA ((SASIAIN)) CHI F �F
IONS OF THE CHARGES OF POLICE
EXCESSES DURING THE ANTI-SUBVERSIVE CAMPAIGN THAT
WERE BEING MADE BY R000LF0 PEREGRIND ((FERNANDEZ
A FORMER MEMBER Of THE POLICE
Elm w
3.3(b)(1)
3.3(b)(1),
>ABIAIM SAID THAT THE FEDERAL POLICE. AS AN INSTITUTION.
IS ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH THE
CHARGES MADE AGAINST THE POLICE BY FERNANDEZ. SASIAIN
ENCOURAOEO TO REMAIN CALM AND TO REFRAIN
FROM ANY TYPE OF UNILATERAL ACTION THAT COULD ONLY
COMPLICATE MATTERS: SPECIFICALLY, HE ASKED TO
REFRAIN FROM MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR COUNTER-
CHARGES, TO REFRAIN FROM TAKING THE NATTER INTO LEGAL
CHANNELS. AND TO AVOID ANY ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE
CHARGES IN AN UNCOGROINATED NATTER.
2. SASIAIN SAID THAT THE ARMY AND THE ARMED
FORCES IN GENERAL MILL ACCEPT TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
TME ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT, UNDER THEIR ORDERS, DURING
THE ANTI-SUBVERSIVE CAWPAION (THE 'DIRTY WAR.). HE
ADDED THAT THIS WILL INCLUDE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT
BY THE POLICE. SINCE POLICE ACTIVITIES FALL UNDER
THE PURVIEW OF THE ARMY. SASIAIN ADDED THAT THE
FEDERAL POLICE IS HORNING CLOSELY WITH ARMY
5ECRE'r
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AMEND OF REPORT
amommics TO ARRANGE THE DEFENSE FOR POLICEMEN
INVOLVED IN THE 'DIRTY WAR.* SASIAIN STRESSED
THAT MEMOIRS OF THE FEDERAL POLICE SHOULD NOT
WORRY: NEON-LEVEL OFFICIALS OF THE ARMY AND THE
POLICE ARE BEADING THE THE MATTER. AND POLICE
PERSONNEL WILL BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.
a.
SASIAIN SAID HE WANTED TO TELL THEM.
OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THE GOV/1MM WOULD BE
TAKING TO PROTECT THE FEDERAL POLICE AND OTKIR
INSTITUTIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN TNE "DIRTY MR.'
Ni SAID THAT PROBABLY DURING THE LAST MEEK IN
APRIL. THE MILITARY JUNTA WILL ISSUE rie rInsr
OF TWO OR THREE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE 'DIRTY
VAR.- THE FIRST DOCUMENT WILL BE HISTORICAL.
PROVIDING THE BACKGROUND ON THE SUBVERSIVE ACTIONS
THAT WERE TAKING PLACE AN, EXPLAINING WHY THE
GOVERNMENT BELIEVED DRASTIC STEPS WERE NECESSARY
TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER. SASIAIN SAID THE KWIC
REACTION TO THAT FIRST DOCUMENT WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER MINOR CHANGES WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE
SECOND DOCUMENT. HOWEVER. HE SAID. THE BASIC
OBJECTIVE OF THE SECOND DOCUMENT WILL BE TO DEAL
WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE WAY IN WHICH
THE WAR AGAINST SUBVERSION WAS CONDUCTED. THIS
DOCUMENT WILL NOT DETAIL SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT WERE
?AKIN BY THE SECURITY SERVICES. HOWEVER. IT WILL
MAKE VERY CLEAR THAT ALL THE SECURITY AND
INTELLIGENCE GROUPS THAT OPERATED GORING THE 'DIRTY
WAR WERE ACTINO UNDER THE SPECIFIC ORDERS or THE
COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF OF THE THXEE MILITARY SERVICES:
THE THEN-COMMANDERS-AN-CHIEF WILL THEREBY ASSuME
All RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ILLICIT OR ILLEGAL ACTS
CARRIED OUT BY ANY OF THEIR SUBORDINATES OWING THE
'DIRTY WAR.' SASIAIN SAID THIS DECISION ON mow To
HANDLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS DURING THE
"DIRTY WAR* HAD BEEN MADE BY THE CURRENT MILITARY
JUNTA: THE DECISION HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL
LEADERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHuRCH AND HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
WITH MAJOR LEADERS OF VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES.
SASIAIN SAID THAT THESE POLTICIANS. PRIMARILY
MONISTS. HAVE SAID THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS DOCUMENT
WILL BE ADEQUATE FOR LAYING THE REST THE ISSUE OF
THE 'DIRTY, WAR."
4. CONTINUING ON THE THEME OF RESPONSIBILITY.
SASIAIN SAID THAT THE FIRST DOCUMENT. PUTTING MATTERS
IN THEIR HISTORICAL SETTING. WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE
ARMED FORCES WERE GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING
WITH THE PROBLEM OF SUBVERSION BY THE THEN-CIVILIAN
GOVERNMENT. HEADED BY PRESIDENT ISABEL ((PERCH)), WHO
DIRECTED THE ARMED FORCES To CONBAT TERRORISM ANO
SUBVERSION. THUS. HE SAID, THE ULTIMATE RESONSIBILITy
WILL BE PLACED WITH THAT MONIST GOVERNMENT.
S. ACCORDING THE SASIAIN, THE DECISION ON
WHETHER THE GOvERNNENT WILL PREPARE AND RELEASE A
THIRD DOCUMENT ON THE MATTER WILL DEPEND ON THE PURL IC
REACTION TO THE FIRST TWO DOCUMENTS. ASKED
WHETHER THE THIRD
DOCUMENT NIGHT INCLUDE A GENERAL AMNESTY FOR ALL
PERONS INVOLVED. SASIAIN SAID THAT IT IS HIGHLY
UNLIKELY THAT AN AMNESTY WILL BE ISSUED. HE SAID IT IS
3.3(b)(1)
3.3(b)(1)
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUNICT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT
THE GENERAL PEEL INS THAT TWE DECISION OF THE THEN-CONIIMANDERS
IN CHIEF Of THE SERVICES TO ACCEPT RESPONSISILITy FOR
ALL ACTIONS WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT ALL THEIR
SUBORDINATES AND WIRE ACTINO UNDER THEIR COWERS. HE
COED THAT THE ARMY STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE ISSUANCE OF
AN AMNESTY. THE NAVY IS JUST AS STRONGLY OPPOSED. AND
THE AIR FORCE ODES NOT NAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED POSITION.
O. RETURNING TO THE SPECIFIC CASE OF THE
FEDERAL POLICE. SASIAIN SAID THAT AN AO HOC COMMISSION
IS BEIM ICONIC WITHIN THE FEDERAL POLICE TO DIAL
WITH THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE ACCUSATIONS
BEING MADE AGAINST ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIRED POLICE
pERIONNEL. TO DATE. HE SAID. THE POLICE-HAvE ONLY
ISSUED A VERY SHORT PRESS STATEMENT ESSENTIALLY DENYING
THE STATEMENTS MADE BY FERNANDEz.
7. PERSCoNEL 3.3(b)(1)
GENERALLY EXPRESSED THEIR SATIFICATioN WITH
THE STATEMENTS MADE BY SASIAIN. SEVERALI
IADMITTED THAT THEY HAD
BEEN CLOSE TO PANIC AFTER MARINO FERNANDEZ'S CHARGES AGAINST
THE POLICE. AND THEY ADMITTED THEY HAD CONSIDERED AMINO
PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR SETTING A LOITER TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES. WAIVER. I ISASIAIN HAD BASICALLY 3.3(b)(1)
CALMED THEIR CONCERNS BY TELLING THEN THAT THE SENIOR
OFFICIALS WOULD ASSUME 1WE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE
ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN DURING THE *DIRTY WAR �
SENIOR OFFICERS I SHARED 3.3(b)(1)
THAT. VIEW; THEY ALSO EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE
WHOLE NATTER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE �DIRTY WAR
WILL EVENTUALLY DISSIPATE: THEY EXPECT THE NEW
CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE BASICALLY SATISFIED TO
HAVE THE ARAM FORCES. AS AN INSTITUTION. ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS TAKEN. SEVERAL OF
THESE SENIOR OFFICERS ALSO /SITED THAT THEY FEEL
ESPECIALLY REASSURED BY SASIAIN'S STATEMENT THAT
THE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELEASED WILL PLACE ULTIMATE
RESPONSIBILITY CO TWE FORMER PERONIST GOVERNMENT:
THEY NOTED THAT THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. WHICH THEY
EXPECT TO ALSO BE MONIST. WOULD CERTAINLY NOT
WANT TO REVIVE AN ISSUE THAT COULD EVENTUALLY
DAMAGE THE IMAGE OF ITS OWN PARTY.
B. f ICONMENT: SASIAIN APPEARS TO
AVAM_OEIN SUCCESSFUL IN CALMING THE CONCERNS OF
POLICE OFFICERS BY ASSURING THEN THAT
RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE ASSUMED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS
OF THE MILITARY SERVICES AND BY CAUTIONING THEN
AGAINST UNILATERAL ACTIONS THAT COULD ONLY SERVE
TO FURTHER COMPLICATE NATTERS. THE REAL PROBLEM
((ZOOM THE POLICE. HOWEVER. RESTS WITH SOME OF THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE
WORST EXCESSES OF TWE PERIOD AND WHOSE NAMES HAVE
NOT YET BEEN MADE PUBLIC; THEY ARE AFRAID THAT THEIR
ROLES WILL BE PUBLICIZED AND THEY ARE STILL DEMANDING
ASSURACES THAT THEY WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.)
B. (------ICOMMENTS:
A. ONE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THIS REPORT AND THE ONE CITED IN PARAGRAPH ONE CONCERNS
THE NATTER OF AN AMNESTY. IN THE EARLIER REPORT.
GENERAL CRISTIND ((NICOLAIDES)). COMMANDER OF THE AM.
IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT A GENERAL AMNESTY WILL BE
ISSUED; THIS CONFLICTS WITH THE STATEMENT MADE BY
KCIRE-T
MEI
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE Of THIS NOMINATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATECI.AT BEGINNINO MID IND OF REPORT
SASIANI IN TM! CURRENT REPORT. NICOLAIDES. VERSION
IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH BOTH MILITARY AND PUNIC
EXPECTATIONS THAT AN AMNESTY IS LIKELY.
B. THIS REPORT IMPLIES THAT THE THREE
COMNANDERS-IN-CHI(F OF THE SERVICES MIRING TM IWO'S
HAVE AGREED TO MUNI RISPONSIGILITY FOR ACTIONS
COMMITTED DURING MI "DIRTY WAR.' BUT THAT IS NOT
SPECIFIED.
C. RELATED INFORMATION ON THE EFFECT
OF THE WHOLE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WITHIN Two war WAC
1AAT ACCOMIN TO A NOTICE DISTRIBUTED TO
NAVAL OFFICERS IN MID-APRIL. A LAWYER FROM THE
NAVAL LEGAL STAFF WILL BEGIN STANDING WATCH WITH THE
NORVAL NAVY WATCH OFFICER. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:
THIS ACTION IS BEING TAKEN BECAUSE Of THE HUGE INCREASE
IN HABEAS CORPUS REQUESTS THAT THE NAVY IS NOV
RECEIVING. 1 1IN THE PAST.
LAWYERS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS WERE AFRAID TO MANE
SUCH REQUESTS OF THE NAVY OR OTHER SERVICES; HOWEVER.
WITH THE INCREASING PUBLIC AIRING OF NATTERS CONCERNING
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE 'DIRTY VAR. THIS FEAR HAS BEEN
REDUCED MID LARGE WINN OF PERSONS ARE NOW FILING
HABEAS CORPUS REQUESTS WITH THE NAVY.)
3.3(b)(1)
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SOURCES OR METHODS I
WARNING NWICE-INTELLIOENCE
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