ARGENTINA: REVOLT BY RIGHTWING AIR FORCE OFFICERS SUPPRESSED AND PRESIDENT MARIA ESTELA PERON APPEARS STRENGTHENED.

Record ID: 230480

  • Title: ARGENTINA: REVOLT BY RIGHTWING AIR FORCE OFFICERS SUPPRESSED AND PRESIDENT MARIA ESTELA PERON APPEARS STRENGTHENED.
  • Date: 24th December 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV Air base with guards on patrol outside (3 shots) 0.16 2. GV Demonstrators outside base (5 shots) 0.42 3. GV Congress Building 0.50 4. GV Government House 0.56 5. SV Mrs. Peron talking on television 1.10 6. CU & GV People reading newspapers (3 shots) 1.30 Initials VS 21.25 VS 21.35 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th January 1976 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVAELC83LWP037J3XT150BAJMEUI
  • Story Text: A revolt by right-wing air force officers in the Argentina capital of Buenos Aires has been suppressed and President Maria Estela Peron has apparently emerged strengthened.

    After the four day anti-government revolt, President Peron addressed the nation in a forthright speech on television. The bloodless attempted coup ended on Monday (22 December) after lengthy negotiations between the Airforce High Command and the rebel army chiefs.

    But the 44-year-old widow President, frequently accused of lacking political experience, claimed that it was through her own personal efforts that the revolt ended without bloodshed.

    The rebels, who took over the seventh air brigade at the Moron ("Little Hill") Base west of the capital early last Thursday (19 December) pledged that they would fire against comrades-in-arms.

    Senora Peron described themselves as nationalists and Catholics, demanded the overthrow of Senora Person's government which they accused of incompetence and of spreading corruption and chaos.

    Riot police broke up a mass demonstration in support of the airmen. Hours after the officers' uprising ended peacefully with the surrender of the Moron and another rebel air base, hundreds of young people marched on Government House in the Central Plaza de Mayo.

    SYNOPSIS: The Moron air base --- one of two rebel air force base seized by air force officers in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires last week. But three days later, the attempted coup was over. The airmen -- demanding the over-throw of President Maria Estela Peron's government --- surrendered without bloodshed. The right-wing airmen found plenty of support. Hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the base and were later broken up by riot police. Hours after the uprising ended peacefully, the demonstrators marched on Government House in the Central Plaza de Mayo. The rebels have said that the end of the revolt should not be interpreted as defeat.

    In the capital, President Peron addressed the nation on radio and television after the revolt was over. She said she was thankful it had ended without bloodshed but that potential rebels should not confuse the serenity she had displayed during the crisis with weakness. Senora Peron pledged that her strength of mind would be employed not only to avoid bloodshed but also to defend the constitution.

    Top-ranking military chiefs in Argentina are opposed to the rebels' stand for a military government. But they have expressed concern at the deteriorating economy, the increase in violence and the charge of high level corruption in the government.
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