ARGENTINA: Argentina marks 34 years since its last military dictatorship on Truth and Justice Memorial Day
Record ID:
446606
ARGENTINA: Argentina marks 34 years since its last military dictatorship on Truth and Justice Memorial Day
- Title: ARGENTINA: Argentina marks 34 years since its last military dictatorship on Truth and Justice Memorial Day
- Date: 25th March 2010
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 24, 2010) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATIONS ON MAY AVENUE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN THE BACKGROUND SIGN READING, 'TRIAL AND PUNISHMENT' VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP, GRANDMOTHERS OF PLAZA DE MAYO, MARCHING WITH THE FLAG FOR THE DISAPPEARED CLOSE-UP OF FLAG OF THE DISAPPEARED THE DEMONSTRATION ON MAY AVENUE THE GRANDMOTHERS OF PLAZA DE MAYO ENTERING THE MAY PLAZA WITH THE FLAG HELD HIGH DEMONSTRATORS IN THE PLAZA SINGING, SHOUTING SLOGANS AND APPLAUDING FORMER NAVAL MECHANIC SCHOOL, WHICH HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO THE MEMORIAL MUSEUM DEMONSTRATION LED BY ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER PEOPLE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER, SAYING: "Allow me to make a commitment in front of you [speaking to president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Estela de Carlotto], in front of all of you, in front of all Argentines, that if we do not get justice in Argentina, as president I will take it to other international courts to get justice." VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT OF THE GRANDMOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO, ESTELA CARLOTTO, HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS AND PEOPLE APPLAUDING VARIOUS OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE 'AZUCENA VILLAFLOR' AWARD TO ONE OF THE FATHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO, JULIO MORRESI
- Embargoed: 9th April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: History
- Reuters ID: LVACFPMEBK1OUKH4NSO31SV781I5
- Story Text: President of Argentina promises to seek out justice as Argentina marks 34 years since the start of the last military dictatorship.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Buenos Aires on Wednesday (March 24) to mark Truth and Justice Memorial Day, the anniversary of the 1976 military coup that marked the beginning of a brutal dictatorship here.
A number of political parties, NGOs and the Argentine government organised different demonstrations, most of which converged in Buenos Aires' famed downtown square, the Plaza de Mayo.
Among these organizations was the human rights group the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo who marched to the plaza in front of the presidential palace demanding the government search out answers for the thousands of young people who were sequestered by the military government and never returned.
During the dictatorship which lasted until December of 1983, thousands of people were detained and disappeared without answers.
The Grandmothers carried a 600 meter (1969-foot) long banner with photographs of people who were victims to state violence and disappeared during those dark years.
As the afternoon passed more and more demonstrators continued to arrive to the central plaza demanding answers from the government and "trial and punishment" for those responsible for human rights abuses during the dictatorship.
Thousands of dissidents and suspected leftists were taken to the Naval Mechanics School were they were tortured, died or disappeared.
Known as ESMA, the building has since been converted to a memorial museum for those killed and missing.
Speaking directly to the president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez vowed to continue to seek out justice at all costs saying that if the national courts fail to identify those who disappeared she would search for alternative means.
"Allow me to make a commitment in front of you [speaking to president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Estela de Carlotto], in front of all of you, in front of all Argentines, that if we do not get justice in Argentina, as president I will take it to other international courts to get justice," Fernandez said.
The government also presented the Fathers of the Plaza de Mayo with the Azucena Villaflor award which was accepted by Julio Morresi.
The award is given by the secretary of Human Rights in recognition of the promotion of human rights and democracy every year since 2003.
According to a government report, more than 11,000 people died or disappeared during the military regime's crackdown on leftists and other opponents of the military regime in what is commonly known as the "dirty war." Human rights groups say the number is closer to 30,000. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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