ARGENTINA: TWO LEADING BUSINESSMEN KIDNAPPED IN RENEWED VIOLENCE WHICH HAS ALSO RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWO TRADE UNIONISTS.

Record ID: 448942

  • Title: ARGENTINA: TWO LEADING BUSINESSMEN KIDNAPPED IN RENEWED VIOLENCE WHICH HAS ALSO RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWO TRADE UNIONISTS.
  • Date: 21st September 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV Street in La Lucila ZOOM INTO diversion 0.06 2. CU Hazard lights 0.11 3. LV ZOOM INTO GV Police and newsmen at scene of kidnapping 0.21 4. SV PAN FROM telephone truck TO businessmen's cars (2 shots) 0.29 5. CU Blood on road (2 shots) 0.38 6. GV Policeman on guard 0.42 7. GV EXT. Bunge and Born offices and sign (3 shots) 0.54 8. GV News stand in street 0.58 9. CU Newspaper headlines announcing double kidnap and murder (2 shots) 1.09 10. GV and CU Atilio Lopez's photo in newspaper 1.20 11. GV Funeral procession for Lopez through streets with huge crowds 1.26 12. TV Mourners carrying Montoneros banner in courtege 1.31 13. SV Buses in procession 1.36 14. TV PAN ALONG funeral hearse 1.44 15. GVs Crowd outside church (2 shots) 1.52 Initials OS/1737 OS/1756 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th October 1974 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES AND CORDOBA, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVA2OUJTBRK9MHKHTN971OIMAWLN
  • Story Text: In Argentina, Urban Guerrillas of the Montoneros have claimed responsibility for the kidnaping of two of the country's leading businessmen, the brothers Jorge and Jaun Born on Thursday (19 September).

    In a communique sent to newsmen in Buenos Aires, the Montoneros said the brothers would be "tried to determine their companies' role in the exploitation of the Argentine people." It made no mention of a ransom demand, which was earlier said to have been 20 million dollars (GBP 18 million).

    The Born brothers were seized by a group of about 30 men disguised as policemen and telephone workers in a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, La Lucila. Using detour signs, they lured the car into a side street where an ambush was set up. The brothers' chauffeur and another businessmen were killed in the gunbattle that broke out when the businessmen realised they'd been tricked.

    Bunge and Born, the company headed by the Born brothers, has become Argentina's largest conglomerate in recent years. It is the world's third largest grain dealer and also holds interest in many other fields, with affiliate companies all over the world.

    The violence in Argentina has been steadily escalating as opposing groups within the peronist movement have dropped their willingness to unify under President Maria Peron.

    Two Cordoba trade union leaders were murdered on Monday (16 September) after being dragged from their Buenos Aires hotel. The bodies of Atilio Lopez and Juan Varas were found two hours after they were abducted.

    Thousands of mourners turned out for the funeral of Senor Lopez in Cordoba on Wednesday (18 September), including a group of Montoneros, making a rare public appearance since their pledge earlier this month to go underground to fight Senora Peron's Government.

    Senor Lopez was a leader of a leftwing faction within Argentina's peronist-dominated labour movement and a prominent figure in the power struggle between the opposing factions within Peronism.

    Until last month Senor Lopez was leader of the Cordoba branch of the Bus Drivers' Union. Bus drivers went on strike when they learned of his death, paralysing transport in the city.

    Senor Juan Jose Varas was a former Under-Secretary for the Economy in the Cordoba province cabinet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register