DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235452
TITLE=ARGENTINA GENERAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FEDERAL JUDGE IN ARGENTINA HAS ORDERED FORMER MILITARY
DICTATOR JORGE VIDELA HELD WITHOUT BAIL UNTIL HIS TRIAL ON
CHARGES OF AUTHORIZING BABY-STEALING TWO DECADES AGO. THE TRIAL
DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET. WE HAVE MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE
MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: JUDGE ROBERTO MARQUEVICH HAS DECIDED THAT THERE IS
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AGAINST GENERAL VIDELA TO KEEP HIM IN JAIL,
WHERE HE HAS BEEN FOR FIVE WEEKS. THE JUDGE FROZE FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS OF THE GENERAL'S ASSETS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVENTUAL
FINES AND DAMAGES.
JUDGE MARQUEVICH REJECTED THE DEFENSE ARGUMENT THAT GENERAL
VIDELA SHOULD BE RELEASED BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY CHARGED AND
ACQUITTED IN THE CASE. THE JUDGE ALSO REJECTED A MOTION TO
TRANSFER THE DEFENDANT FROM A COMMON PRISON TO HOUSE ARREST.
GENERAL VIDELA WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOLLOWING HIS
CONVICTION IN 1985 ON CHARGES OF MURDER, KIDNAPPING, TORTURE, AND
OTHER CRIMES. HOWEVER, HE WAS PARDONED BY PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM
FIVE YEARS LATER.
GENERAL VIDELA, WHO SEIZED POWER IN 1976 AND RULED FOR FIVE
YEARS, IS ACCUSED OF ALLOWING MILITARY OFFICERS TO ILLEGALLY
ADOPT FIVE BABIES BORN TO POLITICAL PRISONERS WHO WERE LATER
KILLED. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN 200 SUCH
CASES. UNDER ARGENTINE LAW AMNESTIES DO NOT APPLY TO CRIMES
AGAINST MINORS.
ANOTHER ARGENTINE JUDGE, ADOLFO BAGNASCO, IS ALSO INVESTIGATING
BABY-SNATCHING CHARGES FILED BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLED THE
GRANDMOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO. JUDGE BAGNASCO IS TRYING TO
DETERMINE IF THE CRIME WAS PART OF A CONSPIRACY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/LTD/PLM
14-Jul-98 4:00 PM EDT (2000 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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