DATE=1/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225345
TITLE=ARGENTINA REPRESSION (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ARGENTINA'S NAVY HAS ARRESTED A RETIRED COMMANDER KNOWN AS
THE ANGEL OF DEATH, WHO BRAGGED IN A MAGAZINE INTERVIEW ABOUT HIS
ACTS OF TORTURE AND MURDER DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP FROM
1976 TO 1983. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN
OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM ORDERED THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE
DISCIPLINARY PENALTY FOR RETIRED COMMANDER ALFREDO ASTIZ. THE
NAVY WILL DETAIN HIM FOR 60 DAYS.
INTERIOR MINISTER CARLOS CORACH SAYS THE STATEMENTS BY COMMANDER
ASTIZ ARE SHOCKING, AND PUBLIC PROSECUTORS ARE CONSIDERING
WHETHER TO TAKE ADDITIONAL LEGAL ACTION AGAINST HIM.
COMMANDER ASTIZ CREATED AN UPROAR BY HIS COMMENTS IN AN INTERVIEW
IN A MAGAZINE CALLED TRES PUNTOS. HE SAID HE IS THE MOST
QUALIFIED PERSON IN ARGENTINA TO KILL A POLITICIAN OR A
JOURNALIST, BUT HE CHOOSES NOT TO DO IT. HE SAID THE NAVY TAUGHT
HIM TO DESTROY, PLACE BOMBS, INFILTRATE, AND KILL, AND KILLING
WAS THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE ARRESTED IN THE SO-CALLED
DIRTY WAR.
COMMANDER ASTIZ SAID HE HAS OFTEN BEEN INVITED TO LEAD A MILITARY
UPRISING TO PROTEST EFFORTS BY SOCIETY TO PUNISH THOSE INVOLVED
IN THE REPRESSION. HE SAID HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE ARMED
FORCES WILL STAND FOR BEING -- AS HE PUT IT -- CORNERED.
TWO DECADES AGO THE RETIRED OFFICER ALLEGEDLY INFILTRATED THE
GROUP KNOWN AS MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO, WHOSE SONS
DISAPPEARED AND WERE PRESUMABLY KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES.
COMMANDER ASTIZ ALLEGEDLY WAS INVOLVED IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF
THE GROUP'S FOUNDER, AZUCENA VILLAFLOR.
THE UNABASHED 47-YEAR-OLD KILLER IS FREE FROM PROSECUTION UNDER
ARGENTINA'S AMNESTY LAWS OF THE LATE 1980'S. HOWEVER, A FRENCH
COURT SENTENCED HIM IN HIS ABSENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE
MURDER OF TWO FRENCH NUNS. SWEDISH COURTS WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TRY
HIM FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A YOUNG SWEDISH WOMAN.
// REST OPTIONAL //
LAST WEEK PRESIDENT MENEM ANNOUNCED THAT THE NAVY MECHANICS
SCHOOL, USED AS A TORTURE CENTER DURING THE MILITARY
DICTATORSHIP, WILL BE TORN DOWN. IT IS TO BE REPLACED WITH A
PARK AND A MONUMENT TO NATIONAL RECONCILIATION. HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUPS HAVE CRITICIZED THE DECISION, SAYING THE BUILDING SHOULD
REMAIN AS A REMINDER OF THE ATROCITIES. ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL
REPORT, AT LEAST NINE THOUSAND PERSONS WERE KIDNAPPED AND KILLED
DURING THE DICTATORSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/KL
15-Jan-98 2:48 PM EST (1948 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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