2 arrested in 1972 Argentine massacre

Source: LA Times/Associated Press

2 arrested in 1972 Argentine massacre
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From the Associated Press
February 10, 2008


BUENOS AIRES -- Federal police arrested two retired military officers Saturday in connection with the massacre of 16 leftist guerrillas in 1972 on a military base in the Patagonian city of Trelew.

According to the state news agency Telam, the detainees are Paccagnini Ruben, 81, who captained a ship and headed the military base Almirante Zar Trelew, and Emilio Del Real, 73, a frigate captain who is accused of being present at the Aug. 22, 1972, shooting of the guerrillas.

They face charges of torture, homicide, attempted homicide and illegal detentions.

Police and Federal Judge Hugo Sastre, who is handling the case, could not be reached for comment.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-argentina10feb10,1,5077618.story

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Kissinger approved Argentinian 'dirty war'

Declassified US files expose 1970s backing for junta

Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Saturday December 6, 2003
The Guardian

Henry Kissinger gave his approval to the "dirty war" in Argentina in the 1970s in which up to 30,000 people were killed, according to newly declassified US state department documents.
Mr Kissinger, who was America's secretary of state, is shown to have urged the Argentinian military regime to act before the US Congress resumed session, and told it that Washington would not cause it "unnecessary difficulties".

The material, obtained by the Washington-based National Security Archive under the Freedom of Information Act, consists of two memorandums of conversations that took place in October 1976 with the visiting Argentinian foreign minister, Admiral César Augusto Guzzetti. At the time the US Congress, concerned about allegations of widespread human rights abuses, was poised to approve sanctions against the military regime.
According to a verbatim transcript of a meeting on October 7 1976, Mr Kissinger reassured the foreign minister that he had US backing in whatever he did.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1101061,00.html