They Call it the Dirty War

They call it the dirty war. Perhaps because over 30,000 people were murdered, or maybe it’s because of the mothers that are still searching for their lost children. They say the lost will never be forgotten. But nothing is being done. Despite the gross amount of atrocities that occurred throughout Argentina, most of the tortures have yet to be persecuted. These people literally got away with murder.

What happened?

Although prosecution began in 1983, laws like the Due Obedience law and Full Stop law freed almost all of the prisoners. Alfosín passed these laws in 1987 and 1986, respectively. Under the Due Obedience law, all those not in positions of direct command could not be held responsible and were granted automatic immunity. When the international community raised concerns about this law, it was modified so that those who committed atrocious and aberrant acts would be prosected. However, the law left a certain amount of ambiguity, as all acts committed during the Dirty War were certainly atrocious and aberrant. Additionally, the Full Stop law gave a 60 day deadline to file complaints. Thus, all who had not been charged before the implication of this law were no longer eligible for prosecution (Argentina, 1). Videla, Massera, and Agosti, the three commanders of the army during the Dirty War, were given jail sentences. Videla and Massera were sentenced to life in prison, while Agosti was given 4.5 years in prison. Agosti was pardoned before he served his full sentence (Project Disappeared, 1). When President Alfosín resigned in 1989, he was replaced by Carlos Menem. President Menem issued a general pardon, freeing many who were being charged with crimes related to the Dirty War (Argentina, 1). It was not until the late 1990s that the international community began to have an effect on the prosecution of those involved. The outcry from the international community forced many of the cases to be re-opened. However, the effectiveness of these trials is slim (Argentina, 1).