Page 55 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BRIEFING MEMORANDUM *9 V

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TO: The Secretar y
The Deputy £ ecretary
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FROM: ARA - Viron P. Vaky fL- , J
HA - Patrici a M. Deri an

Current Hume n Rights Situatic

(D) The folic wing is a summary of the human rights
situation in Argent ina. A more detailed review of
current conditions is set forth in the attachment.

(C) Disappear ances: . Seventeen since February
1? three have turn
ed up arrested by the GOA, one was
released, and 13 re main unresolved. The last reported
disappearance occur red May 13. In 1978, 55 persons
disappeared per mor th in 1977, 180; in 1976, 300.

(C) Accountirg for the Disappeared: The GOA is
preparing new legi sjlation to shorten to six months the
time period for dec laring presumptive death. Army
Commander and Junta Member Viola has spoken publicly
for the first time of the disappeared as "those who
will be absent forejver" and told the Embassy he thinks,
" and told the Embassy he thii
with rare exceptior s, most of the disappeared are dead,
The GOA has so far refused to provide individual
accounting.

(C) _____ The GOA announced on June
PEN Prisoners
29 it now holds 1, •3 23 persons under PEN (executive
detention). It is not clear how many former PEN detainees
have been freed anc how many have continued in prison
after civil or mill tary trials, but the Embassy and
the ICRC estimate tjhe total number of political prisoners
at just under 3r00C in all of these categories. GOA
officials plan to educe the PEN category to 800-1,000
by late 1979; the Hatter will continue to be held for
an unstated period, In early 1978, the GOA acknowledged
that it held about 3,500 PEN prisoners.

secret—*
GDS - 7/31/85 DECLASSIFIED
E.0.13S26 ^
Authority
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