Page 63 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

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HUMAN RIGHTS: AHGr.HTINV.
Political terrorism of the left and tl:i- right has
wracked Argentina since the late sis'lil- jih! was
partially responsible for the economic and political
breaS-.dotn precipitating the March 3 97G coup. The
Junta's efforts to eliminate leftist terrorism led to
a massive counter-terrorist campaign, unciertol.cn lay
the security forces.

Although the Government has publicly stated that
terrerism has largely been defeated, the anti-terrorist
campaign of the last few years has continued and has
resulted in severe violations of human rights. -
Recently, however, instructions have been-issued by thc-
Minister of Interior to the police, and reportedly to
the military, to curb excesses in counter-tcrrorist
operations.
At present, the Government of Argentina acV.now-
1 edges approxin.ately 3,400 state of siege prisoners
detained under executive power (PEN). The state of
siece powers, invoked in 1974, have been used to hold a
wide variety of persons for long periods without
formal charges.The USG reports an additional SQO pris'::.er_
in military camps...
Arrests continue but have decreased considerably
from the level of the past twoycars. From January to
August 1978, 347 were added to PEN and 446 released.

Security personnel and prison officials use torture
routinely during the interrogation process.

In addition, thousands (estimates range between
3,(i£.0 and 20,000) have been abducted by security forces.
These cases, known as the disappeared, include a broad
range of people, such as labor leaders, workers, clergy­
men, human rights advocates, scientists, doctors and
political party leaders. A movement is growing, led by
human rights organizations and the Mothers of the
Qisappcared, with.the support of some elements of the
Church, to trace the missing people. The Government,
however, has not accounted for the vast majority of
the disappeared, many of whom are presumed to be dead*
At present, disappearances and summary executions arc
reported to continue on a reduced scale of 16-45 permonth.

DECLASSIFIED
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