Political Rights

From WolfWikis

Article 2 of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ^[1]explains that everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms of the declaration, without distinction of political opinion. However, during the Cold War in Latin America extensive violations to the declaration existed, many sponsored by the United States. In the context of the Cold War, the United States attempted to protect the Western Hemisphere from Soviet invasion. Fearing another ideological Fidel Castro^[2] or revolution bound Che Guevera^[3] the United States did all it could to disassemble and destroy leftists movements in Latin America. Infringing on the political rights of Latin Americans, these repressive regimes tortured, kidnapped and deprived their citizens of the basic freedoms inherent to many Americans.

Table of Contents

1 CASE STUDY 1 ARGENTINA
2 CASE STUDY 2 CHILE
3 US INVOLVEMENT
4 REFERENCES
5 LINKS

CASE STUDY 1 ARGENTINA

"We are going to have to kill 50,000 people: 25,000 subversives, 20,000 sympathizers, and we will make 5,000 mistakes."-Jorge Rafeal Videla

The origins of the Dirty War in Argentina trace back to the Presidency of Isabel Martinez de Peron, who took office after the death of her husband Juan Peron. Isabel faced a growing Guevera Guerilla rebellion in the mountains of Argentina and issued the 'annihilation decree' which granted the army the power to "proceed to all of the necessary military operations to the effect of neutralizing or annihilating the actions of the subversive elements acting in the Tucumán Province" Nunca Mas^[4] . The military implemented counter-revolutionary-warfare techniques that included kidnappings, forced disappearances and concentration camps where thousands of guerrilleros were tortured and assassinated.

In 1976, the Argentinian military, led by Jorge Rafeal Videla, overthrew Isabel de Peron. The military continued its search and silence mission. The National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons^[5] (CONADEP) estimated the number of disappeared to be around 30,000. Most victims investigated were suspected to be associated with activists groups, students, and people thought to hold left-wing views. But, the military left no stone unturned, newborns were also stolen from their imprisoned mothers "because subversive parents will raise subversive children" Ramon Camps^[6]. The military held no mercy for pregnant women either and "introduced a small spoon or some other metal instrument until it touched the fetus. Then they gave the woman an electric shock of 220 volts. In a word, they electrocuted the fetus." The violations occurred in steps, "first the trailing of suspects, the break ins, the arrests, the kidnappings. Then the jailings, the interrogations, the tortures. And, finally, the manner of disposing of the corpses" Vilarino Confession^[7] . Much of the disposing, many of whom are the disappeared, is believed to be a result of 'vuelos de la muerte' or death flights. On the death flights, people were taken in planes over the Atlantic Ocean or the Rio de la Plata and pushed into the water. Click HERE^[8] to read a disturbing account of torture from an anonymous US citizen.

CONADEP investigated the disappearances and along with Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo^[9] sought Truth Commissions, Trials, and the return of the lost children. As for Videla, the government no longer recognizes him as a legal President of the country and his portrait longer hangs in the military schools. In 2007, a federal court overturned the pardon Videla received in 1990, and restored his human rights convictions Reuters^[10]

"From the moment of their abduction, the victims lost all rights. Deprived of all communication with the outside world, held in unknown places, subjected to barbaric tortures, kept ignorant of their immediate or ultimate fate, they risked being either thrown into a river or the sea, weighted down with blocks of cement, or burned to ashes. They were not mere objects, however, and still possessed all the human attributes: they could feel pain, could remember a mother, child or spouse, could feel infinite shame at being raped in public..."

-Prologue 'Nunca Mas' Ernesto Sabato

CASE STUDY 2 CHILE

As the first democratically elected Marxist President, Salvador Alende^[11] ran on a platform of social reform. After nationalizing industries, redistributing land and developing a friendship with Fidel Castro, President Nixon put pressure on the CIA, which in turn put pressure on the Chilean military to carry out a military coup to oust Allende (Hinchey Report). ^[12] The CIA paid ^[13] $35,000 to a group of coup plotters in Chile after that group had murdered the Chilean commander-in-chief in October 1970. <p><p>

Following the coup, Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean army, Augusto Pinochet held the reigns of a brutal regime that targeted intellectuals, opposition and foreigners. Pinochet employed secret police that 'disappeared' 3,000+ people and imprisoned and tortured 25,000+ people. The secret police also known as DINA (Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional), ^[14] were authorized to detain anyone as long as Chile was in a 'state of emergency'. While in detention, thousands of civilians were murdered, jailed, tortured, brutalized, or exiled, especially those linked with the Popular Unity parties. Those who saught exile in other countries never escaped because the secret police would track them down and kill them. Within a year of the coup, the CIA was aware ^[15] of bilateral arrangements between the Pinochet regime and other Southern Cone intelligence services. Even Chilean ambassador to the United States Orlando Letelier ^[16] did not survive the persecution. After being detained by the secret police, Letelier fled to the United States and became the leading voice for the resistance to the Pinochet regime. Letelier and a colleague died after a car bomb exploded underneath their car. Although a massive manhunt continued for their killers, Pinochet refused to extradite those charged with the crime. Even though the CIA suspected DINA of the crime, the CIA continued to work^[17] with the organization even after their "possible role in the Letelier assassination became an issue". With the knowledge of the murders, the CIA did nothing to stop the further detaining of 'political opposition'. Many of the detainees spent their time at the Chacabuco Concentration Camp. Click Here for a detailed description of a detainee. The Chacabuco Concentration Camp held thousands of detainees, HERE is a trailer of a documentary about the Chacabuco Concentration Camp.

Since this time numerous investigations discovered the extent of these violations. The Valech Report ^[18] discovered the types and excessiveness of torture. Along with the Valech Report, the Rettig Report ^[19] investigated how many people were murdered or disappeared because of their political affiliation.

Although his involvement in the oppression is obvious, Chile chose to offer Pinochet Immunity ^[20] in 2000. However, once Michelle Bachelet ^[21] (who experienced the concentration camps first hand) entered office, the ex-President found he had no more friends in the government BBC^[22] . Before he could be sentence, the General passed away in 2006 BBC Many peoples only regret about the later is that, "this criminal has died without having been sentenced".

US INVOLVEMENT

Throughout the Cold War, the United States was "required to make choices between accepting revolution and trying to suppress it." It is clear that the United States allowed their "fear of communism to drive [them] into supporting a number of governments whose policies" were questionable . ^[23] Although, the United States thought that they were protecting the hemisphere from Soviet influence, "this interest cannot justify resorting to the kind of abuses" used by the US. The Church Committee revealed that the CIA spent over 17 million in Chile between 1964 and 1973. ^[24] In the late 1970's, President Jimmy Carter asserted that human rights would be the core of foreign policy. Congress followed suit and wrote into law the Harkin Amendment with prohibited assistance "to the government of any country which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment...." ^[25] Although the United States never physically or directly tortured individuals, military and intelligence leaders sponsored coups and facilitated communication that led to Operation Condor. This program allowed leaders in the Southern Cone of South America a direct contact with one another to track and detain leftists individuals. Operation Condor ^[26] Recently, many Latin American nations sought retribution in the International Court, however since the United States never ratified the treaty, they are not under jurisdiction of the court. Even if they were, there is no way to enforce the ruling of the ICC and ICJ. Being out of the Cold War and in the age of information, there is an abundance of knowledge available to stop and correct violations of Human Rights. The United States must continue to be humble and apologize for past mistakes. Above all, the US must continue to not tolerate and not support any violations of human around the world.