DATE=3/2/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39119
TITLE=ARGENTINA TORTURE
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  A CONTROVERSY IS RAGING IN ARGENTINA OVER WHETHER TO 
DESTROY A BUILDING THAT IS A GRIM REMINDER OF ATROCITIES 
COMMITTED DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP, BETWEEN 1976 AND 
1983.  ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL REPORTS, AT LEAST NINE THOUSAND 
PEOPLE WERE KIDNAPPED AND KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES DURING THAT 
PERIOD.  WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR 
SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.  

TEXT:  THE BUILDING AT THE CENTER OF THE DISPUTE IS THE NAVY 
MECHANICS SCHOOL IN BUENOS AIRES, WHICH WAS USED AS A TORTURE 
CENTER DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP'S CRACKDOWN ON LEFTIST 
OPPONENTS. 

PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM -- WHO WAS HIMSELF IMPRISONED DURING THE 
DICTATORSHIP -- ANNOUNCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT THE 
NOTORIOUS BUILDING WOULD BE TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH A PUBLIC 
PARK AND A MONUMENT TO NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION.  THE 
TRAINING FUNCTION OF THE NAVY MECHANICS SCHOOL WAS TO BE 
TRANSFERRED TO ARGENTINA'S LARGEST NAVY BASE AT PUERTO BELGRANO. 

PRESIDENT MENEM SAID THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING WOULD SHOW 
THAT THE ARGENTINE PEOPLE WANT TO PUT THE PAINFUL PAST BEHIND 
THEM, IN A SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION. 

THE PLAN HAS COME UNDER SHARP CRITICISM BY RELATIVES OF THE 
VICTIMS OF THE DICTATORSHIP, WHO SAY THEY ARE  NOT  READY TO 
FORGET THIS UGLY EPISODE IN ARGENTINE HISTORY. 

THE "MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO", A GROUP OF WOMEN WHOSE 
CHILDREN WERE KILLED OR DISAPPEARED DURING THE MILITARY 
DICTATORSHIP, CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE EVERY THURSDAY IN FRONT OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.  THE HEAD OF THE GROUP, HEBE DE 
BONAFINI, SAYS THEY DO  NOT  WANT A MONUMENT OR PARK ON THE SITE 
OF THE NAVY SCHOOL. 

            // FIRST BONAFINI ACT WITH TRANSLATION //

         THE NAVY MECHANICS SCHOOL IS THE BUILDING WHERE THEY 
         TORTURED, RAPED, AND ASSASSINATED MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND
         PEOPLE -- DUMPING THEIR BODIES FROM PLANES OR BURYING 
         THEM UNDER THE BUILDING ITSELF.  WE WANT IT TO REMAIN 
         OPEN, SO PEOPLE CAN WRITE WHATEVER THEY WANT ON ITS 
         WALLS AND VENT THEIR FEELINGS.  THEY CALL THIS THE NAVY 
         MECHANICS SCHOOL, BUT IT FACT IT WAS THE LARGEST SCHOOL 
         OF TORTURERS, RAPISTS, AND ASSASSINS IN ALL OF LATIN 
         AMERICA. 

                          // END ACT //

MRS. BONAFINI ALSO OPPOSES THE IDEA OF OPENING A MUSEUM AT THE 
SITE.  SHE SAYS THAT WOULD BE TOO COLD, AND SEND THE WRONG 
MESSAGE ABOUT THE HUMAN SUFFERING THAT OCCURRED THERE. 

           // SECOND BONAFINI ACT WITH TRANSLATION //

         THE ONES WHO WANT TO CREATE A MUSEUM TODAY ARE THE SAME 
         ONES WHO PASSED THE AMNESTY LAWS FOR THOSE WHO COMMITTED
         HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.  FIRST THEY PARDONED THEM; NOW THEY
         WANT TO BUILD A MUSEUM.  NO  WAY.  THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE 
         FOR THE ASSASSINS WALKING FREE. 

                          // END ACT //

THE LEADER OF THE MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO SAYS THE BUILDING 
SHOULD BE OPEN FOR TWO YEARS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO VENT THEIR 
FEELINGS BY WRITING ON ITS WALLS.  THEN, SHE SAYS, THERE CAN BE A
DISCUSSION OF WHAT TO DO WITH IT AFTER THAT.

            // THIRD BONAFINI ACT WITH TRANSLATION //

         FOR TWO YEARS WE NEED TO BLOW OFF STEAM BY WRITING ON 
         THOSE WALLS.  AFTER TWO YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE COURTS 
         AND THE SITUATION OF THE ASSASSINS, WE WILL SEE.  MAYBE 
         WE COULD BUILD A SPECIAL PRISON THERE TO HOUSE THOSE WHO
         KILLED OUR CHILDREN. 

                          // END ACT //

THE MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO WENT TO COURT TO BLOCK 
DEMOLITION OF THE NAVY MECHANICS SCHOOL, AND WON A TEMPORARY 
RESTRAINING ORDER.  THE BATTLE IS CONTINUING IN THE COURTS. 

                       // REST OPTIONAL //

ARGENTINA'S CONGRESS FAILED TO GET A QUORUM LAST MONTH TO REOPEN 
THE DEBATE ON THE AMNESTY LAWS, WHICH HAVE PREVENTED PROSECUTION 
OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ATROCITIES.  BUT PRESIDENT MENEM ORDERED
THE NAVY TO EXPEL RETIRED COMMANDER ALFREDO ASTIZ, KNOWN AS THE 
ANGEL OF DEATH FOR HIS BRUTALITY DURING THE DICTATORSHIP.  

COMMANDER ASTIZ BRAGGED IN A MAGAZINE INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS 
TAUGHT TO KILL POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS, AND SAID THE KILLING 
OF SUSPECTS DURING THE REPRESSION WAS JUSTIFIED.  THE RETIRED 
OFFICER ALLEGEDLY INFILTRATED THE MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO, 
AND HAD A PART IN THE DISAPPEARANCE AND PRESUMED SLAYING OF THE 
GROUP'S FOUNDER, AZUCENA VILLAFLOR. (SIGNED)

NEB/GM/MMK

02-Mar-98 2:36 PM EST (1936 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.