Jorge Rafael Videla

Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo (born August 2, 1925 in Mercedes) was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón. After the return to democracy, he was placed on house arrest.

Human rights violations

The military junta took power during a period of extreme instability, with terrorist attacks from the Marxist groups Montoneros and the ERP from one side and violent right-wing kidnappings, tortures, and assasinations in the other. The members of the junta took advantage of this to justify the coup, by naming the administration Proceso de Reorganización Nacional ("National Reorganization Process"). Under Videla, the Argentine military was given power to arrest, detain, torture, and kill suspected terrorists and political opponents. As a result, human rights violations became commonplace. According to estimates, at least 8,960 and up to about 30,000 Argentinians were subject to forced disappearance (desaparecidos) and most probably killed; many were illegally detained and tortured, and others went into exile. http://www.yendor.com/vanished/how-many.html Politically, all legislative power was concentrated in the hands of Videla's nine-man junta, and every single important position in the national government was filled with loyal military officers. The junta banned labor unions and strikes, abolished the judiciary, and effectively suspended most civil liberties. Despite the abuses, Videla's regime received support from the Argentine Catholic Church and local media, though the extent to which such support was given willingly remains the subject of much debate.

Related Topics:
Marxist - Montoneros - ERP - Right-wing - Proceso de Reorganización Nacional - Human rights - Forced disappearance - Desaparecidos - Exile - Labor union - Strike - Catholic Church

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In addition to direct abuses by the military, far-right paramilitary groups, particularly the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance (AAA), carried out widespread atrocities, given free reign by the new military government.

Related Topics:
Far-right - Paramilitary - Argentine Anticommunist Alliance

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