Protesters took to famous locales in the nation’s capital such as the Plaza de Mayo, where mothers of victims of the dictatorship gather to protest.

During the so-called “Dirty War” dictatorship (1976-1983) about 30,000 were killed or went missing.

Former Dirty War leaders have escaped prosecution until recent efforts by former President Nestor Kirchner to prosecute ex-leaders for human rights violations.

Argentina Dirty War 1976 – 1983

The Dirty War, from 1976-1983, was a seven-year campaign by the Argentine government against suspected dissidents and subversives. Many people, both opponents of the government as well as innocent people, were “disappeared” in the middle of the night. They were taken to secret government detention centers where they were tortured and eventually killed. These people are known as “los desaparecidos” or “the disappeared.”

After the death of the controversial President Juan Peron in 1974, his wife and vice president, Isabel Peron, assumed power. However, she was not very strong politically and a military junta led a coup against her and removed her from office. This military junta maintained its grip on power by cracking down on anybody whom they believed was challenging their authority. Casualty counts from this war range from 10,000 to 30,000 people.

Although the military dictatorship carried out its war against suspected domestic subversives throughout its entire existence, it was ironically a foreign foe which brought the regime to an end. In the early 1980s, it became clear to both the world and the Argentine people that the government was behind the tens of thousands of kidnappings. The junta, facing increasing opposition over its human rights record, as well as mounting allegations of corruption, sought to allay domestic criticism by launching a successful campaign to regain Las Islas Malvinas (the Falkland Islands).

The Falkland Islands have been a source of contention between England, which administers them, and Argentina, which claims them, since 1820. The junta had thought that it could reclaim these islands relatively easily, that England wouldn’t mind their loss, and that the government would regain its popularity and control over its people. However, the government was wrong in its anticipations when 72 days after the invasion of the Islands, the British military won the war, having captured 9,800 Argentine POWs.

This unexpected loss was the final blow for the military regime, and in 1982, it restored basic civil liberties and retracted its ban on political parties. The Dirty War ended when Raul Alfonsin’s civilian government took control of the country on December 10, 1983.

“Simon, if you had gone back to building houses, you’d be a millionaire. Why didn’t you?”

“You’re a religious man,” replied Wiesenthal. “You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, ‘What have you done?’, there will be many answers. You will say, ‘I became a jeweler’, Another will say, I have smuggled coffee and American cigarettes’, Another will say, ‘I built houses’, But I will say, ‘I didn’t forget you.’”

We are kind of celebrating a small step here. We have placed our first WANTED page. Lots of details are missing. And he is hiding within a system that wants to protect him. I’m sure Didier Bourguet, and the hundred of others like him are not overly concerned with our web site. But they should be…

There are thousand of victims, many still mere children, and their families who have suffered unspeakable atrocities at the hands of these perpetrators. They have been scarred for life.

But many of these victims have had their stories documented. Sometimes by the perpetrators themselves. But also by the countless aid workers, and peacekeepers, who because of their love for humanity, have sacrificed to make this world a better place.

We are building a data base that will bring these stories together. Relying on that same conscientiousness, that caused people to leave normal lives, and give of themselves. That victims will become survivors, and begin to share their stories. Maybe even some of the perpetrators may wish to appease their conscience.

From whatever source, like pieces of a puzzle. The fragments will join together and provide the evidence needed to be able to pursue the individuals who have preyed on the weak and helpless.

To Didier Bourguet, and others like him. Welcome to UN Terroritory