ABSTRACT
The armed forces seized power in Argentina in 1976 and went on to rule the country, in several successive military juntas, for the next seven years. During this time, in a vicious anti-communist campaign to eliminate “subversives,” between 10,000 and 30,000 people were disappeared at the hands of the military-arrested, tortured, and killed, the body disposed of so as never to be found, and the fate of the victim never known by agonized family members. It was only after Argentina’s war with Great Britain over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands, and the resulting disgrace and public outrage suffered by the armed forces over their loss, that the military acquiesced to popular elections and a return to civilian rule in 1983. Before leaving power, in fear of being held accountable for its crimes, the military junta granted itself immunity from prosecution and issued a decree ordering the destruction of all documents relating to military repression.
