Argentina’s political landscape hasn’t exactly been one of the most stable over recent years. 40 years ago however, the story was much worse. Between 1976-1983, the people of Argentina were forced to live under a military dictatorship, following a military coup in 1976. During the years of the “Junta Militar”, people would be arrested, kidnapped, silenced and murdered; many people are still missing today.
The Coup of 1976 - The Birth of The Junta Militar
Argentina had been experiencing political instability for several years leading up the the military coup of 1976. The government of President Isabel Perón, who succeeded her husband Juán Domingo Perón after his death in 1973, faced numerous challenges, including economic crises, social unrest and internal power struggles within the Peronist movement.
Many within the Argentine military were unsatisfied with the Peronist government’s handling of the country’s problems and perceived it as weak and ineffective. Consequently, on 24th March 1976, the leaders of the army, navy and the air force of Argentina combined forces to overthrow the government. Jorge Rafael Videla would become the new president of Argentina on 29th March 1976 and over the coming months, things would change drastically across the country. The military quickly seized control of key institutions, including government buildings, media outlets and strategic locations throughout Argentina. Isabel Perón was deposed and arrested as the military assumed power.
The new government would come to be known as the Junta Militar. In the afternoon of 24th March 1976, an announcement was made to the country over the radio, declaring that the military had taken control of the government.
The first broadcast of the Junta Militar, 24th March 1976:
“The population is informed that, as of the date, the country is under the operational control of the General Commanders’ Board of the Armed Forces. All inhabitants are recommended to strictly comply with the provisions and directives issued by military, security, or police authority, as well as to take extreme care to avoid individual or group actions and attitudes that may require drastic intervention by personnel in operations.”
Censorship, Disappearances and Terror
With the new government came the “National Reorganisation Process” (PRN). This was a title that the Junta Militar gave itself, and was basically used as a way to avoid using the term “dictatorship”. The goal of the PRN was to install a new social, economic order, in line with other dictatorships in South America at the time, in countries such as Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. The PRN meant that Argentina had entered an era of extreme censorship, terror and uncertainty. Anyone who spoke out against the government’s policies would be at risk of being imprisoned, tortured or murdered (in many cases all three).
In the immediate aftermath of the coup, thousands of individuals, including politicians, activists, trade unionists and suspected guerrilla sympathisers, were arrested and detained. Many of them were taken to secret detention centres where they’d be interrogated, tortured and often killed. Task forces made up of military, police and paramilitary groups would be responsible for these actions, and it was common that crimes would be fabricated and used as an excuse to arrest and murder people.
One of the most tragic events of 1976 came to be known as “La Noche de Los Lápices”. On 16th September, several students from La Plata, Buenos Aires, were arrested and kidnapped from their homes following a student protest. In total, 10 students between the ages 16-19 were kidnapped and sent to detention centres where they were tortured as punishment for taking part in the protest. After months of torture and being kept in inhumane conditions, 4 survived and were set free. Over 40 years on from the night though, 6 still remain missing. The word “missing” is used because no bodies were ever found.
Amongst those who had been sent to the many detention centres across the country, were hundreds of pregnant women. These women were forced to give birth in captivity, with their newly-born babies being taken away from them. It’s estimated that around 500 babies were born in captivity and sent to new families. Unbeknownst, many remain missing and living under false identities today. Since 1977, an organisation has existed, known as Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, which aims to locate and restore the true identity to those people who continue to live under false identities. According to the organisation, to date 137 people have had their identity restored, with over 300 remaining missing.
In 1978, the government used the FIFA World Cup to show to the world that its people were happy and content, and that all was peaceful in Argentina. Upon winning the World Cup, the government did gain some popularity amongst the people, as thousands celebrated in the streets. However, whilst the cameras showed happiness and celebration, many suffered a different reality whilst the regime continued to carry out acts of terror.
The Final Years of The Dictatorship (1981-1983)
By the late 1970s, Argentina was facing severe economic problems, including high inflation, unemployment and public debt. The Junta Militar had failed to improve the economic situation in Argentina, and so discontent and opposition against the regime began to grow.
In 1981, Videla stepped down as president and handed power over to Roberto Viola, who by the end of the year, was replaced by Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri. In an attempt to calm the population down and distract the people from the ongoing economic crisis, Galtieri decided to switch Argentina’s attention to another matter: the Falkland Islands. On 2nd April 1982, the president sent a boat to the islands and had the Argentine flag be placed there. With insufficient forces, food, weapons and training, Argentine forces were sent to the Falkland Islands to fight against the United Kingdom. Newspapers in Argentina expressed to the people that the war was being won, but the reality was very different. By June, Argentina had surrendered, having lost 650 soldiers – the vast majority of whom being less than 25 years old. The government had used the cause to generate popularity for the regime, and had essentially sent hundreds of young men to die.
The loss of the war accelerated the fall of the Junta Militar. The people had lost confidence in the government completely, as much of the terrorism which had occurred since 1976 became known across the world. On 1st July 1982, President Galtieri was replaced by General Reynaldo Benito Bignone, who had been tasked with carrying out the transition from dictatorship to democracy in Argentina.
Upon assuming power, Bignone signed the “Ley de Autoamnistía” in an attempt to gain amnesty for the genocide that had occurred during the regime of the dictatorship, whilst also ordering that all documents showing proof of the genocide be destroyed. In 1983, Bignone announced that there would be a democratic election, marking the end of military rule. In October 1983, Raúl Alfonsín was voted to be Argentina’s new president and was inaugurated on 10th December 1983. One of his first acts as president was to revoke the Ley de Autoamnistía; following this, he continued by putting the leaders of the dictatorship on trial in court.
Five of the leaders of the Junta Militar were sentenced to life in prison, including Jorge Rafael Videla and Roberto Viola. The trials of the Junta Militar put a true end to the military dictatorship in Argentina, and paved the way for democracy to continue.
It’s estimated that to this date, there remain between 8,000 and 30,000 missing people as a result of the dictatorship. Whilst the true number continues to be debated, and will most likely never be known, what’s shared amongst the people of Argentina is the phrase that’s said at the end of the video above: “Nunca más”.
Featured image by Nairobi19
Very interesting, thanks for the information!! 👍
It’s mad how this wasn’t too many years ago…