PROFILE OF VIOLENCE IN ARGENTINA, 1955 TO 1976 (FROM DISORDERS AND TERRORISM - REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON DISORDERS AND TERRORISM, 1976 - SEE NCJ-39469)

• NCJ Number: 62723
• Author(s): P R DAVID
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: National Advisory Cmtte on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DISRUPTIONS OF ARGENTINA'S CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM FROM 1955 TO 1976 BY MILITARY MOVEMENTS, TERRORISM AND GUERRILLA WARFARE ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN 1955, PRESIDENT PERON WAS OVERTHROWN BY THE MILITARY, AN EVENT FOLLOWED BY UNRESTRAINED REPRESSION BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT FEARFUL OF REPRISAL BY PERONIST OPPOSITION AND THE LABOR UNIONS. ACTS OF TERRORISM, BOMBINGS, AND VIOLENCE BECAME INCREASINGLY COMMON IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE OVERTHROW. THEN IN 1961, PUBLIC ELECTIONS WERE HELD, BUT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT WAS AGAIN OVERTHROWN BY MILITARY ELEMENTS AS WAS HIS SUCCESSOR ELECTED IN 1963. THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES OF THE NEW MILITARY GOVERNMENT CAUSED INTENSIFIED VIOLENCE AND OPPOSITION, SOME OF IT CARRIED OUT BY ORGANIZED ELEMENTS SUCH AS THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY OF THE PEOPLE (ERP). EVENTUALLY, PERON WAS RETURNED AS PRESIDENT IN 1970 FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF THE CURRENT PRESIDENT AND A NATIONAL ELECTION. THIS EVENT WAS CONSIDERED A STRONG DETERRENT TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE. PERON DID NOT PUBLICLY CONDEMN GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES, HOWEVER, UNTIL THE JANUARY 1974 ATTACK ON AN ARMY GARRISON. THE ARGENTINE PENAL CODE WAS REVISED TO INCLUDE STIFFER PENALITIES FOR TERRORIST ACTS, POLITICAL KIDNAPPINGS, AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. PERON DIED IN 1974 AND WAS SUCCEEDED BY HIS WIFE. HER ROLE WAS CHARACTERIZED BY CONTINUOUS AND SYSTEMATIC GUERRILLA WARFARE FOR WHICH PUBLIC SUPPORT WAS LACKING. FINALLY IN 1975 AND 1976, THE MILITARY WAS SUCCESSFUL AGAINST GUERRILLA AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. A BRIEF PROFILE OF ARGENTINE GUERRILLAS IS PROVIDED. (DEP)