Dirty War

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Priest Charged in 'Dirty War' Torture Could Face Justice Soon

Franco Reverberi fled to Italy from Argentina more than a decade ago

(Newser) - A Catholic priest accused of taking part in torture sessions during Argentina's "Dirty War" regularly says Mass in the small town in northern Italy where he now resides—but victims still hope to see him face justice in Argentina. Franco Reverberi left Italy for Sorbolo, the town his...

Her Identity Was a 40-Year-Old Secret. Then It Unraveled

She was one of 126 babies confirmed as stolen in Argentina's 'Dirty War'

(Newser) - Violeta Ortolani was eight months pregnant when she was detained by Argentina's military in 1976 during the country's "Dirty War." Following the January 1977 birth of her daughter, the 23-year-old wasn't seen again, nor was her 21-year-old partner, Edgardo Garnier, following his detention in February...

36 Years Later, Activist Finds Grandson Stolen in Dirty War

Mother was killed after she gave birth in custody

(Newser) - A group devoted to tracking the children taken from parents murdered in Argentina's "Dirty War" and placed with families who supported the military regime has found its 114th "stolen child"—the grandson of the group's founder. The 36-year-old man, a pianist and composer, was found...

Argentine Dictator Videla Dies in Prison

Ran one of the bloodiest military governments in South America

(Newser) - Former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla, who took power over Argentina in a 1976 coup and led a military junta that killed thousands of his fellow citizens in a dirty war to eliminate so-called "subversives," died quietly in his sleep today while serving life in prison for crimes against...

Dark Cloud in Francis' Past: The Dirty War

Critics accuse Bergoglio of working with military junta

(Newser) - Although responses to Pope Francis have been chiefly positive , one dark stain in church history is raising serious questions about the new pope—the church's role during the dictatorship in Argentina, reports the Guardian . The church backed the dictatorship during its rule from 1976 to 1983, urging its followers...

106th Stolen Baby Identified in Argentina

Group working to find children kidnapped during 'Dirty War'

(Newser) - One hundred and six, and counting: A group dedicated to reuniting children snatched during Argentina's "Dirty War" with their biological families has just completed its 106th case, reports the BBC . Pablo Miranda, now 34, grew up in an adoptive family and approached the Grandmothers of the Plaza de...

Argentina Media Heirs May Have Been Stolen Babies

DNA tests ordered by court

(Newser) - Brother and sister heirs to one of Argentina's largest media companies are being forced to undergo DNA testing to determine if they were stolen as babies from tortured political prisoners to be handed over to their adoptive tycoon mom. Human rights group Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo won a...

Two Pilots Face Extradition in Dirty War Death Flights

Some 1,000 Argentines were hurled into sea

(Newser) - Two Argentines charged with piloting notorious "death flights" during the country's brutal military dictatorship are facing extradition. The pilots, one arrested in Argentina and the other in Spain, are accused of flying the flights from which more than 1,000 drugged and blindfolded students, intellectuals, and trade unionists...

Argentina Baby Snatch Witness Dies in Trial

Possibly killed before could talk about Dirty War disappearances

(Newser) - Days before he was to testify about the Dirty War disappearance of twins born to a political prisoner, a former Argentine army officer has been found dead of a gunshot wound to the head, the BBC reports. Police don't know if Paul Navone committed suicide but human rights groups think...

Priest Gets Life for 'Dirty War' Crimes

He shared parishioners' confessions with police

(Newser) - A former Roman Catholic priest  who delivered dozens of Argentines to the former military junta was sentenced to life in prison yesterday. Christian von Wernich, 69, passed his parishioners’ confessions to police during the so-called "Dirty War,"  leading to 7 murders, 42 abductions and 31 cases of...

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