Comments on: Dirty wars leave tough stains

Dirty wars leave tough stains

Kattullus — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:12:11 -0800

Von Wernich signed the baptism certificate of a girl born in a clandestine prison, whose mother was murdered at his orders. He encouraged torture victims to "testify, for the sake of god and country," perverting the confession into an interrogation tactic. Under a Nazi flag, he witnessed the torture of Jewish journalist Jacobo Timerman [...] Von Wernich was convicted on nearly all counts "under the mark of genocide." The crowds inside and outside the courthouse broke into celebration, singing, lighting firecrackers, some burning effigies of the priest. After thirty years, the saga to bring Von Wernich to justice was over.

The Unending War — Argentina's quest for justice by Sam Ferguson is about how Argentine society is dealing with the legacy of the junta's Dirty War of 1976-83.

Other articles by Sam Ferguson on von Wernich (in order of publication): Argentina's Struggle to Restore the Rule of Law Argentina's Dirty War Trials Continue Argentine "Dirty War" Trial Focuses on Priest Priest May Walk in Argentina's "Dirty War" Tribunal Seven Murders Probed in "Dirty War" Tribunal Priest Convicted in Argentine "Dirty War" Tribunal

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:31:04 -0800

Oh! Forgot! Photos of the ESMA torture center. Both the photolink and the essay are via Vallejo Nocturno.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:19 -0800

This is great, Katullus. Thanks.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:56 -0800

er, 'Kattullus,' sorry.

By: ewkpates

ewkpates — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:18:20 -0800

Excellent post. This is why I believe in war.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:30:28 -0800

Great post. Thanks (from a resident of Argentina in the late '60s, whose house was bombed by leftists).

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:42:56 -0800

Oh wow! That must have been terrifying (and weird), languagehat. Last March persons unknown tried to firebomb my apartment and that counts as one of the weirdest, most uncomfortable experiences of my life, even though I luckily happened to be on the other side of the world.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:58:03 -0800

Oddly, I too was on the other side of the world. But my brother had his bedroom window blown in and glass scattered all over him. He slept right through it. He's a Viking.