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One reader of Estancia Aldea Norteña recently commented, "I am getting nervous for the general's return...." Fans of Northanger Abbey know this lighthearted tale turns ominous when General Tilney sends Catherine away from the titular house. And while my previous blog posts about Argentina were largely positive, today's content is tragic: the recent March 24 commemoration known as Día Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia, or National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice.
As I briefly described back in January, Argentina endured a terrifying period of state intimidation know as the "Dirty War." According to this document released by the Freedom of Information Act, a 1976 military coup resulted in the "Process of National Reorganization." Between that year and the eventual return to democracy in 1983, up to 30,000 people died, with over 300 secret prisons for anyone even suspected of disloyalty.
A wave of military rule swept South America during this same time. Other recently declassified documents now reveal that these dictatorships cooperated in a system called "Operation Condor," sharing intelligence and closing off escape to those fleeing persecution. This 2020 Guardian news article offers extensive details and commentary as revealed by other recently declassified documents, including how the United States aided and abetted these regimes.
I make a very oblique reference to this history in my next chapter during a conversation between Catalina and her parents.
Her parents looked as confused as she still felt. Even Papá, usually so mild, looked very stern when he said, "That's no excuse to throw you out!"
Mamá nodded, but patted Catalina's hand in reassurance. "It does seem very strange, but he was a general, yes? There are many ways to cross men like that without ever realizing it." She looked meaningfully at Papá, who shook his head gravely and murmured about Memorial Day and lost souls. "Well, at least he only sent you home to us, nothing worse. We are very grateful for that."
During the Dirty Wary thousands of people literally "disappeared," with nothing recorded about their incarceration or deaths, leaving their families to wonder for years about what happened to them. A daughter who returns with only disappointed dreams would be a happily ever after in comparison.
However, there is an uplifting story amid all this tragedy. As reported by the History Channel: "In 1977, a group of desperate mothers began to protest. Every week, they gathered in the Plaza de Mayo and marched, tempting the ire of the military junta."
The resulting organization, Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo), has continued to seek answers and march in remembrance of those lost. This video, posted in 2016 with English subtitles, explains more about these brave women and their fight.
Demonstrations by the grandmothers and other victim groups led to the creation of a national holiday in remembrance of the Dirty War victims, celebrated every March 24 in Argentina. In 2023, the capital Buenos Aires hosted the World Forum on Human Rights at the same time.
There are plenty of problems facing Argentina today, such as the lingering impact of COVID-19 and severe economic upheaval. As the online postings about this year's Memorial Day prove, there also still many mourning the loss of family and seeking restitution for past injustices. However, it is encouraging to learn that a country devastated by some of the worst human rights abuses of the later twentieth century is also full of people working toward a brighter future.