Few know
By: Carlos Oscar Wartjes - 17/10/2024
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Few people remember some words by Julián Marías published in July 1992, and they are what inspired me to tell you just a small part of the tragedy that has plagued us for more than 50 years. They say: “Everyone knows - although many do not want to know - the serious problem that Argentina ran into, of becoming a gigantic Cuba, governed from far away. That is what has not been forgiven, that it avoided it.”
Few people know, or do not remember, that Menem, in order to contribute to national pacification, passed amnesty laws that were approved by Congress and then repealed by the same Congress, but only for those who fought terrorism. Thus, the terrorists were freed of all charges and those who had defended democracy went to jail.
Few people know what a ruthless and hidden war is like, in which both sides resort to extreme means to annihilate the other, while some carry out the order to restore peace to the citizens and others seek to take over a legitimately constituted government in order to impose a communist regime.
Few people know that justice in our country is exercised in two ways: by judging or by taking revenge. If it were not so, there would not be so many corrupt people free.
Few people know that new cases are being opened, including against men who in many cases were barely of age and held the lowest ranks. Perhaps the human rights business that Macri promised to end in his presidential campaign is still going on.
Few people know that two officers and eight corporals were involved in the same case, as if everyone in a military regime had the same responsibility.
Few people know that these abuses were not even committed at the Nuremberg trials and that there were fewer than 100 convictions, or that in the war between Serbia and Croatia there were fewer than 20 convictions. But the “political and judicial pride” of certain figures is that they have prosecuted more than 2,700 military personnel and civilians, of whom more than 840 died.
Few people know that the Treaty of Rome, the Treaty of Costa Rica, the most lenient law, the reasonable period of trial, among other international commitments and principles of law, were violated.
Few people know that we have prisoners over 90 years old and that a 100-year-old prisoner recently died.
Few people know that officials of the judiciary are still in prison and held captive, only for having sentenced terrorists. They also don't know that when the terrorists became upset with justice, these scoundrels did not hesitate to assassinate judges like Dr. Quiroga and to intimidate all the members of the court, several of whom had to emigrate.
Few people know that prisoners convicted of crimes against humanity are not entitled to house arrest when they reach the age of seventy, even if they are seriously ill and prison services are unable to provide care.
Few people know that there are common prisoners for serious crimes without electronic bracelets, but a few days ago they arrived at the home of an 86-year-old prisoner for crimes against humanity to place the bracelet on him, after almost 18 years of detention, in an act of renewed humiliation and revenge.
Few people know, or do not want to remember, how the deceased Commissioner Patti was brought to court on a stretcher, with the IV hanging from his neck. But what few people know is that a prisoner diagnosed with cancer, over 75 years old, was until recently taken to the hospital in handcuffs, with a handcuff placed at the head of the bed to leave his other arm free so that they could inject him with chemo. They understood that he could escape and the man was dying.
Flag Day has passed away. These vile acts were not committed even against serial killers in Argentine criminal history.
Few people know that the Argentine Armed Forces were deprived of military justice, a unique case in history. However, when a soldier on a peacekeeping mission died on a dangerous war front due to gunfire between enemies, no criminal officer took the risk of investigating what happened on the spot and the summary prevention provided for in the Code of Military Justice was enough. All this, to the astonishment of the foreign military superiors in charge.
Few people know that citizens who have contributed their entire lives must be supported financially by family and friends.
Few people know about the family dramas and the suffering of their children, because the majority of today's society did not live through that tragedy, but they look away and enjoy the democracy that we were on the verge of losing.
Few people know that until recently, children of imprisoned military personnel were prevented from being promoted, simply because they “had a surname.”
Few people know that, as those who started the war were young idealists, it did not matter that they killed children and innocent people as a consequence of their ideals.
Few people know that, after these crimes, all Argentines, with our taxes, compensated exclusively the terrorists, and some others, just to compensate for their ideological frustrations.
THE MONUMENT
Few people know that the Memorial Monument only contains the names of terrorists and also of those who repented, who were executed when they tried to desert after witnessing the horror of their crimes.
Few people know that the sister of soldier Hermindo Luna, who resisted the assault of the Formosa Regiment, asked the monument why her brother was not included. They could not tell her the truth.
Few people know that there were presidents who invited foreign visitors to pay tribute to these terrorists or to visit the Museum of Partial Memory.
Few people know that Nicolás Rodríguez Peña wrote the following reflection: “We were cruel! The charge is too much. Meanwhile, there you have a country that is not committed to being so. We saved it as we believed we should have saved it. Were there other means? We did not see it, nor did we believe that with those means we would be capable of doing what we did. Throw the blame in our faces and enjoy the results. We will be the executioners. Be free men.”
* Rear Admiral of the Marine Corps (re)
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