“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
The political use of human rights became evident for Argentinians in the rally organized yesterday, March 24, 2023, by a pro-government group called La Campora, led by the son of former president and current vice president Cristina Kirchner.
Under the guise of an anniversary of the military coup of March 24, 1976, that installed a Military Junta and pursued crimes against humanity judged in 1985 (recently presented in an Oscar-nominated film), the rally pressed to stop the verdicts in trials for the corruption of Cristina Kirchner excluded all opposition parties and independent organizations organized.
The rally organizers proclaimed a bogus version of 30,000 disappeared during the military dictatorship years (1976-1983) and accused those who supported the 8,960 tested by CONADEP of "denialism."
We carefully researched the arguments for and against both positions with an exhaustive search using artificial intelligence (ChatGPT 4).
Here are the results:
The
figure of 8,960 disappeared in Argentina during the 1976-1983 dictatorship
comes from a report, "Nunca Más," prepared by the National Commission
on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) 1984. Then-President Raúl Alfonsín
created CONADEP to investigate and document the human rights violations
committed by the military government.
Sources and arguments in favor of the
figure of 8,960:
1.
The "Nunca Más" report results
from an extensive investigative process carried out by CONADEP, which included
the collection of testimonies, documents, and evidence of human rights
violations.
2.
CONADEP not only documented cases of
forced disappearance but also cases of torture, murder, and theft of babies.
Therefore, the figure of 8,960 is a solid number based on data collected and
verified by the commission.
3.
The figure of 8,960 is widely accepted
and supported by international organizations and human rights experts, such as
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Arguments for the figure of 30,000:
1.
The 30,000 figure is often cited by
human rights organizations and groups of relatives of victims, such as the
Madres de Plaza de Mayo and Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, who argue that the number
of disappeared is much higher due to the number of cases not reported or
documented.
2.
The 30,000 figure is argued to be based
on estimates and testimonies from survivors and relatives of the victims, who
claim that many people were kidnapped, tortured, and killed without a trace.
3.
Some argue that the "Nunca
Más" report could not include all cases due to a lack of resources and
time, as well as possible intimidation of witnesses and survivors by members of
the military government.
Critical analysis :
1.
CONADEP's figure of 8,960 is supported
by exhaustive and systematic research. However, it is important to recognize
that the political and social context at the time may have limited the
commission's ability to document all cases.
2.
The 30,000 figure, while widely reported
and cited, lacks the same empirical basis as the 8,960 figure. It
can help raise awareness of the magnitude of violence and human rights
violations. Still, it should be treated with caution when approaching the issue
from an academic or legal perspective.
3.
The political and economic motivations
behind each figure can be diverse. While the 8,960 figure can be seen as an
attempt to document and acknowledge human rights violations officially, the
30,000 figure can be used by interest groups to highlight the seriousness of
the problem and press for justice and redress.
The
reasons why CONADEP's figure of 8,960 disappeared is considered correct are
based on the methodology used, the exhaustiveness of the investigation, and the
support of international organizations and human rights experts. Here
are the reasons _ _ main :
1.
Research methodology: CONADEP carried out a rigorous and systematic
research process. The commission collected testimonies, documents, and evidence
of human rights violations, including forced disappearances, torture, murder,
and theft of babies. The figure of 8,960 is based on these verified and
documented data in the "Nunca Más" report (Source: "Nunca
Más" report, CONADEP, 1984).
2.
Official recognition The report "Nunca Más" was published by a
commission created by then President Raúl Alfonsín, which gives it an official
and governmental character. The figure of 8,960 is the official recognition of
the forced disappearances during the dictatorship (Source: Decree 187/83,
Presidency of the Argentine Nation, 1983).
3.
Supported by
international organizations and experts:
The figure of 8,960 is widely accepted and supported by international human
rights organizations and experts in the field, such as Amnesty International
and Human Rights Watch. These organizations have cited and used the figure of
8,960 in their reports and analyses of the human rights situation in Argentina
during the dictatorship (Source: Amnesty International, "Argentina: A
Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, "2000; Human
Rights Watch, " World Report 2001: Argentina").
4.
The thoroughness of
investigation: Although the "Nunca Más"
report may not have been able to include all cases of enforced disappearances,
the figure of 8,960 is the result of a comprehensive effort to document and
verify as many cases as possible. CONADEP identified and denounced human rights
violations, providing a solid foundation for future investigations and justice
efforts (Source: "Nunca Más" report, CONADEP, 1984).
Considering these reasons, the figure of
8,960 disappeared persons presented by CONADEP is considered correct from a
methodological, official point of view and supported by international
organizations and human rights experts.
Luis
Labraña, a journalist and former Montonero militant, has stated in interviews
that 30,000 disappeared was an invention on his part during the dictatorship. According to Labraña, the figure was created in 1978,
when he worked at the ANCLA news agency, founded by Rodolfo Walsh, a writer,
and journalist who disappeared during the dictatorship. Labraña maintains that
the figure was created to attract the attention of the international press and
that it had no real foundations.
Labraña mentions that the Mothers of the
Plaza de Mayo adopted the figure of 30,000 disappeared and used it in their
protests and activities. Over the years, various sectors in Argentina and abroad widely disseminated and accepted the figure.
It should be noted that Labraña's testimony
is an individual perspective and does not necessarily represent the reality of
how the figure of 30,000 disappeared originated. Despite their claims, CONADEP,
as we mentioned above, documented 8,960 cases of forced disappearances, this
being the official figure and supported by various international organizations
and human rights experts.
Sources:
- Perfil, "Luis Labraña,
the journalist who invented the 30,000 disappeared", 2016.
- Infobae, "The militant
who recognized that he invented the figure of 30,000 disappeared",
2016.
Maintaining a critical and analytical vision of the statements and testimonies presented concerning complex and sensitive historical events, such as the forced disappearances in Argentina during the dictatorship, is essential to keep political use at bay.
Although Labraña's testimony is interesting, it is crucial to consider official and documented
information when addressing this issue.
