Argentina arrests alleged torturer

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Argentina arrests alleged torturer
Published on 24 March 2010 - 10:45am

The Argentinian authorities have arrested a man accused of being responsible for the torture and killing of about 600 people during the military regime which ruled the country between 1976 and 1983.

Carlos Galian, also known as Pedro Bolita, allegedly worked at the ESMA, a naval school where opponents of the military regime were tortured and killed. Mr Galian is also linked to the so-called death flights on which drugged opponents were thrown out of planes over the Atlantic Ocean. Out of an estimated 5,000 people who were detained at ESMA; only about 100 survived.

Sixteen other ESMA staff members are currently on trial for their alleged role in the torture and killing that took place there. Among these 16 accused is former captain Alfredo Astiz who is being held responsible for the disappearance of the French nuns Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet.


Read more: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/argentina-arrests-alleged-torturer

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Argentina arrests torturer blamed for 600 deaths
by Staff Writers
Buenos Aires (AFP) March 23, 2010

Argentina has arrested an accused torturer under the 1976-1983 military dictatorship who is blamed for some 600 cases of torture and homicide, including prisoners thrown alive from planes, a court source told AFP Tuesday.

Carlos Galian, 64 -- also known by the alias Pedro Bolita -- "has been accused of human rights violations while he worked at the Naval Mechanics School, between 1976-1978, against at least 600 people," a court source said, speaking privately.

About 5,000 regime opponents went through the school, essentially a killing field, and just about 100 are known to have survived.

Galian was linked to the "death flights" on which opponents, real or perceived, of the military government were tossed out of planes into the Rio de la Plata or Atlantic Ocean.

More:
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Argentina_arrests_torturer_blamed_for_600_deaths_999.html

[pundaint]

1. Argentina has honor, America has free ranging war criminals - let's try it their way.

[depakid]

2. Took awhile...

[karmkay]

4. Yes it took awhile

but our cia and military torturers should be on notice: eventually, your evil deeds will catch up with you.
Nazis are still being caught and prosecuted. The water-board brigade will be perp-walked too--eventually.

[madokie]

8. You bet its coming

I doubt that any of our war criminals get much natural normal sleep for worrying about these war crimes they've committed.

[backtomn]

5. Argentina is no example.....

while I am for addressing crimes against the people, Argentina is hardly someone to follow. Nestor Kirschner was a Peronista. Peron was a big supporter of Mussolini and allowed Nazis to escape to Argentina after WWII. Also.....although there a some in that government of the late 70's that need to be in prison, there were opposition terrorists killing innocents at that time as well. There are people on both sides that need punishment....but, as is typically true, history tends to be written by the victors. With the Kirschners in charge, there won't be a lot of self-reflection. To truly address such past wrongs, you will need the support of both sides of the political spectrum. In Argentina (and the U.S.), the time is apparently not now.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Nestor Kirchner was himself imprisoned and tortured during the Dirty War.

It would be approriate if you actually didn't attempt to imply unwholesome aspects to an extraordinary man who opened the door to prosecution of these mega monsters which had been nailed shut by right-wing sociopaths and assorted other fools after their rampage of blood and evil.

[Number9Dream]

3. President Christina Kirchner has tried to assist prosecutions

On October 17, 2009, President Cristina Kirchner proposed the compulsory submission of DNA samples in cases related to crimes against humanity, in a move lauded by the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

[backtomn]

6. "Bolita" ???

Sounds about right? : )

[Flaneur]

7. I've driven past the former Naval Mechanics School in Buenos Aires.

The torture center for the rightist Argentine dictatorship. It gave me chills.