elpais.com
Milei Government Downplays Argentina Dictatorship Crimes
On the anniversary of Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship, the Milei government released a video justifying state repression and announced the declassification of intelligence files, already declassified in 2010, while pushing to equate guerrilla violence with state terrorism.
- How does the Milei government's commemoration of the anniversary of Argentina's dictatorship contradict the established historical narrative and impact human rights efforts?
- On the anniversary of Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship, the Milei government sought to downplay state terrorism, releasing a video justifying repression as a response to 1970s armed groups. They announced the "immediate declassification" of intelligence files (previously declassified in 2010) and a bill to make guerrilla crimes imprescriptible.
- What are the potential long-term implications of the Milei government's attempt to equate guerrilla violence with state terrorism in Argentina's historical narrative and legal framework?
- Milei's administration, while announcing declassification, simultaneously restricted access to military archives and closed Conadi units investigating disappeared children, highlighting conflicting actions. Their push to label a 1974 guerrilla attack as a crime against humanity, aiming for imprescriptibility, demonstrates a broader strategy to equate state and non-state violence.
- What specific actions has the Milei administration taken to limit access to state archives related to the dictatorship, and how do these actions undermine investigations into human rights abuses?
- The government's actions, including a video featuring Agustín Laje promoting a concept of "complete memory" equating guerrilla violence with state terrorism, echo claims by military defendants for two decades. This narrative challenges the established 30,000 victim figure, supported by human rights organizations.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The government's framing emphasizes the actions of armed groups in the 1970s, using this as justification for the dictatorship's repression. The video featuring Agustín Laje, a prominent Milei supporter, sets a biased tone from the outset. Headlines and announcements focus on 'declassification' of archives (a measure already taken) and 'imprescriptibility' for guerrilla crimes, diverting attention from the core issue of state-sponsored human rights abuses. The use of the term "complete memory" is a clear attempt to legitimize the actions of the dictatorship.
Language Bias
The text uses loaded language such as 'ultraderechista' (far-right), which carries a strong negative connotation. The government's actions are described using words like 'relativizar' (to relativize) and 'justificar' (to justify), implying attempts to minimize the severity of the crimes. The term 'guerra revolucionaria' (revolutionary war) is used to frame the situation, suggesting a context of armed conflict rather than state-sponsored terrorism. Neutral alternatives could include 'extreme-right', 'attempt to downplay', and 'armed conflict/insurgency'.
Bias by Omission
The analysis omits the broader context of Argentina's history leading up to the dictatorship, focusing heavily on the actions of armed groups while downplaying the systematic nature of state-sponsored terrorism. The vast network of complicity involving civilians, the church, and businesses is largely absent. The 30,000 victim figure, widely accepted by human rights organizations, is explicitly contested, suggesting a biased selection of data. The government's claim that the 2010 declassification was not fully implemented lacks substantiation and ignores the extensive use of the archives by judicial processes.
False Dichotomy
The narrative presents a false dichotomy by equating the violence of armed groups with the systematic state terrorism of the dictatorship. This framing ignores the vast difference in scale, organization, and intent between the two. The attempt to create a 'complete memory' that balances both sides effectively minimizes the atrocities committed by the state.
Sustainable Development Goals
The government's attempts to downplay the crimes of the state terrorism during the last military dictatorship in Argentina (1976-1983) and to equate the actions of armed groups with those of the state undermine justice and accountability. The announcement to declassify intelligence files, already done in 2010, and the proposal to make guerrilla crimes imprescriptible, distract from the core issue of state-sponsored human rights abuses. The government's actions obstruct efforts to achieve justice for victims of the dictatorship and promote impunity.