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Witness History: ‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

Documentaries

‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

07/12/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, ‘The disappeared’ of Argentina

In 1977 a woman became one of thousands who disappeared from the streets of Buenos Aires

Thousands of Argentinians were captured, tortured and murdered in large detention centres during a military dictatorship that lasted for seven years.

Between 1976 and 1983 in Argentina, the military ruled the country. Thousands of mainly young, left-wing Argentinians went missing. 

Known as 'the disappeared', they were taken to detention centres, such as Escuela Superior de Mecanica de la Armada, known as ESMA in the capital, Buenos Aires. Around 5,000 prisoners passed through its gates. Most were killed. 

As well as the murders and torture, hundreds of babies were taken from pregnant prisoners and given away to military personnel and families who supported the government.  

In December 1983 the Argentinian president Raul Alfonsin signed a decree putting the military junta responsible on trial.  

In 2010, Candice Piete spoke to one of the survivors, Miriam Lewin. 

(Photo: ESMA. Credit: Reuters)

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