|
|
|
|
|
Jorge Rafael Videla
Videla in uniform (center).
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo (born August 2, 1925 in Mercedes) was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'tat that deposed Isabel Martnez de Pern. After the return to democracy, he was placed on house arrest. The coup Then-Lieutenant General Jorge Videla was named Commander in Chief by President Isabel Martnez de Pern on 1974. The weak-willed Pern was very unpopular, and Videla headed a military coup which deposed her on 24 March 1976. A military junta was formed, made up of himself, representing the Army, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera representing the Navy, and Brigadier General Orlando Ramn Agosti representing the Air Force. Two days after the coup, Videla formally assumed the post of President. Human Rights Violations During the military regime, massive human rights violations occurred, one of the worst in South American history. Up to 30,000 Argentineans are estimated to have been killed and 500,000 went into exile. All legislative power was concentrated in the hands of a 9-man commission of junta members, and every single important position in the national government was filled with loyal military officers. The junta quickly banned labor unions, strikes, abolished the judiciary, and effectively removed civil liberties. Conflict with Chile During Videla's regime, a dispute with Chile over three islands in the Beagle Canal at the southern tip of America, Picton, Lennox and Nueva, led to a quasi-war. By 1977 both Pinochet's Chile and Videla's Argentina were on the brink of open war. In 1978, both sides were ready to declare war. However, Pope John Paul II opened a new meditation process. His representative, Antonio Samor, successfully prevented full-scale war. The conflict was not completely resolved until 1984 with the Treaty of Peace and Friendship (Tratado de Paz y Amistad). Chilean sovereignity over the islands is now undisputed. Economic Policy Videla largely left the whole economy in the hands of Minister Jos Alfredo Martnez de Hoz. The foreign debt was multiplied four times, and the differences between the high and low classes became much more pronounced. Martnez de Hoz has argued that repressive economic policies were necessary to contain the popular discontent about the state of the economy. Videla's Image Abroad One of Videla's greatest challenges was his image abroad. He attributed criticism over human rights as an anti-Argentinean campaign. During a human rights investigation in September 1979, the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights denounced his government, citing many disappearances and instances of abuse. Adolfo Prez Esquivel, leader of the Peace and Justice Service (Servicio Paz y Justicia) organization, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980, exposing much more of the human rights violations to the word at large. Later Years Videla relinquished power to Roberto Eduardo Viola on March 29, 1981. Democracy was restored in 1983, and Videla was put into trial and declared guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was destituted from the military on 1985. The tribunal found Videla guilty of numerous homicides, kidnapping, torture, and many other crimes. Videla was imprisoned for only five years. In 1990, President Carlos Menem released Videla together with many other former members of the military regime. Menem cited the necessity to get over past conflicts as his main reason. Videla briefly returned to prison in 1998 when a judge found him guilty of kidnapping of minors during the Dirty War. Videla spent 38 days in the Caseros jail, and was later transferred to house arrest due to health issues. External link Videla Videla, Jorge Videla
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|