Argentina, like many other nations in Latin America, experienced a period of “apolitical” military rule. This type of rule often included strong government action against any perceived political dissidents. Argentina proved an exceedingly bad case of this form of government, human rights were disregarded as people were jailed, tortured, killed and disappeared.
The article talks of the Death of an extraordinary activist during the time of the military regime, Hebe de Bonafini. She was a 49 year old housewife when one of her sons was disappeared by the military government. After tireless searching, she began to assemble other mothers who had suffered the same fate, and organized weekly protests with her new group. Although there was backlash, and members were disappeared, they did not back down.
The military dictatorship in Argentina finally came to an end in 1983, after seven grueling years of deaths and forced labor. This was mostly caused by an ongoing economic crisis and a shameful display in the Falkland War against the British.
Argentina went on to institute one of the world’s first commissions for truth and reconciliation, attempting to punish the ones responsible for much of the suffering women like Hebe had endured. Although some long jail sentences were given, Hebe became increasingly polarizing during this time period, condemning every democratic leader until the election of the Kirchners. Nestor Kirchner finally restarted the trials which had been stalled by previous leaders.
The United States’ backing of the previous military government had left a sour taste in the mouths of many, Hebe was especially displeased. When the 9/11 attacks happened, she celebrated that the monster did bleed. She was very vocal about many foreign nations, freely voicing her opinions to the public. A corruption scandal further sullied her reputation, an alleged embezzlement of funds meant for housing of the poor. Unfortunately, even her former close allies, specifically former president Cristina Kirchner had recently been found guilty of fraud. (Argentina’s Vice President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Found Guilty of Fraud – The New York Times (nytimes.com))
Despite, and for some, because of all this, she had been nominated for multiple Nobel Peace Prizes, as recently as 2018. To this day she is admired for her actions during the terrible times of the military dictatorship, and Argentina has called for three days of national mourning.