Argentines snatched as babies of Dirty War ‘disappeared’ grope for truth, real kin
Argentines snatched as babies of Dirty War disappeared grope for truth, real kin
AP
Jun 27, 2016
BUENOS AIRES Pedro Sandoval stopped celebrating Mothers Day, Fathers Day and even his own birthday after he found out the truth: The mom and dad he knew growing up had stolen him from his biological parents, who were kidnapped, tortured and never heard from again during Argentinas 1976-1983 military dictatorship.
Im still jealous of friends who can hug or get into arguments with their parents, said Sandoval, 38, alluding to the biological parents he never met. But Im also thankful that I could at least hug my grandfather and grandmother.
Four decades after the ruling military junta launched a systematic plan to steal babies born to political prisoners, Argentinas search for truth is increasingly focused on the 500 or so newborns whisked away and raised by surrogate families. Several hundred have yet to be accounted for.
This spring a visiting U.S. President Barack Obama and Argentine President Mauricio Macri announced, on the 40th anniversary of the coup that brought the junta to power, that Washington would open up a trove of U.S. intelligence files from Argentinas Dirty War era, when an estimated 30,000 people were killed or forcibly disappeared by the regime. It may take a few years for the documents to be released, but the news gave families hope for word on the fate of other stolen babies.
More:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/06/27/world/social-issues-world/argentines-snatched-babies-dirty-war-disappeared-grope-truth-real-kin/#.V3BTw-RTEq0

elljay
(1,178 posts)Jews, some of them my relatives, comprise maybe 1% of Argentina's population. However, they were at least 5% of the disappeared. Argentina has a long and disgusting history of anti Semitism. It is the home of many Nazis who were smuggled to South America by networks of Catholic nuns and priests (many of the Nazi hierarchy and supporters were Catholic). Priests rode with the Argentine military in the helicopters and said prayers as people were thrown into the ocean to their deaths. Two terrorist attacks against the Jewish community, which are widely suspected as being perpetrated by Iran, Hezbollah, and Argentiniam allies, remain unsolved after decades. And now, Jewish families are searching for the children taken from them and given to Catholics to raise, a common practice during centuries of Catholic persecution in Europe. It is sad to see this old, genocidal practice still at work.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/culture/article/argentine_children_of_disappeared_learn_of_jewish_parentage
Judi Lynn
(163,271 posts)It has always seemed like such a bizarre act, taking those children from the prisoners and giving them away to friends, allies of the dictatorship. Had never heard this is such an old practice. Very clear to see the connection now that you've mentioned it, just like the connection between some of the torture tactics and the Inquisition.
One particular priest, Christian von Wernich, has been tried for his part in this vicious madness.
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I'd like to know if others have been tried, but you know how little information we can expect from our corporate "news" sources about actual news beyond Hollywood, etc., and Donald Trump.
There's not much of a chance much will be moving in Argentina as long as right-wing Pres. Macri is at the helm, as he has always been openly supporting of the military dictatorship, unfortunately, and also 100% behind complete immunity for the filthy torturers and murderers within the Dirty War Dictatorship.
Thank you for some enlightenment on these "people."
elljay
(1,178 posts)The total number is not known.
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/mar/24/guardianweekly.guardianweekly1
As for the kidnaping of Jewish children to raise as Catholics, here is some background. The Mortara case, involving a kidnapping and baptism by a Pope, is the most famous incident.
http://www.biu.ac.il/JH/Parasha/eng/vayeshev/839Lev.doc