1973 Ezeiza massacre
Encyclopedia
The Ezeiza massacre took place on June 20, 1973 near the Ezeiza International Airport
in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. Peronist masses, including many young people, had gathered there to acclaim Juan Perón
's definitive return from an 18-year exile in Spain
. The police counted three and a half million people. In his plane, Perón was accompanied by El Tío ("Uncle") president Héctor Cámpora, representative of the Peronists' left wing, who had come to power on May 25, 1973, amid popular euphoria and a period of political turmoil. Cámpora was opposed to the Peronist right wing, declaring during his first speech that "the spilled blood will not be negotiated" . However, from Perón's platform, camouflaged snipers from the right-wing of Peronism opened fire on the crowd. The left-wing Peronist Youth and the Montoneros
were targeted and trapped. At least 13 bodies were subsequently identified, and 365 were injured during the massacre
. According to Clarín
newspaper, the real number must have been much higher . However, no official investigation has been performed to confirm these higher estimates.
, Perón's personal secretary who had accompanied Perón during his exile in Francoist Spain, was the right-wing's representative. López Rega would also be the founder of the Alianza Anticomunista Argentina
right-wing terrorist group. A populist and a nationalist, Perón was popular from the far left to the far-right, but this conjunction of forces ended that day. During his exile, Perón himself had supported both young left-wing Peronists, whose icons included Che Guevara
(Montoneros, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias — FAR, Fuerzas Armadas Peronistas — FAP, Peronist Youth — JP — and others) and right-wing Peronists composing "Special Formations", gathering radicals such as the Guardia de Hierro (Iron Guard) or the Movimiento Nacionalista Tacuara.
The tribune had been set up by Lieutenant-Colonel Jorge Manuel Osinde and far-right figures of Peronism, such as Alberto Brito Lima and Norma Kennedy. Lorenzo Miguel
, Juan Manuel Abal Medina
and José Ignacio Rucci
, general secretary of the CGT (Confederación General del Trabajo) — controlled by the Peronist right-wing —, had the responsibility of organizing the Peronists' mobilization to Ezeiza. Members of the Unión Obrera Metalúrgica trade union, the Juventud sindical peronista and other right-wing sectors were also on Perón's tribune, facing the left-wing groups in the crowds (FAR, Montoneros, JP and others — the FAP had disarmed on May 25, 1973).
Italian
terrorist Stefano Delle Chiaie
, who worked in Operation Gladio
but also maintained links with the Chile
an DINA and Turkish
Grey Wolves
member Abdullah Çatlı
, was also present at Ezeiza, according to investigations by Spanish magistrate Baltasar Garzón
.
Carlos "El Indio" Castillo, member of the Concentración Nacionalista Universitaria (CNU), also took part in the massacre. The following night, Buenos Aires' walls were covered by graffiti "Osinde assassin of the Peronist people".
and factory occupations had taken place. Workers managed to obtain wage increases and better working conditions, and social tensions were increasing because of this. The workers' movement had gathered the sympathy of large sectors, sometimes anti-Peronist, of the middle classes. On June 2, 1973, José Ignacio Rucci
, general secretary of the CGT, had responded to a Cuba
n delegate to the CGT congress asking for a toast in honour of Che Guevara
, that they were against left-wing imperialism. The Peronist right-wing gradually took control of the whole of the trade union
organization, placing people close to the leader José Ignacio Rucci.
and the presence of the masses imposing their will of support to Perón, the June 20, 1973 massacre marks the entrance on the scene of the late right-wing Peronism."
La masacre de Ezeiza, El Litoral, Santa Fe, 23 June 2010 (retrieved 2011-07-24) El hombre que fue izado de los pelos, ElArgentino.com, 2008 (retrieved 2011-07-24)
Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport , more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport owing to its location within the Ezeiza Partido in the Greater Buenos Aires, is an international airport located south-southwest of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Peronist masses, including many young people, had gathered there to acclaim Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
's definitive return from an 18-year exile in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The police counted three and a half million people. In his plane, Perón was accompanied by El Tío ("Uncle") president Héctor Cámpora, representative of the Peronists' left wing, who had come to power on May 25, 1973, amid popular euphoria and a period of political turmoil. Cámpora was opposed to the Peronist right wing, declaring during his first speech that "the spilled blood will not be negotiated" . However, from Perón's platform, camouflaged snipers from the right-wing of Peronism opened fire on the crowd. The left-wing Peronist Youth and the Montoneros
Montoneros
Montoneros was an Argentine Peronist urban guerrilla group, active during the 1960s and 1970s. The name is an allusion to 19th century Argentinian history. After Juan Perón's return from 18 years of exile and the 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which marked the definitive split between left and right-wing...
were targeted and trapped. At least 13 bodies were subsequently identified, and 365 were injured during the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
. According to Clarín
Clarín (newspaper)
Clarín is the largest newspaper in Argentina, published by the Grupo Clarín media group. It was founded by Roberto Noble on 28 August 1945. It is politically centrist but popularly understood to oppose the Kirchner government...
newspaper, the real number must have been much higher . However, no official investigation has been performed to confirm these higher estimates.
People involved
The Ezeiza massacre marked the end of the alliance of left and right-wing Peronists which Perón had managed to form. Héctor Cámpora represented the main figure of the left-wing and José López RegaJosé López Rega
José López Rega was Argentina's Minister of Social Welfare during the Peronist government started in 1973 by Juan Perón and continued after Perón's death in 1974 by his third wife and vice-president, Isabel Martínez de Perón , until the coup d'etat of 1976 that initiated the so-called National...
, Perón's personal secretary who had accompanied Perón during his exile in Francoist Spain, was the right-wing's representative. López Rega would also be the founder of the Alianza Anticomunista Argentina
Alianza Anticomunista Argentina
The Argentine Anticommunist Alliance was a right-wing death squad active in Argentina during the mid-1970s, particularly active under Isabel Perón's rule . Initially associated with the Peronist right, the organisation was bitterly in conflict with the Peronist left and other left organizations...
right-wing terrorist group. A populist and a nationalist, Perón was popular from the far left to the far-right, but this conjunction of forces ended that day. During his exile, Perón himself had supported both young left-wing Peronists, whose icons included Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
(Montoneros, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias — FAR, Fuerzas Armadas Peronistas — FAP, Peronist Youth — JP — and others) and right-wing Peronists composing "Special Formations", gathering radicals such as the Guardia de Hierro (Iron Guard) or the Movimiento Nacionalista Tacuara.
The tribune had been set up by Lieutenant-Colonel Jorge Manuel Osinde and far-right figures of Peronism, such as Alberto Brito Lima and Norma Kennedy. Lorenzo Miguel
Lorenzo Miguel
Lorenzo Miguel was a prominent Argentine labor leader closely associated with the steelworkers' union.-Early life and his rise in the UOM:...
, Juan Manuel Abal Medina
Juan Manuel Abal Medina
Juan Manuel Abal Medina is an Argentine journalist and politician who served as Secretary General of the Peronist Movement between 1972 and 1974, and would later become a prominent lawyer in Mexico.-Early life and entry into politics:...
and José Ignacio Rucci
José Ignacio Rucci
José Ignacio Rucci was an Argentine politician and union leader, appointed general secretary of the CGT in 1970...
, general secretary of the CGT (Confederación General del Trabajo) — controlled by the Peronist right-wing —, had the responsibility of organizing the Peronists' mobilization to Ezeiza. Members of the Unión Obrera Metalúrgica trade union, the Juventud sindical peronista and other right-wing sectors were also on Perón's tribune, facing the left-wing groups in the crowds (FAR, Montoneros, JP and others — the FAP had disarmed on May 25, 1973).
Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
terrorist Stefano Delle Chiaie
Stefano Delle Chiaie
Stefano Delle Chiaie is a neofascist Italian activist . He went on to become a wanted man worldwide, suspect to be involved in Italy's strategy of tension, but was acquitted. He was a friend of Licio Gelli, grandmaster of P2 masonic lodge...
, who worked in Operation Gladio
Operation Gladio
Operation Gladio is the codename for a clandestine NATO "stay-behind" operation in Italy after World War II. Its purpose was to continue anti-communist actions in the event of a shift to a Communist party led government...
but also maintained links with the Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an DINA and Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Grey Wolves
Grey Wolves
The Idealist Youth , commonly known as Grey Wolves , is an ultra-nationalist neo-fascist youth organization. It is accused of terrorism. According to Turkish authorities, the organization carried out 694 murders between 1974–1980.-Name:...
member Abdullah Çatlı
Abdullah Çatli
Abdullah Çatlı was a Turkish convicted drug trafficker, and contract killer for the Counter-Guerrilla. He led the youth branch of the Nationalist Movement Party...
, was also present at Ezeiza, according to investigations by Spanish magistrate Baltasar Garzón
Baltasar Garzón
Baltasar Garzón Real is a Spanish jurist who served on Spain's central criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional. He was the examining magistrate of the Juzgado Central de Instrucción No...
.
Carlos "El Indio" Castillo, member of the Concentración Nacionalista Universitaria (CNU), also took part in the massacre. The following night, Buenos Aires' walls were covered by graffiti "Osinde assassin of the Peronist people".
Political context
The massacre had been premeditated to remove president Héctor Cámpora, a moderate of the left-wing, from power. During Cámpora's first month of governing, approximately 600 social conflicts, strikesStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and factory occupations had taken place. Workers managed to obtain wage increases and better working conditions, and social tensions were increasing because of this. The workers' movement had gathered the sympathy of large sectors, sometimes anti-Peronist, of the middle classes. On June 2, 1973, José Ignacio Rucci
José Ignacio Rucci
José Ignacio Rucci was an Argentine politician and union leader, appointed general secretary of the CGT in 1970...
, general secretary of the CGT, had responded to a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n delegate to the CGT congress asking for a toast in honour of Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
, that they were against left-wing imperialism. The Peronist right-wing gradually took control of the whole of the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
organization, placing people close to the leader José Ignacio Rucci.
Impact
Perón’s definitive return to Argentina, after 18 years of exile, put an end to the contradictions of Peronism, which gathered political opponents in the same party. The battle near the Ezeiza airport marked the end of the transition period of Cámpora, who had succeeded the authoritarian regime of general Alejandro Lanusse and preceded the old Perón’s return. According to Hugo Moreno, "if October 17, 1945 may be considered as the founding act of Peronism, by the general strikeGeneral strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
and the presence of the masses imposing their will of support to Perón, the June 20, 1973 massacre marks the entrance on the scene of the late right-wing Peronism."
External links
Ezeiza, Contrapunto, Buenos Aires, 1985 by Horacio VerbitskyHoracio Verbitsky
Horacio Verbitsky is a prominent Argentine investigative journalist and author. He writes for the left-leaning Argentine newspaper Página/12 and heads up the Center for Legal and Social Studies , an Argentine human-rights organization.He is also a member of the Directive Board of Human Rights...
La masacre de Ezeiza, El Litoral, Santa Fe, 23 June 2010 (retrieved 2011-07-24) El hombre que fue izado de los pelos, ElArgentino.com, 2008 (retrieved 2011-07-24)