1976 Argentine coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Argentine coup was a right-wing coup d'état
that overthrew Isabel Perón on 24 March 1976, in Argentina
. In her place, a military junta
was installed, which was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla
, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera
and Brigadier Orlando Ramón Agosti
. The junta took the official name of "National Reorganization Process
," and remained in power until 1983.
Although political repression (the so-called "Dirty War
") began before the coup, as soon as Operativo Independencia
, it was heavily extended after the coup and resulted in the "disappearances" of between 7000 and 30000 persons, depending on sources.
The United States Department of State
learned of the preparations of the coup two months before.
Two days after the coup, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, William D. Rogers
, stated "This junta is testing the basic proposition that Argentina is not governable...I think that's a distinctly odds-on choice." and "I think also we've got to expect a fair amount of repression, probably a good deal of blood, in Argentina before too long. I think they're going to have to come down very hard not only on the terrorists but on the dissidents of trade unions and their parties." US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
stated that "Whatever chance they have, they will need a little encouragement" and "because I do want to encourage them. I don't want to give the sense that they're harassed by the United States."
In June 1976, when human rights violations by the junta were criticized in the US, Kissinger reiterated his support for the junta, directly addressing himself to Argentine Foreign Minister Admiral César Augusto Guzzetti
during a meeting in Santiago de Chile.
March 24 is now designated the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that overthrew Isabel Perón on 24 March 1976, in 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...
. In her place, a military junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
was installed, which was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo is a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón...
, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera
Emilio Eduardo Massera
Emilio Eduardo Massera was an Argentine military officer, and a leading participant in the Argentine coup d'état of 1976. In 1981, he was found to be a member of P2...
and Brigadier Orlando Ramón Agosti
Orlando Ramon Agosti
Orlando Ramón Agosti was an Argentine general. With General Jorge Rafael Videla, he ruled Argentina between 1976 and 1981...
. The junta took the official name of "National Reorganization Process
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
," and remained in power until 1983.
Although political repression (the so-called "Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
") began before the coup, as soon as Operativo Independencia
Operativo Independencia
Operativo Independencia was the code-name of the Argentine military operation in the Tucumán Province, started in 1975, to crush the ERP , a Guevarist guerrilla group which attempted to secede part of Tucuman as an independent nation, in the north-west of Argentina...
, it was heavily extended after the coup and resulted in the "disappearances" of between 7000 and 30000 persons, depending on sources.
The United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
learned of the preparations of the coup two months before.
Two days after the coup, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, William D. Rogers
William D. Rogers
William Dill Rogers was an American lawyer. He served as U.S...
, stated "This junta is testing the basic proposition that Argentina is not governable...I think that's a distinctly odds-on choice." and "I think also we've got to expect a fair amount of repression, probably a good deal of blood, in Argentina before too long. I think they're going to have to come down very hard not only on the terrorists but on the dissidents of trade unions and their parties." US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
stated that "Whatever chance they have, they will need a little encouragement" and "because I do want to encourage them. I don't want to give the sense that they're harassed by the United States."
In June 1976, when human rights violations by the junta were criticized in the US, Kissinger reiterated his support for the junta, directly addressing himself to Argentine Foreign Minister Admiral César Augusto Guzzetti
César Augusto Guzzetti
Admiral César Augusto Guzzetti was President Jorge Rafaél Videla's foreign minister, during Argentina's military government.Guzzetti served as foreign minister from 30 March 1976 until 23 May 1977...
during a meeting in Santiago de Chile.
March 24 is now designated the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice.
External links
- ON 30th ANNIVERSARY OF ARGENTINE COUP - NEW DECLASSIFIED DETAILS ON REPRESSION AND U.S. SUPPORT FOR MILITARY DICTATORSHIP, National Security ArchiveNational Security ArchiveThe National Security Archive is a 501 non-governmental, non-profit research and archival institution located in the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. Founded in 1985 by Scott Armstrong, it archives and publishes declassified U.S. government files concerning selected topics of US...