On Friday February 18, 1977 back in my car to my house, from the Provincial Courts where he worked, other cars surrounded me and I was kidnapped on the street Boulevard Orono between Cordoba and La Rioja. They blindfolded me, tied my hands, and was then taken to the Information Service at the Police Headquarters at the corner of San Lorenzo and Dorrego, where I spent a month in total and then just over three months in prison Coronda. During the time I remained at headquarters they put electricity in the body (electric prod) and beat me many times from several people who kicked and punched me, as I was always with his hands tied and blindfolded.
The Information Service was in the "favela", which was a wooden mezzanine, was also in the room beneath the favela, and later in the basement or "pit." In such places I was with many other people kidnapped, some of whom were killed or disappeared.
In June, I was released, but before I realized that I would be released but give me a shot in the neck.
Staying at home was difficult for our family, and the February 26, 1978 we exile in Costa Rica, where they currently reside.
Already on the outside, the July 13, 1984, in Ottawa, Argentina Embassy in Canada, answering the call of the National Commission on Missing Persons established by the constitutional government headed by Dr. Raul Alfonsin denounced the fact that my statement be referred to the Committee, and that this transmittal timely justice. I did accompanied by the then Secretary for Human Rights Dr. Horacio Ravenna, and later in the company of Dr. Emilio Mignone the prosecutors also deliver Strassera and Moreno Ocampo, but it was brought before the justice at that time because back then it was considered only the domes of the three weapons that had assumed the government of the Nation after the military coup.
Later I was called to testify before Judge Baltazar Garzon, who was investigating cases of victims of English nationality, particularly the disappearance of the family Labrador. I stated to him in Madrid. As
spent nearly 35 years after the events, I am guided in this statement I made in 1984 to be sent to the National Commission on Disappeared Persons, without prejudice to expand or clarify what the Court deems necessary.
In my case, the abduction and torture of which I object is produced as an act of revenge for the role they play in my task Bicameral Commission of Inquiry into mistreatment and torture of H. Legislature of the Province of Santa Fe, commission was created in 1973 to investigate the same type of crime is now being investigated, but occurred during the military regime that began with the General Onganía and ended in 1973 with the General Lanusse.
is necessary to refer briefly to the subject of the inquiry commission, because it has direct relation with my subsequent kidnapping, and because these same people involved in crimes committed during the military government handed over power in 1973, reappeared in the military coup of March 1976, and reappear at the time of my abduction.
On July 27, 1973 the Chamber of Deputies of the Province created the Bicameral Commission of Inquiry of mistreatment and torture, which operated for one year. Was composed of deputies and senators from all political parties represented in the Legislature, and had two seats, one in Santa Fe, and one in Rosario. The Rosario was chaired by Deputy John Lucero of the Peronist Party, serving as Deputy Secretary Ruben Martinez Radical Civic Union Party. At the headquarters of Rosario was appointed to work.
The Commission needed to have personal knowledge of criminal investigation, working me in this matter in the Magistrate's Court in the 3 rd. Nomination, the Legislature asked the Supreme Court for that I give in purpose during the time that work the Commission, to which the Court agreed, assigning to the function, and also giving a physical space for the functioning of the Commission on the ground floor of the courthouse that is opposite the Parque Independencia.
The most notorious case was investigated by the Commission which was to Angel Enrique Brandazza victim, who died in Rosario on November 28, 1972, a young worker and student of Economics at 23 years old who SAR Command, Deputy Rosario Area, composed of military, police, federal and provincial police, kidnapped and tortured with electric shocks until they died and his body anchored in the River Paraná. It was a case of great notoriety at the time, but shortly after, during the next military coup, would be multiplied by thirty thousand.
Both the deputy and the deputy Lucero Martinez worked with great dedication and commitment, and we identify the perpetrators, who belonged to the forces that made up the SAR command, we managed to arrest several of them, taking statements, gathering evidence, and transfer the case to federal court on duty in this building. The Commission's work was exemplary, and final report was approved with a vote of thanks to the Legislature of the Province and in the House of Deputies. Met
establish that an applied electric shocks to Brandazza to death was then Colonel Luis Alberto Sarmiento, in the then 5 th branch of the police headquarters in the street Rosario Dorrego, where they were kidnapped. Furthermore, we determined that with varying degrees of participation were several members of criminal responsibility SAR command: Elbio General Leandro Anaya, Juan de Dios General of Perpetual Help Zavalía Carranza, Colonel Vilanova, higher Giger and Bonifacino, Assistant Sergeant Emilio Letto The gendarme Gamboa, the federal police Cabo Pilgrim Luis Gallardo (alias Jopito), Deputy Inspector Jorge Roberto Ibarra (alias Calculín), Cape First Atilio Gerla (aka Seamstress), agents Bellet and Ruben Hugo José Felipe Fernández, and members of the Provincial Police Officer Marcelo Olazagoitía Ovid Assistant Officer Deputy Inspector Maximo Alberto Grandi, Ruben Oscar Cabos San Juan and Gregorio Prieto, and Angel Jesús Farías agent.
The Commission, its members and collaborators were the subject of several attacks and threats during operation, after operation, and during the last military government.
During operation of the Commission, an opportunity strafed the windows of our office in the courthouse, in another shot at our car, and another time put a bomb in the car we were to climb, which exploded destroying and torching three vehicles parked in a row. But the most serious of the events during the operation of the Commission was the kidnapping and murder of lawyer Felipe Rodríguez Araya and Attorney Lescano, who had collaborated with his signature providing valuable information to clarify the facts that we investigated. Several times
strafed the house of Juan Lucero, chairman of the Committee, and the day the military coup in March 1976 took home a gang abducted, but later made official his detention he was held for more five years at the disposal of the Executive.
kidnapped along with Lucero Santiago Harte, then an official of these federal courts mistaking me, who released shortly thereafter.
The "task forces" that made the operating and kidnappings came three times to get me to the office of my father, from whom I have the same name and surname, and also fell in the night looking for me in the department in which he lived.
Incredibly, the same General Latella Frías, Military Service Corps, a lawyer, who was the controller in the judiciary, warned me that it was dangerous. The functions of the Auditor General was the termination of their functions to the officers determined that the military regime and the enemies of the Commission officers promoted my unemployment and even asked for my capture putting my name on the agenda of the provincial police, which forced me to get away from the city for a while. The Association of Judicial Employees got me an interview with the Financial Controller, to whom one of the unionists knew, was good about him and thought that if I listened and got the correct information I would leave my job. Then prepared a breakdown of criminal cases that I had responded to investigate both the Magistrate's Court 3 rd Nomination as for my role in the Bicameral Commission, which had accused policemen, and explained to the Financial reasons why these people calling my dismissal. The general left me in my place, got up my arrest warrant and continued working. But shortly after our interview, I phoned the magistrate of the 3 rd. Nomination and literally told me "beware of the police and their safety" as saying: I have left in office, but I can not do more than that.
was an amazing time. With my wife pregnant with our third child and our daughters, five and ten years we changed home constantly, with the support of friends and my brothers working as realtors. We got up early, we took the girls to school, and we went to work in the courts. As part of my duties I phoned the police station or any police station to bring me to detainees who had to take statements or play with them any measure, worked until one o'clock, and when they closed the courts out alternating four-door is the building to keep my kidnapping.
On December 30, 1975, almost three months before the coup, the early morning open the door of our apartment located on the floor 10 of the 2141 Santa Fe Street between Boulevard Orono and Balcarce, are on the ground in front of our entrance, a printed flyer entitled "War Party Number 1", endorsing the Anti-Communist Alliance Argentina, Libertadores Command America and the Joint Forces Command saying that Cordoba had gathered the previous day, December 29, and had decided to run, after a summary trial and the place where thou shalt find, for the sake of our country to the members of ... and listed a long list of entities and functions that detect people to remove.
Finally, on Friday, February 18, 1977, approximately to the quarter past one p.m., having left my job as Chief of the Third Criminal Court and driving my car to my home address on the Boulevard Orono, at the corner of Córdoba my car was blocked by three others, one that was set before me, the other near my left side, and another that was stopped behind me, and possibly also belonged to the hijackers. He got a guy who I gunpoint with a gun, I did run into the passenger seat, took my place on the wheel and started tolling for San Lorenzo at Balcarce. In this corner I changed to a Peugeot car, I think ivory where one was in the back seat, I gunpoint with a gun to his head, making me lay on her back with her head on her knees and blindfolded me with my necktie. Led me to the Police Headquarters of Rosario, the local Information Service.
In my role I knew pretty well the police station, because for a long time after the transfer of provincial courts to a new building on Avenida Pellegrini, and until it is put into operation the Mayor's own courts located in the basement Many proceedings with prisoners, mostly people honors at conference, we would make there, to the mayor's Central. So I knew immediately where I was.
Despite the ordeal that I lived, and lived my family, I think we were lucky, especially compared with many people in the same place suffered horrible torture, many of which disappeared forever.
That day came to our house Italian carpenter friend of the family, we had to install a placard as he had invited to lunch. My wife Rita Maxera, seeing that I did not come immediately realized that something was wrong because that day I had to arrive early, and then phoned the examining magistrate Ramon Teodoro Rios, now judge of the Court of Appeals Justice the Province who contacted the Chief been determined that I was there. With the call of Teodoro Rios was established that I was in police custody in the Department of Information, which gave some confidence in my situation, although my wife might just see me for almost four months of my abduction, and found in me prior offenses had investigated the Bicameral Commission.
In my situation they were in the service of information many people male and female. During the month I was there (before being transferred to prison Coronda) estimate that there will never be in the small office where I was, less than thirty abductees on average, as the figure varied, bringing new people, and others, after torturing them savagely there and one day they took them away and not see him again. In other cases, transfers were made to formalize the status of hostages, as when I was transferred to prison Coronda.
torture sessions and beatings with electric prods in the Information Service were constant, and all who were there lived the anguish of seeing that took someone who was sitting on the floor next to us and then we heard their terrible cries for very long time, or sometimes we heard the piercing screams of people who do not know who they were. I think the residents of the Police Headquarters who lived on the streets Dorrego San Lorenzo and probably also have to listen, and I remember that on one occasion when we were in the basement, which had small windows at ground level giving the street, we were a very long time in silence all who were there, hearing the horrific screams of a tortured woman, who warned that leaving for any of the windows facing the street on the first floor of the building and entered through the other window in the basement where we listened to us. Access to these two streets was very restricted, and its sidewalks were always blocked by police cars and individuals for police use.
At the first level of that part of the building, which is like a high floor or first floor is not very high which was reached by stairs only small people were blindfolded, seated on the floor. Not allowed to talk or take his band, which nobody dared to do even though we had a free hand. At the beginning, and for several days, tied my hands in front with a rope, which then took off.
Above this first floor was a wooden mezzanine floor which was reached by a wooden staircase also called "the slum, where people were also blindfolded. I had at that place about two days, then I went down to the first level where I was sitting on the floor another twelve days, fourteen days bound up in total, until I finally fell into a cellar or basement where people were free and eyes, but on two occasions, I returned to wall up (bind ) and took me to a group of about ten, in a truck out of the city. This happened on the occasion of his visit to the country the International Red Cross, in late February or early March. On that occasion, one morning, at about four o'clock, and being in the basement and not blindfolded, one of the guards appeared and said "Tom, Tom, so and so and so, with partition, go up." Prognosis what would happen was not good to see that those who called that way and at that time to go to "brick", were the ones most marked by beatings and torture and they called the "heavy." We put eight or ten face down in a truck, I think it was olive green army as I am not sure two or three men with machine guns over our heads. The vehicle drove off. This happened two days, during which time they told us we had to run, we were going to die "in a confrontation" and the like.
He was with us a young girl, very tortured, who complained and possibly much anxiety needed to communicate, and asked for water. One of the guns told him to shut up, soon to take enough water in the river with fish. For information on Alicia Minetti gave me after his father, who looked distressed, I concluded that it was she who was with us. His body was never found. So were many hours, all day until night, face down, septum, on the bus that sometimes walked and sometimes stopped. We were in a puddle of urine because it allowed us to get up and leave the truck to urinate, and some could not hold on, until we brought them back to the basement. The basement
all slept on the floor, like a big bed. The next night I came crawling Dr. Filippini, a lawyer who had kidnapped the lawyer for being the wife of a policeman who had a case of separation or divorce with her husband and said quietly, "Carranza, the will bring back, but do not worry that it is because the International Red Cross. " That day they had drawn Filippini to make a judicial proceeding and as he was in a car, listened to what the guards talking. Knowing this was important because the operation had all the characteristics of the shootings that later appeared in newspapers as "dead in a confrontation. " When I passed the information to others, it could happen during the trip and some trying to escape you apply the "law of flight." We took back the truck upside down in the morning and back again at night. Then came the Red Cross, which had come into the country to inspect places of detention of the military government inspected elsewhere, but Rosario did not thought would happen. Anyway, the stage was organized in anticipation of the visit.
the same day of my kidnapping and shortly after arriving Information Service, I was interrogated for the first time, always with eyes blindfolded, in the office of the Chief, by the Chief of Police of Rosario, Gendarmerie Commander Major Augustine Feced and other people among whom was Guzmán Alfaro. At that time, only gave me several blows in the stomach. Before entering the office, then again, I had stopped at a corner to the entrance, on guard, where a spinning drum revolver on my ear, triggering as if to shoot my temple.
The interviews were pretty basic for me, and rather limited to provoke me because he was the investigating judge of the Bicameral Commission of Inquiry into mistreatment and torture. Sought que reconociera que era un ideólogo de la guerrilla y cosas así, pero no había nada concreto que pudieran preguntarme o que yo tuviera que decirles. Pretendieron que dijera que en oportunidad de un operativo en una casa realizado en Alberdi yo había ocultado un mimeógrafo.
Luego de eso fui interrogado de la misma manera en una oficina ubicada enfrente de la del Jefe del Servicio de Informaciones. Esto ocurrió a los dos días aproximadamente. En ésta oportunidad un individuo se limitó a darme trompadas en la cara y hacerme amenazas verbales en nombre de los torturadores a quienes habíamos investigado con la Comisión Bicameral. También pretendían que dijera que la hija del Diputado Juan Lucero era montonera, y que handled firearms.
Carmen Lucero, who was then only sixteen, was also kidnapped in those days and brutally tortured with electric shocks. We sat together on the floor on the first floor Information Service, and then we were with many people in the basement.
In this second chance, I questioned two people, one that hit me, and one who wrote in a typewriter. At the top of the desk he wrote "I could see under my blindfold, as I stood and saw something for the cavities that form the side of the nose-a large swastika engraved on wood with an element shear, as things sometimes we recorded at their desks in high school.
The third session was again chaired by the Chief of Police of Rosario. This was in a larger office, also located in front of the head but more towards the end of the corridor. There were many other people in the room, mostly police officers who had been investigated by us with the Bicameral Committee. Among them I recognized Max Alberto Grandi, who continued in office at the Provincial Police. The session was similar to previous ones. Had the character of a sort of personal satisfaction that they wanted to have, as there was no concrete things or ask impute. However, I think the meeting lasted an hour, although the Chief of Police in this case did not let me put in "the machine" and others wanted, or beat me severely. At one point, even said so in one of his subordinates to be careful, to me there was no "law of flight."
In the case of Guzman Alfaro, had a meeting with him in his office talking without band (without the "wall" as they say). This was during the first week of my abduction. I called his office, I brought out the band, I sat down at his desk and talked to me about fifteen minutes. Then they blindfolded me again, and I took my place in the other room.
The next day, or a couple of days after this dialogue, there was a fourth or fifth session, again at the office of Alfaro Guzmán, which was launched amid a group of 7 or 8 punches and beaten brutally and kicked in the face, chest and lower area, I always covering my testicles with his hands. They put an electric prod in the chest and I said "So you investigating this?" The blows were bruises on my face, especially on the nose and eyes. My eyes were completely swollen shut, so that for several days when I off the wall and I went down to the basement to do was to open my eyelids gently with your hands. Spills occurred to me in the eyeballs, as well as plenty of blood lost through the nose and eyebrows in shock that I produced cuts.
remember one of those around me while I was blindfolded and handcuffed, before hitting said "I came from afar to this meeting, and a third, when I was taking and in that room, I whispered to ear "you know who I am? The one in the TIRSA "and I gave a final blow to the face. Then I recognized the voice of Jesus Angel Farias, arguably the most timid of those who had investigated the Bicameral Commission, he needed me to know that it was he who beat me. Had had some involvement in the case Brandazza during the previous military government, and now reappeared again in the service of the new military government. We had stopped with the Commission at the height of Villa Constitución in time that he was traveling on a bus line of Villa Gesell TIRSA back to Rosario. Ironically
This session proved to be a "trial" I was told, because we did happen to those who were there one by one, blindfolded, to the office in which we said a Captain Army was going to judge us. To say goodbye to such sessions verbally told us the number of years that we had imposed as "condemnation." They told me a low number, I had put two years. Although this was the session that talked less and basically limited to hit and bite. The trial was clearly a joke.
After fourteen days, they removed the blindfold from my eyes and passed from the scene of the first floor where I was, to the basement, located under the same corner, where we were about 25 prisoners whose number fluctuates throughout the day. Many of those who were there were me severely tortured. I remember two who were in various body parts oozing sores, caused by excessive electric prod and I think of cigarettes. Not remember his name, I think one of them was called Maple, but I'm not sure. Coronda then transferred to me, but to another ward. I fear being wrong on this name. Among those who were there curábamos us as we could, as we had no materials with which to do it and hygiene conditions were poor.
At thirty days or so, along with 17 other male persons moved me to Coronda prison, where we arrived after a trip very distressing, because we moved into a van fully enclosed metal, tight body against body and feeling that we asfixiábamos by shortness of breath, went inside the van because I guess three times its capacity.
Three and a half months for the first time he could see me, my wife and other relatives for about 5 minutes without physical contact.
approximately 4 months of confinement, without being made available to any judicial authority or legal assistance was transferred to the Headquarters of the Commander of II Corps, located in Moreno and Cordoba, which was released along with another thirty people approximately. The list of those released was published in the newspaper La Capital de Rosario, and possibly others. I think the ease occurred on June 6, 1977.
ease in the act of a spectacular speech directed us the then Commander of II Corps, General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, with whose words confirmed that the Commander of II Corps was the head of the organization that we had kidnapped, tortured and kept in captivity. We were formed in a semicircle and the general told us that the day was cloudy, but had left a huge sun to us, we went back to our homes, we should not say a word of what had happened, looking forward and forget everything, and if for some reason we came to re-enter a gray area in which to return to be some doubt about us, then things would be different and disappear forever.
Prior to Rosario for that act with General Galtieri, in Coronda me out of my cell and took me to an office where a person hides behind dark glasses held a dialogue with me and finally I said I would be released but I left the country, because otherwise I would give a shot in the neck. Released
After I resigned my position in the Provincial Court in a letter explaining the reasons why they should do and denouncing the events that had happened to me.
The Comptroller of the military government in the Province, Admiral Desimoni accepted my resignation, but rejecting the terms. I had to get away from the city of Rosario, process passports for my family and myself, that delay in delivering many months, why only on February 26, 1978 we traveled to Costa Rica with my wife and our then three daughters, are now four daughters and one son.
As for the comrades who were together in that place, I think everyone could feel fellow human beings in that situation, although we were people of very different ages and backgrounds labor, political or trade union. Among those who were with me as I said before was Carmen Lucero, who was only 16 years, who abducted for being the daughter of Deputy John Lucero and subjected to horrific torture and abuse, unable to intimidate or destroy its integrity.
was Adrian Sanchez, a boy who would also have 16 or 17 years and was taken with me in the same quota Coronda Jail.
was also the couple who called the Cady and Victoria, who belonged to the Peronist Youth and the Union of Secondary Students. Would, I think, a couple of years older than Carmen and Adrian Sanchez, but had failed completely and used to kidnap, torture and interrogate more boys and girls of that political group.
Gomez was also a gentleman, I think it was a trade unionist. He was with us in the basement, and his pregnant wife was in another part of the headquarters. His wife died of abuse and lack of medical care. The news we got to the basement, and did not know how to tell. The only one who did not know it was him. The staff of the guard took it without saying where he went. When he returned he told us that he had brought home, and on entering he found his wife's wake.
was also John Joseph Mattos, which I think was a worker of the flesh, and had the same name and another name Juan José Mattos was imprisoned in Coronda. There was also a priest
Third, the mob who mocked and continually mortified. I think his name was Garcia.
also was with us "chicken" José Baravalle, who had broken torture and identified colleagues who were also kidnapped and tortured, and then release him, and in Italy, committed suicide when he learned that justice had ordered his arrest . Although he is already dead, and it can not legally convict or acquit, I feel an obligation to report what I saw, and lived, for his performance in the inferno. I did not know Joseph Baravalle. I met him in the favela and the pit. Knew each other to a brother lawyer, and relationships social and family chicken more or less knew who I was, and I more or less knew who he was.
was a much later generation than mine, I think about ten years younger than me. In the well he felt the need to tell, to confess to someone, telling me what he had done. He told me that the militant group that had established the rule that if one is not reported on within 48 hours I think they had alerted their peers and change of address. He said he had endured torture more than that, about two days, then was unable to hold back and gave names of colleagues who were kidnapped. Had much anguish and pain, and unlike the Cady and Victoria, to whom they are looking very comfortable in their role as partners who kidnapped and tortured, Baravalle was tormented constantly be trying to help as could those who were there. Help could be something as trivial as a guide to a blindfolded to the bathroom, and then go looking for him to take back to his corner. Who were blindfolded could see some shoes of those who passed by, and they passed the shoes of chicken could ask for water or try to go to the bathroom. If they passed other shoes, instead of water or toilet could get kicked.
As the guards and repressors that we were captives, identified the then Chief of Police Mayor Rosario Gendarmerie Commander Feced Augustine, and then-Chief of Information Raúl Alberto Guzmán Alfaro, both dead and heads
Unless major, all or almost all working kidnapping, torturing or monitor victims had nicknames for their identification difficult. I remember the names of Kungfu, Kungfito, Managua, John, "Peeling" (which I think was the same as "Sergeant"), I Fiego alia "the blind" or "Mengele" and another named Marchetto, who nicknamed "the cure." I called
right care in the treatment (if it fits the expression in this hell) one which I think was called Diego, at that time was not more than 30 years, not very tall, straight black hair. I felt that I was not quite agree with what was going on, but I was a low rank in the hierarchy, and could do nothing to stop it.
As I said before, at the top of the responsibility for the crimes under investigation was the commander of the II Army Corps General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, unfortunately, also dead. Similar responsibility Galtieri would in other similar cases, but not in my specific abduction-General Ramon Genaro Diaz Bessone, who preceded Galtieri as Commander of II Corps. Could determine the responsibility of Díaz Bessone in the attacks and threats that were victims before they kidnapped me.
It could also determine the liability of others involved, as the then Mayor Fernando Soria, who was the one in the command of II Corps had the files of people kidnapped, tortured and eventually murdered. My wife, like many families of other abductees, he met with him on more than one occasion making efforts for my release.
I tried to summarize the key facts that could give notice to the Tribunal. Stay available to expand or to what is necessary. -----------------------
judging Crimes Court in this case are inalienable crimes of state terrorism, considered crimes against humanity, and committed organized and systematic manner using all the state institutions. Note that the lists and files of the kidnapped and missing were in command of II Corps, and that the hostages were housed and tortured in the premises of the Information Services building located at Police Headquarters and the Governor of the Province. For nearly fifty years
I've been working on justice criminal justice first instruction in the city of Rosario, and for more than thirty years at the United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders ILANUD.
"Criminal justice is like snakes, bites the barefoot," said the bishop knew Casaldáliga, in a phrase that sums up some sick verified by criminology and criminal sociology: that people who have much to achieve in large numbers to avoid justice with impunity, while in contrast the criminal justice system disproportionately punishes the weak.
Working for my role in this respect throughout the Latin America and the Caribbean, and also taking the opportunity to meet also the functioning of criminal justice in countries in other regions of the world, I can see that in a very difficult international situation, our country during the first years of the advent of democracy and the present during the course of the last ten years, has made the role of criminal justice in cases of crimes against humanity, a state policy. The country is producing a more just criminal justice, and judgments of the Supreme Court are cited by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
and ensure justice is definitely important to strengthen our democracy and a society with less violence, in which the facts which this court judges today are not repeated.
While it is certainly much remains to be done, I am convinced that the country is on track.
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