Investigation Under Way into Allegations of Torture During Falklands War

By Victor Ray Garza                                                                                  Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A court in Tierra del Fuego is investigating charges of human rights violations occurring during Argentina's war over control of the Falkland Islands.  Veterans of the war between Argentina and Britain are coming forward after 25 years and demanding the military officers responsible for their torture be held accountable.

Federal Judge Lilian Herraez could decide by the beginning of next year whether criminal charges should be filed against several military officers, some of whom are still serving in the military. The investigation began as a result of a series of protests by veterans of the war.  Veterans protested with the support of the human rights group Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.  The group for years has staged protests in the central plaza of the capital demanding the government reveal the fate of their children who disappeared during Argentina's "Dirty War".  The Dirty War was a campaign against dissidents opposing Argentina's controlling military junta between 1976-1983.  The Mother's say the same military junta that was responsible for the disappearances of their children was also responsible for the torture the veterans suffered during the Falklands war. 

Veterans allege they suffered systematic torture at the hands of senior military officers during there time on the islands.  Argentina occupied the islands for 10 weeks in 1982 exerting their claim to the British held territory.  8,000 Argentinian conscripts served during the war.   The veterans claim that military officers punished them severally for minor infractions.  Veterans tell of being buried up to their necks in wet sand and being tied down to the ground as a form of punishment.  Veterans also claim that they were purposely starved by their superiors.  Four soldiers died of starvation during the 10 week war. 

Veterans groups blame the cruel treatment they received during their forced service as the reason for the high number of suicides among veterans.  To date 450 Falklands service veterans have committed suicide.  That number almost equals the 655 soldiers who died during the conflict.  Human rights groups claim the veterans are also victims of the "dirty war" waged by the military junta in control of Argentina during the war.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post - Argentina's Falklands veterans build rights case - 1 October 2008

National Post - Our officers abused us - 1 October 2008

Boston Globe - Argentina's Falklands veterans build rights case - 1 October 2008

Argentine army soldiers read newspapers in Port Stanley during the Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas) between Argentina and Britain, in this April 1982 file photo. Besides the fear and the bitter cold, Argentine war veterans say the worst thing about serving in the Falklands was the systematic abuse they suffered at the hands of their officers during the 1982 war. Many veterans stayed silent for years, too scared to speak out, but now they are gathering evidence for the first judicial investigation into alleged rights crimes against conscripts in the British-ruled islands. (REUTERS/Eduardo Farre/Files)