A court in Argentina has lifted the immunity from prosecution of former dictator Jorge Videla, who was given a partial amnesty by President Carlos Menem in 1989. Videla has already been sentenced to life-long house arrest for crimes committed during his presidency from 1976 to 1983.
"The ruling by the court in Argentina is regarded by human rights organisations as a major victory," says Alejandra Slutsky of the HIJOS organisation, which represents victims of the Videla regime.
'Dirty War'
Former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla is regarded as a symbol of Argentina's 'Dirty War', which lasted from, 1976 to 1983. Human rights organisations say an unknown number of people were tortured during that period, and estimate that some 30,000 people lost their lives. Videla - a former army general - was tried for these crimes in 1985 and sentenced to lifelong house arrest.
An amnesty law passed in 1989 under the presidency of Carlos Menem brought the release of a number of senior military figures, but Videla remained under house arrest because he had also been convicted for the abduction of children, a crime not covered by the amnesty.
Kirchner
In 2003, the new presidency of Nestor Kirchner saw a fresh wind blow through Argentina, and the reopening of investigations into the crimes of the Dirty War period. The amnesty previously granted to lower placed members of the military, police and secret service was now also lifted. Since then, hundreds of charges have been brought against some of these people, a number of whom have also been convicted.
The latest Argentinian court decision means that senior political and military leaders may now also face prosecution. It remains to be seen, however, whether it will have any consequences for Jorge Videla. He will undoubtedly file an appeal against the ruling, but the question remains as to whether he could indeed face prosecution again. He has already been tried - in 1985 - and convicted for the torture and abduction of adults and children, and cannot be retried on those particular charges.
The Gutheims
In the case of two men who served as government ministers under the military regime - Alfredo Martinez de Hoz and Alvaro Harguindeguy - the situation is different. A legal case was brought against them for the abduction of Argentinian businessman Federico Gutheim and his son, but another amnesty law - this one from 2000 - brought that process to an abrupt halt. Now, the court ruling could mean that it will be resumed.
Mr Gutheim, whose business was in Argentina's textile industry, was being coerced by then economic affairs minister Martinez de Hoy to conclude a major export contract with Hong Kong. When he refused to do so he was arrested and abducted on the orders of the minister and his cabinet colleague Harguindeguy. The arrest warrant also bore the signature of President Videla.
Alfredo Martinez de Hoz, who is currently a free man, was a kind of 'super minister' under the Videla regime and enjoyed carte blanche. He personally appointed his old friend Jorge Zorreguieta - the father of Princess Maxima of the Netherlands - as Deputy Agriculture Minister.
Alejandra Slutsky of HIJOS says Martinez de Hoz was the direct point of contact for Jorge Zorreguieta and this connection may mean that the latter could be implicated in this case. There is therefore a possibility that the Zorreguieta name could also be raised again in the context of any new investigation into the abduction of the Gutheims.
RNW Internet translation (tpf)
Tags: abduction, Dirty War, Dutch, Gutheim, Harguindeguy, HIJOS, immunity, kidnapping, Martinez de Hoz, Maxima, regime, royals, torture, Videla, Zorreguieta