Subway rolling strikes affect thousands of commuters

The rotating strikes in BA subway lines began just as it was announced by the Metrodelegados subway workers union on Monday. At 5 am the B line was paralysed until 8 am with protests beginning then at the H line.
The 3-hour rolling strikes is only the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between the Metrodelegados and the UTA transport union over which of the unions is the genuine representative of subte workers.
B subway line union leader Claudio Dellacarbonara explained that the strike was decided after the Labour Ministry suspended a hearing in which they were to plea for its legal entity as a union, which is currently only recognized to UTA transport union.
The battle will now continue in courts, it was stated by the Labour Ministry yesterday and confirmed this morning by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanicd in his daily press conference at the government house.
Rolling strikes
Subway Line B from 5 to 8
Subway Line H from 8 to 11
Subway Line C from 11 to 14
Subway Line D from 14 to 17
Subway Line E from 17 to 20
Subway Line A from 20 to 23

 you can read more about this here.

Donda may run against Lousteau in UNEN City primaries

City representatives of the Broad Front-UNEN yesterday suggested that national lawmaker Victoria Donda may be running in the coalition’s primaries next year against Martín Lousteau.

Party sources yesterday told the Herald that a final decision on whether Donda will decide to run or not in the PASO primaries, scheduled for April, be taken this week.

The move is an attempt by centre-left elements of UNEN to fight the power of firebrand lawmaker Elisa Carrió, a close ally of Lousteau.

Last week, the former Economy minister launched his candidacy and presented himself as the leader of the coalition’s alleged “unified” ticket for the City.

As the Herald reported on Friday, the UNEN’s left-wing parties such as Libres del Sur and Proyecto Sur said that while they celebrated the announcement, the final nomination would be settled in a competitive primary.

Even Lousteau acknowledged this tension while announcing his bid on Thursday.

“Nobody owns UNEN, we just represent an important segment,” he said.

Greater unity?

UNEN, a coalition of eight political parties, has been unable to establish a consolidated agenda as a result of infighting and discussion over electoral strategies. With greater chances of winning the top Executive position up for grabs in the City, the coalition in the district has been able to reduce that infighting and keep greater unity.

But the situation may change soon as Donda, a former Kirchnerite, is reportedly seeking to face Lousteau in the primaries as a representative of Libres del Sur (led by Humberto Tumini), Proyecto Sur (headed by Fernando “Pino” Solanas) and other figures unsatisfied with Lousteau’s bid, including Socialist (PS) Party leader Roy Cortina, who was pressured into stepping down from the mayoral race.

The young economist is a close ally to Carrió, who last month decided to withdraw from the national board of Broad Front-UNEN. In fact, the deputy mayor candidate of UNEN is Fernando Sánchez, another figure linked to the firebrand lawmaker.

On Saturday, Tumini said the “rational UNEN” ticket headed by Lousteau was in fact a victory by “those who encourage accords with the right,” in reference to Carrió’s repeated calls to seal a nationwide deal with Macri’s PRO party.

 you can read more about this here.

Argentina sentences 15 former officials to life for genocide

In Argentina, a group of former government officials have been sentenced to life in prison for the abduction, torture and killing of dissidents during the country's military regime from 1976-1983.

Retiro (Barrio) / Retiro (Neighborhood) - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Retiro is one of the largest hubs of transportation services in Argentina, and is home to many high-end stores and residential areas popular among both local wealthy gentry and expatriate executives. About 26,000 of its people, however, including thousands of illegal immigrants, live in the "Villa 31" shantytown built along the Port of Buenos Aires from the 1930s onwards. Local and long distance rail service heading to the north originate from Estación Retiro (Retiro train terminal), also a major long-distance bus terminal (Terminal de Ómnibus) is located adjacent to the station, subte line C of the Buenos Aires Metro system and numerous local public bus services, this area is always teeming with commuters and traffic on weekdays. A major thoroughfare is Avenida del Libertador, which becomes Avenida Leandro N. Alem past the Retiro train terminal. Avenida Leandro Alem runs north-to-south along the Buenos Aires Central Business District, which Retiro shares with the San Nicolás ward; the Retiro section of the business district is centered around the Catalinas Norte office park, initially built in the 1970s over docklands developed a century earlier by Francisco Seeber. Other principal streets and avenues in Retiro are Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Libertador Avenues, pedestrian Florida Street, and Avenida 9 de Julio. The Retiro section of Florida Street was the site of Harrods Buenos Aires, originally the London department store's only overseas affiliate, from 1914 to 1998; the abandoned landmark continued to host art shows and Tango festivals, and permits were obtained in 2009 to reopen the retailer. Another Retiro landmark spared demolition was the Ortiz Basualdo Palace. Completed in 1912 as a private residence, it was acquired by the French Government for use as its Embassy in Argentina in 1939. When entire blocks of housing were razed to make way for an extension of the Avenida 9 de Julio in the late 1970s, the embassy was spared due to its landmark status, and remains the lone building in the midst of intense traffic. The neighboring Pereda Palace, built in 1920, serves as the official residence of the Ambassador of Brazil. Retiro is home to a number of five star hotels, including the Four Seasons, Marriott Plaza, Sheraton, and Sofitel. The oldest of these, the Marriott Plaza, was opened in 1909 and faces Plaza San Martín, to the north of which lies the train terminal and the Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (formerly Plaza Británica), where the Torre Monumental (formerly Torre de los Ingleses) is located.

Argentina Alleges Extortion After Supreme Court Sides With Vulture Funds Preying on Sovereign Debt

http://www.democracynow.org - We look at a case that is being called the "'trial of the century" in how poor countries repay sovereign debt. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Argentina over its $1.5 billion debt in a ruling critics say validates predatory behavior by so-called "vulture funds." The case involves hedge funds that bought up Argentina's debt at bargain rates after its financial crisis more than a decade ago. After Argentina defaulted on its debts, the vast majority of its creditors agreed to slash the value of their holdings. But NML Capital and other firms refused to accept the deal, instead seeking full repayment. Monday's ruling leaves in place a lower court decision ordering Argentina to pay the companies. Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has called the firms' actions "extortion." We are joined by Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network.

Click here to watch the full interview on Democracy Now!:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/19...

Democracy Now!, is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,200+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream 8-9am ET at http://www.democracynow.org.

 

Shadows of Memory - 'Our Disappeared / Nuestros Desaparecidos"

How does Argentina remember the desaparecidos? How do we fully embrace the memory of our disappeared? In this short video essay I explore some of the ways the memories are kept alive -- through marches, remembrances in newspapers, in public school memorials, through art, in a park by the river that became their grave. For Argentina the task of remembering is hard work, but the thousands of disappeared souls deserve no less.

About the making of the documentary, "Our Disappeared / Nuestros Desaparecidos". See www.ourdisappeared.com for information about the film.

Study Abroad in Buenos Aires: The "Paris of South America"

Buenos Aires (pop. 13 million including suburbs) is well-known for its cultural diversity and lively atmosphere, making it one of South America's most exciting and vibrant cities. The city's history revolves around Western European immigrants whose influences can be seen all throughout the city in architecture, art and style of the city. Although Buenos Aires is historically unique, it has also adopted some more modern architectural styles, which provide a notable contrast to the city's deep-rooted traditions and history.

Buenos Aires has countless opportunities for students to experience Argentine culture. Students can attend soccer games, world-class theatrical and dance performances,and participate in a vibrant nightlife. Many students will find themselves intrigued by the unique Argentine accent and the national dance, the Tango. Students are sure to witness tango performances throughout the city's streets, cafes, and theaters.

The expat view from Buenos Aires

http://www.FT.com/ The capital city of Argentina lures foreign executives with a seamless blend of history and dynamism. Jude Webber, FT Buenos Aires correspondent, reports.

Top 10 restaurants in Buenos Aires

The steak is great, of course, but Argentina's capital also has atmospheric local pizza joints, fine-dining and Latin fusion restaurants. We round up the best places to eat out.

Don Julio, a renowned parrilla in the Palermo Soho neighbourhood. Photograph: Alamy

A fresh breed of chef is taking Argentina's national cuisine to new heights, as seen when the country scooped 15 entries on the Latin America 50 Best restaurant list. But at the other end of the culinary scale, travellers should not miss the classic parrillas (steakhouses) that have served the same menu for generations – huge slabs of steak, thick-cut chips, and cheap red wine topped up with soda water. If you love big slabs of meat La Cabrera, La Lechuza, La Brigada and Lo de Jesus should be on your list.

But for a mix of experiences, read on. This list brings together not just the best steak and fine-dining establishments, but also some of the best experiential choices, from supper clubs to pizza joints, offering an alternative slice of the city's increasingly diverse food scene. And be sure to let us know your own favourites, in the comments section below. Note that all prices are in pesos, but at the official conversion rate. Travellers working to the parallel "blue rate" (see our explanatory piece) get much more food for their money.

Don Julio, Palermo

 

There's a hell of a lot of competition for the title of best parrilla in town, and this one consistently makes a very strong case for itself. How? By striking a great balance between traditional and indulgent. Expect sparking glasses filled with velvety malbec, smartly dressed waiters who know the menu inside out, walls lined with old wine bottles signed by past guests, and light fittings made from wagon wheels. The dining room looks into an open kitchen, so ask your waiter to explain the various cuts of meat and they'll be happy to give you a crash course, based on samples sizzling away on the grill. From the bife de chorizo (sirloin) and lomo (tenderloin) to mollejas (sweetbreads) and chinchulins (chitterlings), you'll soon understand the old adage: the only part of a cow an Argentinian doesn't eat is the moo.
• Guatemala 4699, +54 11 4832 6058. For a main, drink and dessert expect to pay around 220 pesos per person (£16)

El Cuartito, Recoleta

 

Cuartito restaurant, a traditional pizza restaurant in Buenos Aires. Photograph: Alamy

As well as the steakhouse, there is another quintessential BA experience – the no-frills pizza restaurant. Dating back to 1934, this classic haunt is dressed up like an Argentinian-themed diner (white-and-celeste flags, football memorabilia, photos of old tango crooners). Argentina may be founded on Italian immigration, but it does pizza its own way: thick bready base, easy on the tomato, oozing with mozzarella. It's the ultimate comfort food and that's why this place is always packed. Buy a slice to eat at the counter and watch all walks of life drift in, from business people to elderly ladies who lunch. Other Argentinian staples to try here include fugazzeta (pizza base topped with curly onion strips) and fainá (a dense chickpea flatbread).
• Talcahuano 937, +54 11 4816-1758, galeriaelcuartito.com.ar. Pizza slice, 12 pesos (90p)

Tarquino, Recoleta

 

Tarquino, a fine-dining option in Buenos Aires

The Michelin-star system doesn't stretch to Argentina, but what you do find is chefs who have perfected their skills alongside some of the world's greatest, and then come back to put a spin on their national cuisine. Dante Liporace is one such shining light, having completed stint under Ferran Adrià at el Bulli. Liporace now heads this relatively new restaurant, in a converted colonial mansion at luxury hotel Hub Porteño. You enter through an opulent hallway, with walls of white marble, before coming to a contrasting galpón (outhouse), with a fig tree growing through its middle. Dishes found on the playful, seven-course tasting menu could include deconstructed pizza or a molecular take on Argentina's beloved flan. See also: Paraje Arevalo, El Baqueano and Aramburu .
• Rodríguez Peña 1967, tarquinorestaurante.com.ar, tasting menu including wine pairing 1,000 pesos (£75) or 200 pesos (£15) for a main

Don Carlos, La Boca

Situated right next to the blue-and-yellow Boca Juniors stadium, this is one of the city's more old-school parrillas. You can practically smell the testosterone alongside the grilling steak. It's a simple set-up, with some big-name fans: Francis Ford Coppola and Argentinian celebrity chef Francis Mallmann often cite it as their favourite spot. It was long renowned for having no menu: instead Don Carlos would weigh customers up on arrival and present a stream of dishes he thought they'd like. Foreigners are less of a novelty these days and you are likely to presented with a menu, but get chatting with the man himself and he'll soon take over the proceedings. Don't stop him.
• Brandsen 699, +54 11 4362 2433. Get a taxi there and back at night. For a starter, main and dessert without drinks, expect to pay around 180 pesos (£14)

Casa Felix, Chacarita

 

Casa Felix specialises in fish and veggie dishes

Buenos Aires' puertas cerradas (closed-door restaurants) took root after the 2001 economic crisis, when entrepreneurial cooks looked to harness the tourism boom. Diego Felix was one of the pioneers and, unusually in these parts, he specialises in veggie and pescatarian food. He offers a five-course tasting menu in his own home, with the address provided only to those with a reservation. Knock, and you're led through a candle-lit patio to a tiny back garden, where Felix grows many of his herbs and vegetables. After enjoying a cocktail with fellow guests, you'll be shown to your table, giving the proceedings a feel of half-restaurant, half-dinner party. Felix marries recipes and techniques from across the country and the continent at large, so you could find yourself digging into Patagonian sandperch served with a Mexican mole. Felix speaks good English so there's no need to worry if your Spanish isn't up to scratch. (For more top-notch veggie food, try laid-back Buenos Aires Verde in Palermo.)
• Address provided on booking, colectivofelix.com, five-course tasting menu $280 pesos (£21). Note it is not strictly veggie or vegan, unless you ask

HG Restaurant, Palermo

 

HG Restaurant, within Hotel Fierro

The initials stand for the star chef: Hernán Gipponi, who came highly recommended in last year's 50 Best hotlist. You'll find his premises inside the Fierro Hotel, on one of the quieter, cobbled streets in Palermo Hollywood. Dishes on the popular tasting menu might include tender calamari as soft as noodles or, for brunch, a slow-poached egg, cooked at 63C. Hotel restaurants can be stuffy and impersonal, but Fierro works hard to create a social atmosphere. The latest move is One Table nights, which bring guests together to enjoy a one-off menu in a communal setting (£40 a head, including wine). The wine list deserves exploration too, as it was created by the owner's brother, Andrés Rosberg, president of the Argentine Sommelier Association. Tip: don't make too many sightseeing plans after the Sunday brunch, because you'll be struggling to move.
• Soler 5862, + 54 11 3220 6820, fierrohotel.com, seven-course tasting menu, without wine, 390 pesos (£30)

Chan Chan, Congreso

 

A ceviche in Chan Chan, Buenos Aires

As Peruvian food becomes a worldwide trend, this colourful cantina takes it back to basics, with its massive plates of ceviche, big enough to share. Little beats its zingy fish, "cooked" in lemon juice and swimming in "tigers' milk", as the chilli-infused citrus sauce is known. Don't skimp on the sides either: including huge plates of papas a la huancaina (sliced potatoes in a thick cheese sauce) or fried yuca (cassava). If your trip has already included too much heavy food or too many late nights, this place provides a instant pick-me-up. It's the sort of homely, no-frills South American cuisine that's not easy to find off the continent.
• Hipólito Yrigoyen 1390, +54 11 4382 8492, mains 35 to 50 pesos (£2.70 to £4)

La Esperanza de los Ascurra, Villa Crespo

 

Vermouth bar La Esperanza de los Ascurra in Villa Crespo

Doing a fine line in negronis, this is an on-trend vermouth bar with an extensive tapas menu. Like a large percentage of Argentinians, the owner has Spanish ancestors, and this is where many of his dishes originate. Expect papas bravas and jamón crudo, as well as plenty of Argentinian twists, such as "gaucho" mozzarella (deep-fried hunks of cheese). Its laidback atmosphere draws in a young, hip crowd. You'll find it in the increasingly cool Villa Crespo neighbourhood and it has proved so popular that they've recently opened a second location in Palermo.
• Aguirre 526, esperanzaascurra.com.ar, +54 11 2058 8313, tapas dishes from 15 pesos (£1)

Il Ballo Del Mattone, Palermo

  

El Ballo del Mattone's homemade gnocchi

It'd be a stretch to suggest this trattoria has the best food in the city, but it could have the best pre-party atmosphere. Founded by artists and always lively, it's a great place to start a (long) night out on the town. Inside it's a riot of colour and they sometimes host live music, too. The menu is always scrawled on an oversized chalkboard, hauled over to your table – the food has an Italian theme and all the pasta is homemade. With their vintage clothes and hipster hairstyles, the staff may have you wondering where they go to party. Don't be afraid to ask; they're not shy.
• Gorriti 5936, +54 11 4776 4247, Facebook page , expect to pay around 180 pesos (£14) for a main, drink and dessert

Floreria Atlantico, Recoleta

 

Floreria Atlantico: a bar hidden behind a flower shop

This is another choice for night owls (if you're not a night person, you may be in the wrong city). It is currently BA's hippest cocktail bar and you find it by entering a "secret" doorway at the back of a potently scented flower shop, which is open late into the night and has a sideline in selling vinyl records – obviously. A gimmick? You'll dispel all cynicism once you taste the quality of the cocktails. The drinks at this sophisticated, low-lit speakeasy are clearly the mainstay here (the cocktail list takes you around the world), but there is also a fine food menu. Most plates are made for sharing, including a plate known as "Atlantic beasts", featuring langoustines, oysters and prawns.
• Arroyo 872, +54 11 4313 6093, floreriaatlantico.com.ar, tapas from 60 pesos (£4.50)

iLatina, Villa Crespo

 

A quinoa, peanut and avocado salad at iLatina

This relative newcomer began as a puerta cerrada (closed-door restaurant) in Palermo and then word quickly spread, encouraging them to get more permanent premises. The three siblings behind it hail from Colombia, but their food draws on influences from all across South America. A sample menu might include white-corn arepas (flatbread) with anise, pork braised in coffee and sugar cane, and avocado and aguardiente ice-cream.
• Murillo 725, +54 11 4857 9095,  ilatinabuenosaires.com. Tasting menu 490 pesos (£37). Open for dinner only, reservation required.

 You can read about this issue here.

The New Buenos Aires Underground

• "The New Buenos Aires Underground" is a photographic essay about the architecture of the 21st century's subways stations in the city and its integration with the citizens.
  
  This first collection of 10 photos were thought by the author as a present, in relation with the 100° anniversary of the opening of the first subway line in Buenos Aires in 1913.
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  San Pedrito Station, Line A. October 2013.
  
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  San Pedrito Station, Line A. October 2013.
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  San Pedrito Station, Line A. November 2013.
  
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  Humberto I Station, Line H. November 2013.
  
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  Puan Station, Line A. November 2013.
  
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  Echeverria Station, Line B. November 2013.
  
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  Inclan Station, Line H. November 2013.
  
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  Carabobo Station, Line A. October 2013.
  
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  Hospitales Station, Line H. November 2013.
  
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  Hospitales Station, Line H. November 2013.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  You can find more about this issue here.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Raul Alfonsín answers back arguments made by Ronald Reagan.

President Alfonsin. Mr. President, I wish to begin my statement by expressing my gratitude to you for the warm reception you are granting to the President of all Argentines.

As you have said, it's very important that we meet at this historical time when a real wave of democracy is going through Latin America. This is our hope, Mr. President: that the peoples of Latin America actually live in that respect and actually enjoy the prerogatives and the liberty that the people of the United States enjoy.

That's, on the other hand, what our Founding Fathers wanted for us -- both the Founding Fathers of the United States and those of Argentina. That's precisely what the men that gave us independence fought for, starting with General Washington in the North and General San Martin in Argentina.

As you know, as you said, Mr. President, it is necessary that these democracies actually achieve tangible economic results, so necessary to also achieve social democracy. That's why right next to hope, fear is also there in Latin America -- the fear that arises from nonsatisfied expectations of our peoples, our democracies having inherited very difficult charges in the economic order.

It's a debt that in my country reaches the $40 billion and that in Latin America reaches the $400 billion. That, of course, conspires against the democratic systems. That, Mr. President, is no doubt one of the big differences between our two countries.

For us, the philosophy you just mentioned -- the philosophy of the state of law, the respect of human rights -- that is equal to both of us. But a man, Mr. President, to be called such thing, not only has to have just the right to exercise his fundamental liberties; he also has to have the possibility of living a dignified life.

That's why, Mr. President, in Latin America we are ready to govern with the austerity that our times are demanding. We are making the necessary adjustments to suppress the obstacles of our economy, but we cannot make adjustments that will actually impose sacrifices on those who have less. It's different from those developed countries in which the entire GNP is received by only 50 percent; in our countries, it doesn't reach even the 40 percent. And to ask from our peoples in that precise sector a bigger effort is no doubt to condemn them to marginality, to extreme poverty, to misery.

Of course, then we would mean that the demagogues that are always there would find in the arms those simple satisfactions that democracy couldn't grant. That's why, Mr. President, it has been very important for me to listen to your welcoming remarks, because you've shown a deep understanding of our problems. I am indeed persuaded that it couldn't be otherwise.

I am indeed persuaded that the United States understands the development of democracy is, of course, entrenched in our country. That's why there's been great expectations about the dialog that we will start today.

We will talk about the present, and we will talk about the future. We, two Presidents elected by the will of the people, will get together. We will, of course, talk about bilateral subjects and also those items that regard the continent as a whole. And, of course, in our dialogs the subject of Nicaragua and Central America will not be absent.

I am convinced that it's through dialog that we will be able to reach peace. And on the basis of the principle -- a long-standing principle of international law in Latin America -- of nonintervention, that will give us, of course, the possibility of democracy and pluralism in democracy to succeed without extracontinental interventions and affirming, of course, the freedom of man.

We will talk about all this, Mr. President, and as I said, there will be two men freely elected by the will of our peoples. So, Mr. President, it will be a dialog of both our peoples. That way and because of them we will try to reach solutions. We will work for them, for our peoples. We will try to build the future that our peoples deserve.

Mafalda La Pelicula (Mafalda The Movie) - English Subtitles

Mafalda La Pelicula is an adaptation of a series of 260 90-second films, that were produced by Daniel Mallo for Argentine television starting in 1972. These were adapted into a full-length movie by Carlos Márquez in 1979 and released in 1981.It remains relatively unknown and currently copies of it are found at extortionate rates due to its' limited availability.

Voices:
. Susan Klein (as Mafalda),
. Cecilia Gispert (Guille and Philip)
. Nelly Hering (Mafalda's mother)
. Oscar Silva (Mafalda's father)
. Paquita Balaguer (Manolito)
. Susana Sisto (Suzie)
. María del Pilar Lebron Olivan and Haydeé Lesker Marta.

Co-ordinator: Adolf Duncan
Dubbing and recording engineers: Nito Gonzales and Mario Lavillotti.

Mafalda is a comic strip written and drawn by Argentine cartoonist Joaquín Salvador Lavado, better known by his pen name Quino. The strip features a 6-year-old girl named Mafalda, who reflects the Latin American middle class and progressive youth, which is concerned about humanity and world peace and rebels against the world bequeathed by their elders. The strip ran from 1964 to 1973 and was very popular in Latin America, Europe, Quebec, and in Asia, leading to two animated cartoon series and a book

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafalda
http://www.todohistorietas.com.ar/maf...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309827/
http://road2argentina.com/mafalda/

Increase of immigration in Argentina.

For many years the majority of immigrants in Argentina came from Bolivia. However, recently Spaniards immigrants are being attracted by better job opportunities.

Argentina: Undocumented immigrants not deported

While immigrant children in the US face deportation, Argentina is at the forefront in recognizing migration as an elemental human right. Its immigration policies show that the anti-immigration arguments advanced in other countries are groundless. 

 

 

 

 

Leo Poblete reports from Buenos Aires. TeleSur

US under fire for supporting dictators in Latin America

As Latin America moves ahead and judge ex military leaders and officials involved in atrocious human rights abuses committed during the countries' dictatorships, many have started to question the key role played by the US in such dark years of the 20th century, fueling bloody regimes that killed thousands across the region. Our correspondent Constanza Heller in Buenos Aires has more.

Latin America plunged into the most violent and bloody ways of state terror during the second half of the 20th century. But the de facto rulers did not make it by their own. There was the White House to mastermind dirty wars under the dogma that made of Latin America Washington's "backyard".

Argentina was one of the rehearsal scenarios.

In 1976, a military junta overthrew the then ruling democratic government initiating the most brutal regime in the South American country's history. 30,000 were persecuted, tortured, taken to detention centers and disappeared by the security forces.

Over the past decade, those responsible for such atrocities have been put on trial and convicted, some ex military officials and leaders sentenced to life, paving the way for similar processes in other regional countries.

The other player to blame for imposing military dictatorships in Latin America with the help of local elites in order to secure a neoliberal agenda that put states "for sale" while thousands were driven into poverty and unemployment, seems to remain, however, protected.

Leading liberal media tell society almost nothing about US military aid and diplomatic support to right-wing regimes here, reinforcing the West's invasion of the world under an "all-time democratic" pledge.

Still, experts believe that the impeachment of the democratically elected president of Paraguay Fernando Lugo in 2012 or the 2009 coup d´état in Honduras must be comprehensively addressed in order to secure the continuity of Latin America's democratic leaderships and the judicial processes that are taking both military and civilian accomplices to be in the dock.

Argentina is currently conducting a trial on one of the most emblematic intelligence operations of the dark years of the dictatorship: the 1970's Condor Plan that involved the cooperation among US-sponsored de facto governments in the South Cone to murder social and political activists in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia.

 Article taken from here: http://www.presstv.ir/

Grandmothers' president recovers grandson taken away under dictatorship

Estela De Carlotto, the president of activist group the Grandmothers of the Plaza De Mayo, told reporters that her daughter was "smiling down from heaven" after learning today that the grandchild taken away during the military dictatorship of 1976-83 had been found.

Sources from the group, which aims to reunite the children taken from those disappeared during the dictatorship with their genetic, informed that De Carlotto's male grandson had been located after voluntarily coming forward for a DNA test.

He is the biological son of Laura, the daughter of the Grandmothers' president who remains disappeared. Guido De Carlotto also becomes the 114th person born during the dictatorship who through the Grandmothers has managed to discover their true identity.

“I want to share with you this great joy that life has brought me,” Carlotto told a press conference convened this afternoon. “Laura is smiling down from heaven,” she said.

Because of the sensibility of the case, the human rights activist avoided giving specific details about this morning's discovery. She revealed she has not seen him yet, but said to reporters that “I was told he is beautiful, an artist, a good boy. They told me he looks like us, the Carlottos.”

The Grandmothers' head confirmed President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her son Máximo had called her “crying with joy” after the news broke.

“I did not want to die without hugging him. Now we need to keep looking for the rest of the missing,” Carlotto assured.

"The result was positive, we have found my nephew. We are very excited. The boy turned up voluntary because he had doubts over his identity and the blood test showed a 99 percent match," Kibo Carlotto, the Buenos Aires province secretary of Human Rights, had earlier told the press.

According to the Infojus website, Guido Carlotto, 35, lives in Olavarría and is a musician, playing the piano. He is expected to meet his grandmother at a later date, after spending his entire life unaware of his origins.

Laura was two months pregnant when kidnapped by security forces on November 26 1977, and according to testimony she gave birth to a child she named Guido in the Military Hospital in June 1978.

After the birth, Laura was returned to the 'La Cacha' clandestine detention centre, without her baby, and murdered on August 25 of that same year.

Mari­a Claudia Falcone - One Amazing, Brave and Incredible 16-Year-Old Girl

Usually, the phrase "16-year-old girl" is used to denote vain, vapid teenage girls that populate social networking websites (Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, etc) and do obnoxious things like post pictures of themselves, fangirl to Bieber or Selena Gomez and angst about clothes, popularity and/or boys. However, that'€™s not always the case.

Maria Claudia Falcone (1960- disappeared 1976) was a high school student and political activist from the city of La Plata, Argentina (around an hour or so away from Buenos Aires). She was active in the UES (Union of Secondary Students) and participated in health and education projects in the poor neighborhoods that surrounded the city. She was also active in the Peronist Youth movement (which emphasized the left-wing tendencies of Peronist ideology).

Perhaps the issue most tied to Claudia Falcone is that of the high school student bus pass. She, along with many other high school students in La Plata, fought for a discounted bus fare for all high school students. The student pass intended to help out those who lived far away from the city and did not have as much money. The struggle was not just for the students of that era, but also for the students of the future. After many demonstrations, protests and petitions to the government, they finally achieved their goal of obtaining a discounted bus fare for all high school students.

However, in 1976, a new military junta took power in Argentina. The junta was extremely right-wing and sought to "€˜eliminate"€™ anyone or anything they saw as "€˜subversive."€™ In the same year, on the night of September 16, Claudia was kidnapped from her home, along with five other students who had participated in the struggle for the student bus pass (all between the ages of 16-18). This episode is now known as "The Night of the Pencils (La noche de los lapices)." She had just turned 16 years old.

Claudia, along with the rest of her friends, was first taken to a clandestine prison (Pozo de Arana) on the outskirts of La Plata. There, she and her friends were tortured and kept in inhuman conditions. Torture for Claudia, as well as other women who had disappeared, included rape and sexual assault. A week or so later, they were taken to another clandestine prison (Pozo de Banfield) in a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires.

The last time Claudia was seen alive was on December 28, 1976, by her friend and fellow student activist Pablo Diaz. Diaz was later freed and his testimony provides the basis for the Argentine film €œLa noche de los lapices,€ which was released in 1985.

Claudia and her 5 friends still remain missing to this day.

 Article taken from here.

Argentina marks 'Night of the Pencils'

Maria Claudia Falcone, 16, was among the victims

They were young idealistic high school students who were unaware of what horrors they were about to face: imprisonment, torture and, in some cases, death.

Thirty-five years ago, one of most notorious episodes of abuse committed during military rule in Argentina took place - the abduction of 10 students by security forces in the city of La Plata near Buenos Aires.
On 16 and 17 September 1976, masked men raided their homes under cover of darkness, taking them away to clandestine detention centres in what became known as the "Night of the Pencils".
Six were never seen again.
Emilce Moler was one of four who survived the ordeal.
"A group of armed men stormed into my house looking for me. When I came out of my bedroom, in my nightclothes, they seemed very surprised as I looked much younger than my 17 years," says Emilce.
Beaten senseless Like most of the others, Emilce belonged to the students' union, which had links to an urban guerrilla group known as the Montoneros.
It is not clear what actually provoked their abduction. What is clear, however, is that in the repressive atmosphere of the time, the military regarded them as subversives.
"That night, when they saw my sister, who was older than me, they wanted to take her too. But fortunately there was no space in the car and they left her behind," Emilce says.
With a hood over her head, Emilce could not see what was happening nor where was she being taken. Only years later did she manage to reconstruct the events that began that night.

''I hardly have any of the friends I had when I was young - most of them were disappeared, or those who survived suffered torture or imprisonment”

Emilce Moler

 

"We were taken to a clandestine detention centre called Arana, in La Plata, where we were made to suffer the worst conditions a human being can bear.

"They tortured us with profound sadism. I remember being naked. I was just a fragile small girl of about 1.5m and weighed about 47kg, and I was beaten senseless by what I judged was a huge man," says Emilce.
"He didn't even ask me coherent questions."
She avoids going into specific details, but another student, Pablo Diaz, gave graphic testimony to an inquiry into military abuse and helped to bring their case to wider attention.
"In Arana, they gave me electric shocks in my mouth, my gums, and on my genitals. They tore out a toenail. It was very usual to spend several days without food," says Pablo, who was 18 at the time.
The other survivors were Gustavo Calotti, then 18, and 17-year-old Patricia Miranda, who unlike the others was not a political activist.
The murdered victims, aged 16 to 18, were Francisco Lopez, Horacio Ungaro, Maria Clara Ciocchini, Claudio de Acha, Daniel Racero and Maria Claudia Falcone, whose face became one of the best-known images to keep the students' memory alive.
The abuse the students suffered became one of the emblematic events of the dictatorship that ruled Argentina between 1976 to 1983.
Their story was told in a 1986 film directed by Hector Olivera, called The Night of the Pencils, regarded as a powerful depiction of events.
During military rule, an estimated 30,000 political dissidents were murdered by the security forces. It is believed some 250 people under 18 years of age were among them.
The Commission Against the Disappearance of Persons (Conadep), which in 1984 carried out an inquiry into crimes against humanity committed by the military government, found that some of the victims were as young as 13.
Unanswered questions

Emilce lost many of her friends from that time

Emilce can still vividly recall the events of 1976.
"After about a week at our first detention centre, we were all taken to another place in a truck. At some point we stopped and some of my friends were taken out. Those are the ones that disappeared," she says.
Emilce was taken to two more clandestine jails until several weeks later she was formally declared a prisoner - a sign that she would be allowed to live - and imprisoned for two years.
The question that remains is not why she was allowed to live but why her teenage friends had to be murdered.
"I did not do anything to survive and they certainly did not do anything that meant they should die," Emilce says.
At a trial that began this week in Buenos Aires, 25 former police or military officers and one civilian were accused of committing crimes against humanity for the "Night of the Pencils" and hundreds of other cases.
Prosecutors say one of the policemen, Miguel Etchecolatz, now aged 82, tortured 90 prisoners. It will be his second trial, as he is already serving a life sentence for other crimes committed under military rule.
Emilce has rebuilt her life, thanks, she says, to the help of her then boyfriend and now husband who waited for her to be released. They have three children.
But memories from those times are still painful.
"I hardly have any of the friends I had when I was young. Most of them were disappeared, or those who survived suffered torture or imprisonment."


 Article taken from here.

María Claudia Falcone

Desaparecida Septiembre 16, 1976
From the Desaparecidos Memory Wall. María Claudia was a good girl and generous. She was 16. She was an activist in the Union of Secondary Students (UES) and worked in education and health clinics in the towns. She studied Fine Arts in La Plata. She read and followed Mario Benedetti Sui Generis, and her straight bangs fell over her big blue eyes. She worried about being nice, she liked to dance and had a hippie boyfriend.

She was abducted from the home of her aunt, located on 56th Street No 586 of La Plata, along with her friend, María Clara Ciocchini, during the "Night of the Pencils", during which seven high school students who had protested school vouchers were arrested and disappeared.

She spent time in several clandestine detention centers: Arana; Pozo de Banfield; Pozo de Quilmes; with Chief of Police of the Province of Buenos Aires and Commissioners of 5a., 8a., and 9a. de La Plata and 3a. Valentin Alsina, in Lanús; and the firing range of the Headquarters of the Province of Buenos Aires. There she was tortured and subjected to all kinds of abuse and rape, as a form of torture and cruelty.

María Claudia was last seen, by Pablo Diaz, on the 28th of December that same year in Banfield. She is still disappeared.

Her parents were also subsequently arrested and disappeared twice, though they were both later released.

No.7 EMEM School of Palermo was named by students as a school María Claudia Falcone.