Baby Theft Trial begins in Argentina
Former dictators Jorge Rafael Videla, right, and Reynaldo Bignone attend their trial in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 28, 2011. Foto AP
Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone, former military leaders of Argentina, are being accused of overseeing the systematic theft of babies from political prisoners. Their trial has opened, the BBC reports:
More than 100 children are known to have been given for adoption to military or police couples. The long-awaited trial, which is being televised, is the first time Argentina’s military leaders have faced charges of operating a systematic plan to steal babies from pregnant prisoners. The parents were then killed or “disappeared”. … The case came to trial mainly because of the efforts of the human rights group, the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who have campaigned to find out what happened not only to their children but also their grandchildren. … Videla, 85, has already been sentenced to life after being found guilty of crimes against humanity, while Bignone, 83, was given 25 years in jail last April after being convinced of human rights abuses.
More here.
