Paraguay unveils archives from Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship

[Judi Lynn]

Paraguay unveils archives from Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship
• Archive may contain reports on Operation Condor
• Documents could provide clues on fates of disappeared

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk,

Human rights activists gained access today to a dictatorship-era military archive that appears to contain long-held secrets about Paraguay's persecution of opponents during Alfredo Stroessner's 1954-1989 rule.

The basement archive in the ministry of defence appears to hold some records about Operation Condor, a coordinated campaign by South American military governments against leftists during the 1970s and 80s, according to rights activist Martin Almada.

The discovery was announced hours after Almada gained access the rows of boxes and yellowed ledgers this morning. He said the documents apparently contain names of Argentine opponents of Stroessner's government.

"In skimming through them, we uncovered some interesting information regarding Operation Condor," said Almada, who directs a museum about past government repression and torture.

Several South American military governments are accused of working together to crack down on leftist dissidents beginning in the mid-1970s.
Many alleged "Operation Condor" abuses are being investigated for the first time after Argentina overturned legal amnesties and Uruguay elected its first leftist president.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/14/alfredo-stroessner-paraguay-operation-condor

[spanza]

1. Finally!

Non-aligned Venezuela was a safe haven for persecuted Chileans, Argentinians, Uruguayans, Paraguayans and Brazilians in those years.

Supported by Peron in the beginning, protector of Mengele and Somoza after that, murderer of at least 1000+ people, this mfcker is a good example of why military political leaders should generally be distrusted. Latin Americans know that the civilian/military division of their politics is as important as the right/left division.

I wonder what they'll find in those archives after his 35 years of power.