Nightslantern Suppressed News - December 12, 2018 / #Argentina /

17.12.18

Argentina: (previous). On December 11, 2018, two former management executives at Ford's Buenos Aires plant were sentenced for their crimes during Argentina's "Dirty War" (1976-1983). Hector Sibilla, then chief of security at the factory received a sentence of twelve years. Pedro Muller, then the factory manager, received 10 years. They were found guilty of selecting and turning over the names, photos, addresses of 24 employees and union leaders to be kidnapped and tortured, and allowing a detention and torture centre to be constructed within the factory. While the Ford Company claims it isn't implicated in the case a lawyer for the victims' families claims Ford was entirely in control of its factory during the crime. The convictions may be appealed by the former corporate officials. It's also likely charges will eventually be levied against Ford. Legal actions within the U.S. by a lawyer for the victim families may be impeded by a declared statute of limitations; under international laws crimes against humanity are frequently without statute of limitations. Argentina has successfully held to account over a thousand military officers, intelligence agents and civilians for human rights crimes during Argentina's "Dirty War," and is increasingly concerned with the involvement of corporate powers. These are the first convictions of corporate officials. While articles from Deutsche Welle and BBC News don't mention it, The Guardian notes a 15 year sentence for the area's former commanding general Santiago Riveros, for these same crimes, and that "All three will benefit from house arrest because of their advanced age." There is some indication that the impunity of convicted fascist leaders of the Americas was increased by the habitual long delays in prosecution of the privileged which allow them not to serve their sentences. Background: The Vanished Gallery / Desaparecidos. See also Night's Lantern's incremental record of the fight against impunity in Argentina, prosecutions, difficulties since 2005:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28.     Partial sources online: "Argentina court sentences ex-Ford executives on torture, kidnapping charges," Dec. 11, 2018 (*v), Deutsche Welle; "US files illuminate Argentina's 'dirty war'," Aug. 9, 2016, Deutsche Welle; "Argentina's Dirty War: Two former Ford executives jailed," Dec. 11, 2018, BBC News; "Argentina: two ex-Ford executives convicted in torture case," Uki Goñi, Dec. 11, 2018, The Guardian; "Ex-Ford Argentina execs convicted in torture case; victims may sue in U.S.," Cassandra Garrison, Nicolás Misculin, Dec. 11, 2018, Reuters. -- by J.B.Gerald, Gerald and Maas nightslantern.ca