Clean-up time in Argentina
Justice may finally be served on 46 members of Argentina's former military regime, including ex-dictator Jorge Videla, after an Argentinean judge ordered their arrests this week pending formal extradition requests from Spain. Human rights groups have applauded the move as the first step to ending Argentina's two-decade-old protection of former junta members.
Radio Netherlands 25 July 2003Astiz is sought in Italy because of his role in the kidnapping of Angela Maria Aieta, Giovani Pegoraro, and Pegoraro's daughter Susana. Angela Maria Aieta was abducted from her home on August 5, 1976, and was held at the Navy Mechanics School (ESMA), a secret detention center where Astiz worked. A survivor of the ESMA camp has testified that she saw Aieta being taken away, possibly for execution. Giovani and Susana Pegoraro were kidnapped in a railway station on June 18, 1977, when Susana was five months pregnant. None of the three were ever heard of again, but Susana's daughter was later traced and found to be living with a military couple to whom she was handed over after her birth in detention.
Human Rights Watch August 15, 2001
