Against the clandestinity: the public dimension of the State terrorism in Argentina (1976-1979)

A dimensão pública do terrorismo de Estado na Argentina (1976-1979)

Abstract

In 1976, Argentina experienced the cruellest dictatorship in the country under the name of Proceso de Reorganización Nacional. This military and civilian dictatorship applied the State terrorism, which had been tested and perfectioned through the previous months. Kidnappings, torture and clandestine centres of detention where the tools needed for the full terror application with the aim of ending with the subversives. Especially the occultation of these methods was needed for develop and extend the repressive arsenal. Nevertheless, kidnappings were done in the street in daylight with the existence of witnesses; and, several people survived the traumatic enclosed experience in the clandestine centres of detention. These people, witnesses and survivors, were keen to explain what they saw and what they suffered to international press and Human Rights associations. Therefore, this clandestinity was threatened. This paper is about the procedures of the State in order to implant and develop the terrorism between the years 1976 and 1979; and involves the flaws of the occultation of these praxis through survivors, witnesses and families of the missing people, called the desaparecidos.