Today, March 24, is a holiday in Argentina, Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. The holiday commemorates the victims of the military dictatorship that began with a military coup on March 24, 1976. This period of military dictatorship is known as the “Dirty War” and lasted for about seven years (1976-1983). It is estimated that at least 13,000 people disappeared during this dark and sad period of Argentina history. Anyone resisting or opposing the dictatorship were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to live in Argentina during this time. In my three years here I have read books and articles and have watched several documentaries and movies about this fairly recent period in Argentina. I have also visited a couple museums and demonstrations commemorating and remembering the period. All of it is very tragic and sobering.
The Madres of Plaza de Mayo are Argentine mothers whose children disappeared during this period. During the dictatorship, they marched daily around the Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada government house for the return of their abducted sons and daughters. They are known for the white scarves they wore on their heads when they marched. The Madres still exist as an active human rights movement.
Many of today’s Argentines lived through this period and will never forget. The idea of today’s holiday is that what happened will never be forgotten, so that it will never happen again – ¨nunca más¨!
To read more in English:
Here is a government education site in Spanish: http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/24demarzo/index.html
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