ARGENTINA: Hebe de Bonafini, Presente!

By People’s Dispatch

Hebe de Bonafini, the eminent Argentine human rights activist and co-founder of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, and a tireless fighter against the human rights violations committed during the country’s last military dictatorship died on 11/20/22 at the age of 93. Bonafini played a crucial role in defending human rights in the country during the US-backed military dictatorship, as well as ensuring the expansion of rights following the return of democracy.

In March 1976, the military junta of General Rafael Videla launched a brutal crackdown on suspected leftwingers. In February 1977, Bonafini’s oldest son was arrested and disappeared. In December her second son was also captured and disappeared. In May 1977, Bonafini, along with 14 other mothers in a similar situation, founded the Association of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, aimed at finding their children kidnapped by security forces. The mothers, wearing white cloth nappies later replaced by white scarves, began demonstrating at the Plaza de Mayo in front of the presidential palace, demanding the return of their children. They held these protests at a time when the government prohibited gatherings of more than three people.

They began gathering every Thursday, walking counterclockwise around a clock tower in the center of the Plaza.  The military government broke up the early demonstrations and killed the first leader of the association, but the group persisted. The mothers continued after the end of the dictatorship, demanding justice for the crimes against humanity committed by the State in the form of punishment of the military officials responsible for seizing and killing their loved ones.

It is estimated that over 30,000 left-wing activists, trade unionists, academics, students, writers, journalists, artists and suspected dissidents were kidnapped, tortured and disappeared by security forces during the seven years of dictatorship and state terrorism that is known as the Dirty War. Bonafini’s two sons were never found and are presumed dead like the others.

“The only struggle you lose is the struggle you renounce,” Bonafini was fond of saying. She also insisted that direct language be used: “Bread is bread, wine is wine, a killer is a killer.”

Bonafini made her last public appearance ten days before her death, participating in Thursday’s traditional demonstration. In her last words in that Plaza, she condemned judicial impunity in the cases for crimes against humanity and warned how these practices damage democracy.

Source: People’s Dispatch, 11/21/22)