Jorge Rafael Videla

Jorge Rafael Videla
Official portrait, 1976
42nd President of Argentina
In office
29 March 1976 – 29 March 1981
Vice PresidentVacant
Preceded byIsabel Perón
Succeeded byRoberto Eduardo Viola
Governor of Tucumán
In office
4 August – 10 December 1970
Preceded byJorge Daniel Nanclares
Succeeded byCarlos Alfredo Imbaud
Personal details
Born(1925-08-02)2 August 1925
Mercedes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died17 May 2013(2013-05-17) (aged 87)
Marcos Paz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Resting placeMemorial Cemetery, Pilar, Buenos Aires
Political partyNone
Spouse
Alicia Raquel Hartridge
​
​
(m. 1948)​
Children7
EducationColegio Militar de la Nación
ProfessionMilitary
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Argentina
Branch/service Argentine Army
Years of service1944–1981
Rank (Pre-1991 epaulette) Lieutenant General
CommandsArgentine Army (1976–1981)
Battles/wars
Criminal details
Conviction(s)Crimes against humanity; illegal repression during the last military dictatorship
PenaltyLife imprisonment
TrialTrial of the Juntas
Imprisoned atMarcos Paz Prison

Jorge Rafael Videla (/vɪˈdɛlə/ vid-EL-ə; Spanish: [ˈxoɾxe rafaˈel βiˈðela]; 2 August 1925 – 17 May 2013) was an Argentine military officer and dictator who was the 42nd President of Argentina and as well as the 1st President of the National Reorganisation Process from 1976 to 1981. His rule, which was during the time of Operation Condor, was among the most infamous in Latin America during the Cold War due to its high level of human rights abuses and severe economic mismanagement.

He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Perón. In 1985, two years after the return of a representative democratic government, he was prosecuted in the Trial of the Juntas for large-scale human rights abuses and crimes against humanity under his rule including the widespread abduction, torture and murder of activists and political opponents along with their families at secret concentration camps. An estimated 13,000[1] to 30,000[2] political dissidents vanished during this period. Videla was also convicted of the theft of many babies born during the captivity of their mothers at the illegal detention centres and passing them on for illegal adoption by associates of the regime. Videla maintained the female guerrilla detainees allowed themselves to become pregnant in the belief they would not be tortured or executed.[3] Videla remained under house arrest until 10 October 2008, when he was sent to a military prison.[4]

On 5 July 2010, Videla took full responsibility for his army's actions during his rule.[5] Following a new trial, on 22 December 2010, Videla was sentenced to life in a civilian prison for the deaths of 31 prisoners following his coup.[6][7] On 5 July 2012, Videla was sentenced to 50 years in civilian prison for the systematic kidnapping of children during his tenure.[8] The following year, Videla died in the Marcos Paz civilian prison five days after suffering a fall in a shower.[9]

  1. ^ "Una duda histórica: no se sabe cuántos son los desaparecidos". 6 October 2003.
  2. ^ "40 years later, the mothers of Argentina's 'disappeared' refuse to be silent". TheGuardian.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. ^ "El exdictador Videla llama terroristas a las madres de los bebés robados en Argentina". Abc.es. 27 June 2012.
  4. ^ Rosario Gabino (10 October 2008). "Argentina: Videla a la cárcel". BBC News. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Argentina's Videla: 'Troops followed my orders' BBC news". Bbc.co.uk. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. ^ Life sentence for ex-Argentina leader on Al Jazeera English 23 December 2010 (video)
  7. ^ Popper, Helen (22 December 2010). "Former Argentine dictator Videla jailed for life". Reuters. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  8. ^ "El dictador Videla, condenado a 50 años de cárcel por el robo de niños". Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Videla murio golpe cabeza cuando resbalo-ducha", El Comericio