The Margarita Belén memorial
Anybody looking for proof that the cruel legacy of the “Dirty War” still poisons this country need look no further than the memorial to the Margarita Belén Massacre. The memorial is, to the best of my knowledge, the only official memorial to victims of terrible crimes committed by the government between 1976 and 1983. A few others are under construction.
The monument stands on the highway between Resistencia and Formosa, at the location where the massacre took place. It’s not a high traffic area; I spent maybe 20 minutes there on Sunday morning and I don’t remember seeing anyone drive past. There are no signs pointing passers-by to the memorial, and there is no turn-off to stop your car. But, during the day, the memorial is hard to miss and the road’s shoulder is wide enough to stop and park.
The monument memorializes the events of December 13th, 1977, when armed forces members were transporting prisoners down the road in the direction of Formosa. The prisoners were members of the peronist Montoneros organization, considered terrorists by the military government. Many of the victims had been held for a while in Resistencia, but the previous day all were moved to Alcaidía where they were hit and tortured. The supposed move to Formosa on the thirteenth could never have been more than a cover story – the Formosa prison was not equipped to hold prisoners considered dangerous, as were the Montoneros.
On the morning of the 13th, the 7th Infantry Brigade under General Cristino Nicolaides sent out a cable saying “A column transporting subversive detainees towards Formosa was attacked by an armed band… Three delinquents were shot in the confrontation.” Later in the day, the Army reported another 2 subversives killed. What had actually happened is that 22 defenseless prisoners, including a pregnant woman, were shot dead beside the road.
The monument consists of statues of the murdered prisoners, standing in a line, chained and blindfolded. When I visited it, I found that the area around the monument had been burned, many of the figures had been smashed, and the explanatory sign had been defaced. It was almost as if the people had been killed twice.
It’s disturbing to see such a clear demonstration of lingering hatred. To think that the people who destroyed the memorial statues might be glad to help out in the slaughter of such prisoners tomorrow, if there were any around. Worse yet, to realize that the people who defaced the statues might even have participated in the original killing.
It’s also disquieting that nobody has repaired the memorial, although it’s been in its present condition long enough for the exposed rebar to build up a solid coating of rust.
I wonder how long it will be before something is done.
previously there was Two views of Formosa
afterwards you have being left behind
El monumento no muestra nada más que la realidad de lo que fue y es bueno que no haya sido silenciada.
Creo que llego la hora de hacer justicia.
yo soy estudiante de periodismo y estoy investigando sobre este tema y creo que pronto se va arelover todo [submitted on 31 Aug 03]
Ahí van a enconctrar mas información del caso. Hay un correo al que puden escribir. Nos comunicamos si lo desean. [submitted on 04 Oct 06]
I just hope that all the perpetrators are brought to justice in some not too distant future. Never rest until JUSTICE is served. [submitted on 18 Jan 07]
http://www.magaritabelen.ch... [submitted on 22 Jan 07]