BUENOS AIRES - On March 24th (local time), tens of thousands of citizens flooded the streets of the capital, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to stage a massive demonstration marking the 49th anniversary of the dark military dictatorship (1976-1983) that began with the military coup in 1976.
Under the slogan "Memory, truth and justice (Memoria, verdad y justicia)," the protesters marched alongside the "Mothers of Plaza de Mayo" and the "Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo," filling the central areas of Buenos Aires despite it being a national holiday in Argentina.
The demonstration, led by human rights organizations, opposition parties, labor unions, social movements, and student groups, saw participants express solidarity with the "Mothers of Plaza de Mayo," who are still searching for their children who disappeared during the military dictatorship, chanting, "Mothers of the Plaza, the people embrace you (Madres de la Plaza, el pueblo las abraza)."
Argentine human rights organizations estimate that approximately 30,000 people disappeared during the military dictatorship, and the "Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo" are searching for about 400 grandchildren who were forcibly adopted after being born in clandestine detention centers at the time.
Estela de Carlotto, president of the "Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo," emphasized in her speech at the rally, "After a long struggle, we have identified 139 cases. Just two months ago, we identified two grandchildren who knew nothing about their birth. The help of the entire society is needed to find all the grandchildren, and it is never too late."
She continued, "The state must guarantee the recovery of the identities of the stolen grandsons and granddaughters. Illegal adoption is forced disappearance, a crime that continues until the true identity is revealed."
Among the demonstrators, banners opposing the "negationism" of the right-wing government of Javier Milei were prominent. This was a protest against the elimination of dozens of jobs in the Secretariat of Human Rights and in memorials that were formerly used as torture and detention facilities, due to Milei's government's strong economic austerity policies.
Waving Argentine flags and handkerchiefs bearing the phrase "Never again (Nunca más)," protesters chanted, "Milei, you're trash, you are the dictatorship (Milei, basura, vos sos la dictadura)."
María Eva Gómez, a 57-year-old commercial worker who participated in the demonstration with her husband and three teenage children, told AFP in an interview, "I feel that today, more than ever, we need to be here to show that the memory of the horror that Argentina experienced will not disappear, that history cannot be denied."
She added, "There were people who shed innocent blood while shouting just demands, and we live in a democratic society obtained after many innocent sacrifices. The only way to protect this democracy is not to forget the past."
The demonstration proceeded peacefully, and there was no police intervention. This appears to be a result of the police not applying the controversial security regulations that were used during a protest by pensioners a few weeks prior, in which a photojournalist suffered a skull fracture after being hit by a tear gas canister fired by the police.
"There are still missing people who have not been found. That is why so many people have gathered here today," said Elías Pérez, a 68-year-old retired doctor.
Meanwhile, the Argentine government announced on the same day that it would declassify intelligence agency records regarding the activities of the military junta from 1976 to 1983, expanding on a 2010 decree.
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