Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2 — The Southern Cross. April 16, 1987
Human Rights Prevailing Issue In Argentina
BY AGOSTINO BONO
BUENOS AIRES. Argentina (NO
Human rights became the issue that would
not go away for Pope John Paul II during
his April 6-12 trip to Argentina
The situation reflects how the abuses of
the past still haunt Argentine society after
the “dirty war” of the 1970s and early 1980s
between guerrillas and security forces.
The pope arrived with a strong state
ment defending human rights, emphasiz
ing the specific responsibility of govern
ments to promote and protect them. But
tins proved to be not enough to mee
specific criticisms causing the pope to
make last-minute speech additions during
his final two days in the country
The additions came after human rights
groups strongly complained that they were
not allowed to meet the pope, and one
bishop told him that the Argentine church
did not do enough to protect human rights
during the 1976-88. military government,
when abuses were rampant
One papal addition specifically mention
ed the thousands of Argentines who disap
peared after being taken by people identi
fying themselves as members of security
forces. The other defended the actions of
the Argentine bishops.
The pope, however, did not take a stand
on the government's controversial law
establishing a March deadline for filing
human rights charges against military
and police officials. The law has become a
divisive issue, with human rights leaders
saying it grants violators a de facto
amnesty.
The government defends the law, saying
the nation must stop reliving a divisive
past and unite to face new economic and
political challenges. Elected President
Raul Alfonsin is also worried that mount
ing accusations against military officials
will increase the restlessness of a coup-
prone military growing tired of seeing its
officers paraded before judges.
Several top military officers, including
three ex-presidents, already have been
convicted and sentenced to terms ranging
from four years to life imprisonment
While the pope did not specifically de
fend the deadline law, he gave Alfonsin
support by continually calling for national
reconciliation and praising efforts to re
establish democracy in the South
American nation
“The full re-establishment of
democratic institutions constitutes a
privileged moment by which Argentines
can be ever more conscious that all are
called to responsible participation in
public life,” the pope said his first day in
the country.
“It will always be the unavoidable task
of the government to protect and promote
human rights, fleeing from the frequent
temptation to respond to violence with
violence.“ he said in the same speech
The human rights issue, however, con
tinued to follow the pope during his 10-city
Argentine tour
At one stop, he heard Bishop Miguel
Esteban Hesayne of Viedma say the
Argentine church did not do enough during
the previous military government to de
fend human rights.
“We wish to commit ourselves to follow
the road of evangelical fidelity and ask
forgiveness because, as a church, we do
not always identify with the poor, the
needy, the persecuted.“ said Bishop He
sayne.
The bishop expressed hope “that we
never again have to lament the deaths of
young soldiers >r civilians nor missing
persons, nor tortured people
The bishop s statement hit an Argentine
sore spot.
During the military government the
bishops’ conference issued several
statements condemning human rights
abuses and made numerous private pro
tests to the government. But the bishops
did not form a church human rights agen
cy as other Latin American hierarchies
had done under similar circumstances,
nor did the conference give official church
approval to other human rights groups.
Several bishops, however, gave personal
support to human rights groups.
The situation continues to cause harsh
feelings between church and human rights
leaders. Many rights groups felt a stronger
church stand in a country where
Catholicism is the state religion and where
92 percent of the population is Catholic
could have been decisive in curbing
military abuses.
As the pope’s trip was winding down,
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, 1980 Nobel Peace
Prize winner for his human rights work
and a prisoner under the military govern
ment, accused the bishops of preventing a
meeting between the pope and human
rights leaders
The bishops “organized a beautiful
tourist trip and not a pastoral visit,” he
said.
Papal trip organizers said there was not
enough time on the pope’s schedule for the
meeting. They also said there was no coor
dinated effort by the many human rights
groups to ask for a joint meeting.
Although no meeting was held, the pope
made a last-minute human rights insert in
his April 11 talk to youths.
“May you never again have kidnap
ped or disappeared persons,” the pope
said. It was his first and only specific men
tion of the at least 9.000 people who disap
peared in the “dirty war.”
Discovering the fate of these missing
people has been the principal concern of
human rights groups. Since Alfonsin came
to power in December 1982 several
massive unmarked graves have been
found, believed to have been used by
security forces to bury killed suspects.
On April 12 the pope made another last-
minute insert to defend the Argentine
bishops.
“I know of your constant efforts and
preoccupations in difficult moments when
violence profoundly interrupted the peace,
harmony and prosperity of your country
with pain and death,” he said in a speech
to the bishops April 12.
“I know of the severe documents con
demning this violence,” he said.
“I know of your dedicated efforts which
saved lives,” said the pope
The statements put the pope on record,
but the fact that he had to make them
shows how human rights abuses of the past
continue to produce contemporary con
troversy in Argentina.
PAPAL PROTECTION — Pope John Paul II is shielded from the in
tense sun by an umbrella as he speaks at Tueuman, Argentina.
Another umbrella (right) protects the pope from rain that greeted him
on his arrival at Corrientes, Argentina, for a Mass the following day.
(NC photos from UPI-Reuter)
POPE IN PRISON — A prisoner kisses the ring of Pope John Paul II
during a visit to Antofagata jail as other inmates watch. On his last
stop in Chile, the pope told the J00 prisoners gathered in the courtyard
to maintain hope because “God is Imprisonable." ( NC photo from UPI-
Reuter)
Pope: Business Profits Should Help Society
BY AGOSTINO BONO
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (NC) — Business leaders
must look beyond the profit motive to helping rebuild
Argentina's ailing economy. Pope John Paul II told them at
a meeting April 11.
“Profit does not have as the only objective the increase of
capital,” he said.
“It also must be destined, with a social meaning, to im
prove salaries, social services, technical training” and
culture, the pope said.
He urged them to increase “productive investments” to
create jobs, increase worker participation in the running of
companies, and allow all Argentines the chance to own pro
perty “as the basis of a just and unified society,” he added
The pope criticized “the insatiable thirst for riches, easy
and immoral profit, stealing, the temptation of power and
pleasure.”
He also criticized “the lack of honesty in business affairs
and injustices toward your workers ”
Argentina has had a 22.9 percent rise in its cost of living
for the first three months of 1987. World prices are low for
its meat and agricultural exports, and the government has
said it cannot meet interest payments on its $50 billion
foreign debt.
“You have experienced to what point the progress of na
tions depends in great part on the international situation.
This makes it necessary to find solutions based on true
solidarity and cooperation among different peoples.” said
the pope.
“Times of crisis offer a challenge which is not only
economic but also ethical” which requires “overcoming
personal, group and national selfishness,” said the pope.
In the morning, the pope flew 125 miles west to Rosario
for an outdoor Mass on the banks of the Parana River. Dur
ing the homily he asked the laity to take action against “the
spread of secularism” in society.
“Assume your specific and irreplaceable apostolate” to
evangelize temporal life, the pope said.
“You have before you evident signs of the spread of
secularism which tries to invade everything,” he said.
“You are becoming aware, through very clear signs, of
the increasing hunger for God being felt in the guts of
modern man. especially the younger generation.” said the
pope.
“Unfortunately, the winds of violence continue
castigating us, as do terrorism and war,” he added
“Christian laity, you libertate things from the corrupting
decomposition of secular influences (which are) contrary
to the Gospel and to the life of Christ,” he said
“To the vocation of the laity belongs the task of trying to
obtain the kingdom of God. administrating temporal affairs
and ordering them toward God,” said the pope.