Argentina's Death Flights

The period of military dictatorship in Argentina saw the suppression and disappearance of dissidents under the rule of Jorge Rafael Videla.

Rise of Peronism and Military Coup Installing Videla's Dictatorship

Peronist Movement, Spearheaded by Juan Perón, Garnered Working-Class and Labor Union Backing, but Instability Ensued After His Death

The Peronist movement, led by Juan Perón, gained the support of the working class and labor unions in Argentina. Perón, who rose to power in the 1940s and served as president, was overthrown, exiled, and later re-elected in 1973. Following his death in 1974, his wife Isabel Perón took over the presidency, but escalating violence led to political instability.

Miriam Lewin recalls the weakening of Isabel Perón's government, as a military coup became inevitable. This coup led to Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla taking power and the suppression of Peronism. His dictatorship launched a campaign against political dissidents, rationalizing acts of violence as a necessary part of a civil war against these individuals.

Clandestine Detention and Torture Under the Dictatorship

Miriam Lewin describes her experience of being detained at Esma, a clandestine center that outwardly functioned as a Navy mechanic school but secretly held around 5,000 Argentine citizens. The government acted without due process, engaging in enforced disappearances, torture, rape, theft, and public assassination. Activists like Lewin were abducted and sent to detention centers, becoming part of the "desaparecidos," or the disappeared.

An estimated 30,000 people were subjected to these practices. Many victims were drugged, hooded, tied up, and thrown from planes alive in what became known as death flights.

Impact and Accountability Efforts

Human rights groups opposed the laws that shielded Argentina's d ...

Miriam Lewin's harrowing experience of arrest, torture, and eventual survival illustrates the stark reality of political upheaval in Argentina during her youth. As a passionate journalist and political activist, she faced unimaginable challenges but managed to make it through to tell her story.

Miriam's Background as a Political Activist and Journalist

Passionate About Politics and Journalism From a Young Age

From a very young age, Miriam Lewin was drawn to journalism and politics. With a deep passion for reading, traveling, and justice, she dreamed of a world where housing, health, and education were accessible to all, regardless of their family's socioeconomic status. At 13, Lewin started engaging with political literature and participated in an anarchist club.

Involved With Peronist Groups, Unaware of Coup and Dissident Crackdown

In college, Miriam got involved with a political group associated with Peronism. An active member of Peronist groups, Miriam wrote, printed, and distributed leaflets at rallies, considering her role as non-violent and mainly staying oblivious to the looming threat of a military coup and crackdown on dissidents.

Miriam's Arrest, Detention, and Torture by the Military

Miriam Was Kidnapped, Tortured, and Interrogated In Secret Centers

Miriam Lewin was arrested by Argentina's secret police at the age of 19. During her arrest, she was unable to take a homemade cyanide pill she carried for such emergencies. Held in a secret center called Esma, she was questioned and tortured, receiving electric shocks to extract information about her friend and fellow activist, Patricia. Despite the violent and fearful circumstances she faced, the beauty and quietness of Esma struck her as a disturbing contrast to its true purpose.

Death Fear and Unbearable Comrade Dilemmas

The rise of Videla to power forced Miriam into hiding, as fears of death and betrayal became a constant concern. The military regime's omnipresence led to a shrinking support network. Relationships intensified under the looming threat of capture and torture, amidst which Miriam and her boyfriend, Juan, held a secret ceremony, unable to marry officially. The terror of betraying comrades under interrogation haunted her throughout her detention.

Miriam's Survival and Eventual Release From Captivity

Despite the lack of explicit mention in the provided materials, Miriam's multilingual abilities and journalism tr ...

Investigations and efforts towards accountability unveil the harrowing details of "Death Flights" during Argentina’s unelected military rule. Miriam Lewin, a surviving victim, leads a crucial probe to uncover the truth and seek justice for victims, alongside her colleagues and witnesses of the clandestine cruelty.

Throwing Drugged Prisoners Out of Planes

In December 1978, the military employed a method called "Death Flights" to dispose of detainees. Thirty-five decomposing bodies, including two nuns aiding in the search for missing residents of Buenos Aires, washed ashore, having been thrown unconscious from planes into the ocean.

Eyewitnesses Reveal Military's Use of "Death Flights" to Dispose Of Detainees

Eyewitnesses like Andrés Caballero, who learned of the death flights from his grandfather, and rumors provided initial leads. But the bodies lost at sea impeded easy proof of this practice due to the difficulty in retrieving evidence.

Lack of Evidence From Bodies Lost At Sea Made Proof of This Practice Difficult

The lack of evidence from bodies lost at sea made it difficult to prove the existence of these "death flights," although victims being washed up due to unusual weather conditions allowed a judge to connect at least 10 deaths, including the two nuns, to one of the planes and its pilots.

Miriam and Giancarlo's Probe to Find Death Flights

Miriam Lewin and Italian photographer Giancarlo Serrato undertook a thorough investigation to trace ownership and flight records of planes implicated in these death flights.

Ownership and Flight Record Tracing Uncovers Suspicious Activity

They relied on repentant navy officers' testimony, transaction history, and technical logs of a plane called Skyvank. Discoveries revealed three planes still in operation in Luxembourg, the UK, and Florida.

Pilots Identified and Convicted In Death Flights Investigation

With the help of a pilot translating the logs, investigators identified irregularities in certain flights. Convictions of pilots ensued, with two dying before and after the trial, but the identification remains a professional and personal victory for survivor Miriam.

Uncovering Truth, Seeking Justice For Victims

Over 1,100 military personnel, police officers, and civilians have been convicted of crimes against humanity, with ongoing investigations. The debate is rife about the dictatorship's atrocitie ...