Ex Argentine Junta Leaders sentenced over 'Baby Snatching'
An Argentine court has jailed ex-junta leaders Jorge Rafael Videla, Reynaldo Bignone, and an ex-navy officer Jorge Acosta - known as The Tiger. Over the widespread theft of babies from female political prisoners, 'who disappeared' under military rule. During the country's brutal 1976-1983 dictatorship years.
Activists were gathered outside the court in a nearby square. A television link had been set up to beam the court proceedings to the hundreds of people who had assembled. The trial, which began in February 2011, surrounds the kidnapping of 35 children from detainees during the Dirty War, 20 of which have been recovered and testified in court. Jorge Videla listened as he received a further 50 years. The crowd cheered loudly.
The head of the Grandmothers for Justice Group, Estela De Carlotta said she is glad justice is finally being done.
"This is justice. It came. Let's remember we started this in 1996. At that time, we didn't know if we were going to make it to this moment or not. We couldn't foresee this. I think it's healing for society to know they are being tried and sentenced and will continue to be tried and sentenced until the last crime that can be attributed to them."
Maria Moyano who was taken from her mother as a baby said justice still needs to be done
"We still have a huge amount of work ahead of us, because all the civilians and intermediaries are still free. If we say there was a Genocide, then all those sectors have to tried and jailed."
All the men are already serving life sentences for previous human rights convictions. In sentencing Acosta received 30 years and Bignone a further 15 years. The other 11 defendants were also ordered to serve sentences of various lengths.
Written and Presented by Ann Salter