Life sentence for ex-Argentine Army general for summary execution of guerrillas in 1989 [View all]

[sandensea]

Retired Army General Alfredo Arrillaga, 85, was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for the summary execution of guerrillas surrendering after the recapture of the La Tablada Army barracks in early 1989.

Arrillaga was found guilty of aggravated homicide in the case of José Diaz, 29, who was photographed at the time with his hands up and showing a white flag, although at least three similar cases of shooting prisoners are suspected.

The far left Movimiento Todos por la Patria ('All for the Fatherland Movement') overran the La Tablada barracks on January 23, 1989, on the pretext that they were heading off a military coup against President Raúl Alfonsín.

The battle lasted two days, with 32 dead guerrillas, nine soldiers, two policemen, and two civilians left dead.

Arrillaga is already serving five other life sentences under house arrest for human rights violations during the 1976-83 military dictatorship. He is serving those terms under house arrest.

At: http://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/life-sentence-for-ex-army-general-for-summary-execution-of-guerrillas-in-1989.phtml

Retired Argentine Army General Alfredo Arrillaga

The January 1989 La Tablada barracks attack, the last serious incident of far-left violence in Argentina, left 32 of the 46 assailants dead - plus four disappeared, including the rebels' attorney, Jorge Baños.

The incident, 30 years later, remains little understood. Many link it to the 1989 elections, held just four months later - though its effect on the results was minimal.

No credible explanation has been given by the Argentine government for the four disappearances.