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Being a journalist under the cult of fear and death
(Chapter 4: 1982-1983)
A series of four videos produced in 1999 by The Freedom Forum and Un Ojo Avizor en los Medios
The fourth and final chapter of Being a journalist under the cult of terror and death refers to events that took place between 1982 and 1983, amid "Malvinas War" and the return to democracy. Testimonies taken in 1999 and articles published in 1982 show how important the role of mass media and the freedom of speech and press are to ensure the functioning of democratic institutions and to promote citizen participation.
Context:
By 1982, the military dictatorship was crossing a deep crisis of legitimacy. With the intention of delaying the end of the regime and gaining popularity among a society in visible dissent, the Military Junta decided to invoke a nationalist sentiment and on April 2, 1982, Argentina landed in Malvinas Islands (Falkland).
The widespread enthusiasm generated by the recovery of Malvinas Islands -a territory occupied by Great Britain since 1833 that represented an ancient demand of different political and social sectors- offered to the regime the possibility of changing the political agenda and to gain popular support. The population had gestures of solidarity with the young fighters on the Islands, the "boys of war", but assumed the conflict in a triumphalist tone that had its first contrast on May 2, 1982. That day, a British submarine attacked the cruiser General Belgrano sinking it and causing the death of 323 of its crew. The real face of war started to become visible however censorship and the collaboration of media and journalists avoided a thorough knowledge of war. When Argentina surrendered on June 14, shock at first and indignation later were profound.
The war left a total of 648 Argentine soldiers killed and over a thousand injured. When the conscripts returned to the continent, they talked about abuses and sufferings. These stories increased the sense of deceit and outrage against the Armed Forces. The first consequence of Argentina's defeat in the war was the capitulation of General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri and his replacement by General Reynaldo Benito Bignone. At the same time, in June, the Navy and Air Force abandoned the leadership of the Military junta.
The period that began with the defeat in Malvinas war was characterized by important social mobilization and political participation of new characteristics, channeled by new social movements such as human rights organizations. Other stakeholders such as trade unionism recovered presence while the political parties began intensive preparations for the future elections, finally set on October 30 of 1983. That day, the candidate Raúl Alfonsín, won with 51.8% of the votes. That was the beginning of a democratic period that continues until today.
Testimonies included on this chapter: Andrew Graham-Yooll / Ariel Delgado / Bartolomé Mitre / Carlos Ulanovsky / David Blaustein / Eduardo Blaustein / Emilio Cartoy Díaz / Fanny Mandelbaum / Héctor D'Amico / Jorge Bernetti / Jorge Halperín / José Claudio Escribano / José María Pasquini Durán / Magdalena Ruiz Guiñazú / María Seoane / Mónica Gutiérrez / “Pepe” Eliaschev / Rolando Hanglin / Silvina Walger.
Clarification: These materials are only available in Spanish.
See Chapter 4
See Malvinas war: selected magazines of the period
See the presentation
See all related materials
See chapter 1
See chapter 2
See chapter 3
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