SOUTHERN CONE RENDITION PROGRAM: PERU'S PARTICIPATION Operation Condor Crimes Focus of Italian Indictments

National Security Archive Update, February 22, 2008

New York Times Story Draws Attention to 1980 Abduction, Disappearance Case

Washington D.C., February 22, 2008 - Declassified U.S. documents posted today on the Web by the National Security Archive (www.nsarchive.org) show that the U.S. government had detailed knowledge of collaboration between the Peruvian, Bolivian and Argentine secret police forces to kidnap, torture and "permanently disappear" three militants in a Cold War rendition operation in Lima in June 1980--but took insufficient action to save the victims.

The Archive's documents are part of a sweeping Italian investigation of Condor that has issued arrest warrants for 140 former top officials from seven South American countries and, in the words of today's New York Times, has "agitated political establishments up and down the continent."

The documents address what has become known as "the case of the missing Montoneros," a covert operation by a death squad unit of Argentina's feared Battalion 601 to kidnap three members of a militant group living in Lima, Peru, on June 12, 1980, and render them through Bolivia back to Argentina. (A fourth member, previously captured, was brought to Lima to identify his colleagues and then disappeared with them.) "The present situation is that the four Argentines will be held in Peru and then expelled to Bolivia where they will be expelled to Argentina," a U.S. official reported from Buenos Aires four days after Esther Gianetti de Molfino, María Inés Raverta and Julio César Ramírez were kidnapped in broad daylight in downtown Lima. "Once in Argentina they will be interrogated and then permanently disappeared."

Italy's indictments include General Morales Bermudez and his military deputy Pedro Richter Prada, among 138 other military officers from Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay who were involved in the kidnapping, torture and disappearances of 25 Latin Americans who had dual Italian citizenship. The indictments, in a 250-page court filing by Italian judge Luisianna Figliolia last December, come after a six-year investigation by investigative magistrate Giancarlo Capaldo, who drew on hundreds of declassified documents provided by the National Security Archive's Southern Cone project. "These documents provide hard evidence of Condor crimes," according to project director Carlos Osorio, "that almost 30 years later still demand the resolution of justice."

The New York Times story, "Italy Follows Trail of Secret South American Abductions," noted that the Italian effort at universal jurisdiction "deals not only with individual cases involving Italian citizens but also with the broader responsibilities of Condor's cross-border kidnapping and torture operations." The story also suggested that Condor's allied effort to track down, kidnap, and secretly transport targets to third countries, according to historians, was "reminiscent of the United States' modern terrorist rendition program."

The Archive's Peter Kornbluh noted "sinister similarities between Condor and the current U.S. rendition, enhanced interrogation, and black site detention operations."

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Sheik Meeting Leads to Information on al Qaeda in Iraq

By Sgt. Luis Delgadillo, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

Jan. 7, 2008 - In a vital and encouraging boost to the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq, local sheiks met with coalition forces officials Jan. 4 to discuss future concerned citizen programs. Sheiks from areas surrounding Sayafia spoke with Army Col. Terry Ferrell, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and Army Col. Dan Ball, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade.

The sheiks introduced themselves to Ferrell and Ball and told the leaders of crimes and injustices that al Qaeda had perpetrated. In one instance, an Iraqi man described being forced from his home by al Qaeda operatives who now use his property as a safe house. He pleaded with both leaders to help him get his property back, to which Ferrell replied, "That's what I'm here to do."

Ferrell also told the sheiks that he hopes they are serious about their commitment to the area.

"We're going to work with you, and we're going to kill anyone who is a threat to the Iraqi population," he said.

The sheiks shared information with Ferrell about the whereabouts and strength of al Qaeda forces. Ferrell emphasized to the community leaders that providing such information is the most important thing they can do.

Ferrell also urged the sheiks not to arm their respective communities and have people hunt for insurgents. Militias are illegal in Iraq, and citizen groups need to focus their efforts on providing information on terrorist activities in their villages, he said.

In a written statement issued by Multinational Force Iraq on behalf of the command and the U.S. Embassy, coalition military leaders praised the sheiks' efforts to cooperate in taking their communities back from insurgents.

"MNF-I applauds Iraq's political, civic, and religious leadership for their courage and commitment to the new Iraq," the statement said. "As tribal sheiks and leaders from councils and other organizations gathered in recent weeks to denounce violence and work toward common goals of peace and economic prosperity, the people of Iraq have found strength in their unified vision for Iraq's future. Gathering in response to calls from their leaders, Iraqis are banding together to drive out extremists and restore security in their neighborhoods. Iraqis from all communities are against al Qaeda (in) Iraq and other extremists and are sending a strong message on the importance of achieving reconciliation and unifying Iraq.

"As Iraqis look forward and frame a common vision for building their war-torn nation," the statement continued, "MNF-I and the U.S. Embassy will continue to partner with the government of Iraq to assist them in their efforts to restore essential services and help them achieve their goals."

(Army Sgt. Luis Delgadillo serves with 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office. This report also includes information from a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)