Published on Aug 20, 2014
PROVIDED BY CNNNEXT.COM
Lawyers of the high commanders and military officers who led the US-supported ruthless dictatorships of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia gathered in downtown Buenos Aires at the so-called "Forum for Justice, Human Concord and Freedom"
The event is expected to be held for 2 days and according to the organizers has the sole aim to shed light on the military governments in Latin America.
Hundreds of human rights activists and social movements staged a demonstration to voice their anger against the meeting and blamed the advocates for defending the most brutal dictators that tortured and kidnapped thousands of people in the region.
Back in 1974, top commanders from Latin American dictatorships received strategic military training and a hefty economic support under the "Condor Operation" which was a US program aimed at providing aid and endorse the military regimes and that way gain the political control and access the resources of the region.
Protesters say the US is still behind the convicted dictators.
Scores of demonstrators surrounded the venue not only to decry the event, but also to prevent it from happening.
Protesters urged the government to press criminal charges against the organizers or expel them from the country.
Historical researches show an estimated number of 60-thousand people were kidnapped and killed in Latin America during the Washington-backed “Condor Operation” in the 70s and 80s.
The military plan was developed by the US Army School of the Americas and involved 12 countries in the region.
