“We are children of the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. And this is why we insist on permanently supporting the strengthening of the international system for the protection of human rights and the prosecution and conviction of those who violate them.”
These are the words of late President Néstor Kirchner from his speech at the 58th Annual Assembly of the United Nations in September 25, 2003. He clearly points out his standing against the Dirty War which resulted in over 30,000 desaparecidos (missing) and their children raised by murderers of their parents.
Former politicians were hesitant to dig into the dark pages of Argentine history yet timing eased Kirchner’s stance. Unlike Alfonsin, military was weakened thus Kirchners did not fear coup during their terms. Spain, Germany, France and Italy had already proceeded trying Argentine officers whom murdered their citizens during the Dirty War. Domestic and international factors were in favor. Kirchners were left wing populist politicians and framed themselves as outsiders of the political establishment representing the ordinary people. They had the support of trade unions and other associations.
Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo supported many policies of the Kirchners such as the reconstruction of military, nationalization of key sectors previously controlled by foreign companies such as postal service and railroads. In many areas Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo and Kirchners backed each other and they became politically associated.
After Argentine Supreme Court declared amnesty laws unconstitutional in 2005, resumed prosecution of Dirty War crimes started. Kirchner also appointed a defense minister with human rights background and dismantled officers of Dirty War as well as civilianizing military. Encouraged by Kirchner, Congress impeached or forced the resignation of six of the nine Supreme Court members and replaced (Levinsky 2013) them. On one hand it can be argued that this move might have had positive affects regarding fight against human rights abuses. Yet, forceful resignation is not a transparent process, it might involve favoritism thus erode independence of judiciary and serve his political agenda. On the other had amount of influence Kirchner has in legislature and judiciary diminishes horizontal accountability and harms checks & balance mechanisms.
Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo are influential grass-roots groups and their mutual interests with Kirchners did not satisfy all segments of society. For some people Dark War is a rough period Argentina has gone through decades ago and they prefer not opening this wound due to this specific reason there were objections to trials of military officers.
Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo have been willing to find children of the desaparecidos whom supposedly were adopted and raised by pro-military families. Yet the method adopted is controversial. With the support of Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo and Kirchner administration a law that permits compulsory DNA testing to reunite missing family members was passed in Senate. A survey conducted by the conservative newspaper, La Nación, in November 2009 showed that 77% of its readers opposed the law (Richards, 2009). It has been seen as a violation of one’s identity and their right to choose.
Especially the DNA law which resulted in controversies and the determined support of Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo to the cause resulted in shifting public impression. Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo becoming politically associated to a specific political program resulted in losing its credibility and people appreciating its humanitarian side as a secondary response.
When political gain prevails over fundamental purpose of associations, it is risky to restore influence and respect in the event of a power transfer. In polarized settings where there are partisan ties to political affinities it becomes very hard for people along different edges of the spectrum to unite for a humanitarian cause. This is applicable to Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo as well in, a highly polarized Argentina in the lines of Peronism. Argentina became so polarized that during political power transfer between Kirchner and Macri they refused to encounter in person.
Former President, now vice-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner still visits Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo and has good relations. In 30 April 2020, Fernandez de Kirchner celebrated 43rd anniversary of the movement via Twitter. Former President Macri on the other hand has repeatedly refused to congratulate them when a lost child was found, he even refused to meet with them.
Aytaç, S., & Őniş, Z. (2014). Varieties of Populism in a Changing Global Context: The Divergent Paths of Erdoğan and Kirchnerismo. Comparative Politics, 47(1), 41-59. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/43664342
Boyd, G. A. (2014). THE EVOLUTION OF A SOCIAL MOVEMENT: A STUDY OF THE MADRES … Retrieved from http://thesis.honors.olemiss.edu/106/2/Thesisfinalgamb.pdf
Goñi, U. (2017, April 28). 40 years later, the mothers of Argentina’s ‘disappeared’ refuse to be silent. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/28/mothers-plaza-de-mayo-argentina-anniversary
Levitsky, S., & Murillo, M.V. (2008). Argentina: From Kirchner to Kirchner. Journal of Democracy19(2), 16-30. doi:10.1353/jod.2008.0030
Richards, Joel. New DNA Law in Argentina Will Help Find the Missing Grandchildren, 11/12/09. North American Congress on Latin America.