Posted: March 31st, 2012, 9:00am MSD
On March 31, 2011, an Argentine federal court sentenced former general Eduardo Cabanillas to life in prison for his involvement in that nation's 1976-1983 "Dirty War." Cabanillas was convicted of murder, torture and illegal imprisonment of detainees. The Dirty War was a systematic governmental campaign against leftist political dissidents, students, and media personnel. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people were forcibly kidnapped or "disappeared" during the Dirty War, although the numbers are hard to determine due to the secrecy surrounding the abductions. Argentina continues to prosecute those accused of committing human rights abuses during the Dirty "War." Flag of Argentina Learn more about the laws governing war