Argentina

Argentina is a country in the southeast part of South America, to the south of Brazil, with a capital city of Buenos Aires. Military rule was in effect 1976-1983 when tens of thousands of people were killed and many went missing in the "dirty war". Amnesties that protected former military people have been repealed and the pardons that were given in the 1980s and 1990s to military leaders are now being questioned. In 2007, former Roman Catholic police chaplain Christian Von Wernich was convicted for his involvement in murder and torture in the "dirty war".

Media
The BBC says of the country's media:


 * Since the return to democracy in 1983, journalists have generally been able to carry out their work freely. But there have been worries that government influence over the media is growing. Media rights body Reporters Without Borders says journalists in the provinces risk being "hounded" by the police and courts.

PR and Argentina
Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller was doing PR for the military government during the "dirty war", its job being to improve the country's image to attract foreign investment. The military was led by General Jorge Videla who seized power in a 1976 coup and who is now serving a life term for murder.

Leaders

 * Cristina Fernandez, President

Statistics 1950-1975

 * US trained military personnel in Argentina: 3676
 * US military aid to Argentina: $230,300,000
 * US provided US aid or training to police
 * This country practiced torture on an administrative basis during this period

Tobacco industry involvement in Argentina

 * Tobacco Industry Successfully Prevented Tobacco Control Legislation in Argentina Sebrie EM, Barnoya J, Perez-Stable E, Glantz S. (2005). Tobacco Control. 14 (5), pp. 1-11. Postprint available for free at link provided.
 * La Industria Tabacalera y su Dominio en la Formulación de las Políticas Nacionales sobre el Control del Tabaco en Argentina, 1966- 2005. (Spanish translation of Tobacco Industry Dominating National Tobacco Policy Making in Argentina, 1966-2005)Sebrie EM, Barnoya J, Perez-Stable E, Glantz S. (December 1, 2005). Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco. Tobacco Control Policy Making: International.
 * The tobacco industry in developing countries Sebrie EM, Glantz SA. (2006). British Medical Journal. 332 (7537), pp. 313-314. Postprint available for free at link provided.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Guaraní Aquifer
 * Imperial terror in South America
 * Mercosur
 * Plan Condor
 * Rendon Group
 * SLAPP's in Argentina
 * The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago

External articles

 * "Argentine ex-military ruler held", BBC, March 9, 2007.

External resources

 * Argentina, National Geographic, accessed January 2008.