Original subtitles

Male journalist: WHAT'S WRONG, MADAM?

WE WANT OUR CHILDREN, WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

MY SON WAS KIDNAPPED 15 MONTHS AGO.

WHAT ABOUT THE STOLEN BABIES?

WHY WON'T THEY TELL US IF THEY'RE ALIVE OR DEAD?

THAT'S ALL WE WANT.

AN ANSWER, THAT'S ALL. THEN, WE'LL LEAVE.

THEY RAIDED MY HOUSE 4 TIMES.

THEY TOOK ME AWAY AND TORTURED ME

SO I WOULD TELL THEM WHERE MY SON WAS.

THAT'S THE ARGENTINA WE LIVE IN.

WE WANT THEM ALL BACK. NOT JUST OUR OWN CHILDREN.

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THERE?

THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS OF WOMEN.

THOUSANDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

[Dramatic music]

[Title music "Firing Line"]

William Buckley Jr.: HERE IN ARGENTINA THE COUNTRY IS ENDURING GREAT PAIN.

THREE JOURNALISTS RESIDENT IN ARGENTINA

ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO SHED LIGHT ON THESE PROBLEMS.

MR ROBERT COX, WHO IS THE EDITOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY

BUENOS AIRES HERALD.

MR COX WAS BORN IN ENGLAND, WAS SCHOOLED THERE,

DROPPING OUT TO DO NEWSPAPER WORK.

HE SERVED IN THE ROYAL NAVY IN KOREA AND IN 1959 HE CAME TO BUENOS AIRES,

WHERE IN ADDITION TO EDITING THE PAPER,

HE SERVES AS CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ECONOMIST AND NEWSWEEK.

Uki Goñi: WHEN I MET BOB, HE WAS THIS 41-YEAR-OLD GUY WITH THIS HUGE BEARD,

FIVE KIDS, ALL SINGING BEATLES SONGS.

AND SUDDENLY, AFTER THE DICTATORSHIP,

BOB SHOWS UP WITHOUT A BEARD.

HE SAID: "NO, I HAD TO SHAVE OFF MY BEARD."

BOB HATED GOING DIPLOMATIC COCKTAILS AND THE WHOLE SOCIETY THING.

AND HE SAID: "I HAVE TO GO THE EMBASSIES,

I HAVE TO GO TO THESE COCKTAILS I HATE GOING TO,

BECAUSE I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S HAPPENING".

BECAUSE BOB KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

Buckley: THE PRINCIPAL AGENTS OF COUNTER-TERRORIST VIOLENCE

ARE THE POLICE, THE ARMY,

AND A LOOSELY ORGANIZED ASSOCIATION CALLED THE AAA.

THE BODY COUNT IS VERY HIGH.

AND IT SEEMS YEARS AGO

SINCE DUE PROCESS WAS ACTUALLY USED IN ESTABLISHING GUILT OR INNOCENCE.

Pamela Wheaton: MY MEMORIES OF BOB, HE WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE DISTRACTED

BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS ON HIS MIND.

Andrew Graham-Yooll: YOU HAD FEAR BY CONTAGION. THIS IS HOW FEAR WORKS.

I THINK FEAR IS A VERY REASONABLE FEELING TO HAVE.

COWARDICE, NO.

Uki: BOB WAS CONTINUALLY SWEATING.

VERY, VERY SCARED, SHAKING. REALLY SHAKING.

Maud Cox: THE SECRETARY OF THE HERALD CALLED ME AND SAID:

STAY CALM, DON'T PANIC,

BOB HAS JUST BEEN TAKEN.

I WAS VERY, VERY FRIGHTENED

BECAUSE BOB SUFFERED A LOT FROM ASTHMA BACK THEN.

HIS NERVOUSNESS SET IT OFF.

SO, I WENT TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE.

BOB CAME PAST WITH TWO POLICEMEN. BUT I HAD TO WAIT OUTSIDE.

WHEN THEY CAME OUT, I ASKED: WELL, CAN HE LEAVE NOW?

NO, HE HAS TO SIGN HIS RELEASE FORMS BACK AT THE POLICE STATION.

I SAID: SO, YOU'LL LET HIM GO, HE'LL TAKE THE BUS HOME

AND YOU'LL MURDER HIM ON HIS WAY HOME?

NO, WE WON'T DO THAT.

WE WON'T KILL HIM.

FOR NOW.

Female journalist: WHAT EFFECT DOES WORKING UNDER

THE PRECARIOUS CONDITIONS HERE HAVE ON YOUR LIFE?

Cox: YOU HAVE TO COME TO A DECISION AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER.

YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

THAT MEANS ANYTHING.

THE POINT IS

I'VE DISCOVERED IT NOW, IT'S LIKE A FEAR OF FLYING.

I WAS FRIGHTENED IN MY FIRST FLIGHT IN AN AEROPLANE.

I WAS FRIGHTENED IN THE SECOND, AND IN THE THIRD.

AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT A LOT, YOU'RE NOT FRIGHTENED ANYMORE.

AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW, SINCE 1970-1971.

[Cox's voice fades out]

[Fighter jets flying overhead]

[Big Ben chimes]

[Fighter jets moving closer]

[Big Ben chimes]

Cox: I WAS BORN IN LONDON, EALING, A SUBURB OF LONDON.

MY FATHER BORN WITHIN THE SOUND OF BOW BELLS,

WHICH MEANT THAT HE WAS A REAL COCKNEY, A REAL LONDONER.

VERY FEW CHILDREN LIVED IN LONDON.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME BECAUSE WE WERE COMPLETELY FREE.

I WAS BORN IN 1933 WHEN HITLER CAME TO POWER.

AND I GUESS I LIVED UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIM PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY YOUTH.

[Explosions]

I REMEMBER SO WELL LONDON UNDER THE BLITZ, SEEING THE SKY

VIOLENT, RED.

[Ambulance sirens]

WE USED TO GO AND WE USED TO COLLECT SHRAPNEL,

WHICH WERE THE PIECES FROM THE BOMBS.

WE HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO PICK UP

THE BOOBYTRAPS THAT THE GERMANS DROPPED.

SO I LIVED WITH ALL OF THAT ALL THE TIME.

THE OTHER THING THAT FORMED ME

WAS THAT MY FATHER ALWAYS HAD THIS DREAM OF GOING TO ARGENTINA.

HE WAS AN OFFICER ON THESE BIG LINERS

AND HE CAME TO BUENOS AIRES QUITE OFTEN

AND HE TRIED TO PERSUADE MY MOTHER TO IMMIGRATE TO ARGENTINA.

[Tango music]

BUT I WAS CONTRACTED

AND THEY USED TO CONTRACT JOURNALISTS IN ENGLAND.

THE BELIEF WAS THAT ARGENTINES

WOULD NOT WORK THE HOURS THAT WE USED TO WORK.

AND WE DID WORK CRAZY HOURS.

I ALMOST LIVED IN THE NEWSPAPER.

IN A WAY RATHER WONDERFUL AND IT LOOKS ROMANTIC

LOOKING BACK... SO MANY YEARS BACK.

VERY ROMANTIC.

[Tango music]

I ARRIVED IN ARGENTINA IN 1959.

ON APRIL THE 4TH, 1959.

TO AN ARGENTINA THAT WAS HOPING TO BECOME A DEMOCRACY AGAIN.

THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SENSE IN THE NEWSPAPER

THAT ARGENTINA WAS GOING TO GET ON TRACK AGAIN AND MAKE PROGRESS.

[Tango music]

IT WAS A VERY SMALL NEWSPAPER.

AND IT WAS VERY FIRST-RATE ON COVERING

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

BUT IT WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT COVERING ARGENTINE AFFAIRS.

[Laughs]

AND THE HERALD WAS ALWAYS VERY DEMOCRATIC

AND ALSO IT WAS A NEWSPAPER THAT CARED.

IT HAD EDITORIALS THAT SUPPORTED STRIKES AND WORKERS.

[Tango music]

I INTENDED TO MOVE ON, AS EVERYBODY DID AT THE HERALD.

ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE MOVED THROUGH. BRILLIANT PEOPLE.

ONE LEFT HIS JACKET BEHIND, [Laughs] HE JUST MOVED ON.

NO, I EXPECTED TO MOVE ON.

AND I WAS ABOUT TO MOVE ON AND I MET MAUD, SO I DIDN'T MOVE ON.

I MET MY WIFE HERE. SO I DIDN'T MOVE ON.

Male journalist: KIDNAPPING IN ARGENTINA IS BIG BUSINESS.

SO FAR THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 60 KIDNAPPINGS.

THERE WILL BE MORE.

URBAN GUERRILLAS LIKE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION NEED CASH TO OPERATE.

KIDNAPPING FOREIGN EXECUTIVES HAS PROVED TO BE

AN EASY AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF RAISING MONEY.

OKAY, FINE, TURN IT OFF!

[Crowds shouting and chanting]

Andrew: THE SEVENTIES BEGIN IN ARGENTINA IN 1973.

THAT IS WHEN PERÓN RETURNED TO ARGENTINA FROM HIS EXILE IN SPAIN.

THE WHOLE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF ARGENTINA

HAD TO CONTEMPLATE THE PRESENCE OF GUERRILLAS AND THEIR ACTIONS.

URBAN GUERRILLAS.

[People yelling]

Male journalist: ANOTHER DISTURBANCE IN THIS CONTEXT OF CONFUSION.

JOS RUCCI HAS BEEN MURDERED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FLORESTA.

Cox: THE WAY I SAW IT WAS

AT ONE TIME, MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ARGENTINA

SAW THE MONTONEROS AND THE GUERRILLA GROUPS

AS THE FUTURE OF ARGENTINA.

[Crowds chanting]

THEY WERE IDEALIST.

AND OF COURSE THERE WAS THE TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION OF PER**N***S RETURN.

THE BELIEF WAS THAT AFTER 18 YEARS IN EXILE,

HE WOULD COME BACK AND RESTORE ARGENTINA.

HE GOT 60 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

SO THERE WAS ENORMOUS EXPECTATION.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THESE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED THAT

THEY WERE GOING TO GO ALONG THE WAY OF MAO OR CHE GUEVARA

SUDDENLY REALISED THAT PERÓN WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HE WASN'T ON THEIR SIDE.

Peronist activist: THE EXAMPLE SET BY JUAN PERN INSPIRED US, THE YOUTH...

TO UNDERGO OUR OWN CONSTRUCTIVE POLITICAL PROCESS.

Andrew: THE MILITARY IN ARGENTINA CAME WITH A PROPOSAL

THAT THIS SECTION OF SOCIETY HAD TO BE WIPED.

AND I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, HISTORICALLY.

THEY HAD TO BE DISAPPEARED.

[Crowd sings "The Peronist March"]

[Suspenseful music]

"Still no answers"

Cox: WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COME, YES.

"Changes are imminent"

WE HAD A TIP-OFF GUY IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE

"Order to be upheld"

WHO USED TO CALL US UP AND SAY:

"IF IT'S NOT TOMORROW, IT WILL BE THE DAY AFTER."

IT WAS INEVITABLE.

Military spokesman: THE POPULATION IS ADVISED THAT, FROM TODAY

THE COUNTRY IS UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF A MILITARY JUNTA.

ALL INHABITANTS ARE ADVISED TO OBEY ALL ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES

ISSUED BY THE MILITARY, SECURITY OR POLICE FORCES.

AND TO AVOID ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP ACTIVITIES AND ATTITUDES

THAT MIGHT REQUIRE THE DRASTIC INTERVENTION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL.

SIGNED BY GENERAL JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA

LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND GENERAL COMMANDER OF THE ARMY.

[Military march]

Cox: I MEAN THERE WERE JOKES ABOUT COUPS IN ARGENTINA.

"A REVOLUTION IN ARGENTINA"

THERE ARE MORE DEATHS IN A MEXICAN WEDDING THAN IN AN ARGENTINE COUP."

AND TO SOME EXTENT THAT WAS TRUE.

WHEN THE COUP CAME PEOPLE WOULD GO

TO THE CASA ROSADA TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THIS WAS SO DIFFERENT.

AND TO BEGIN WITH WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS DIFFERENT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

UNTIL PEOPLE DIDN'T TURN UP.

PEOPLE WERE TAKEN AWAY AND THEY DIDN'T TURN UP AGAIN.

[Music]

Judge: DR. LOPEZ, YOUR NEXT WITNESS.

Dr. Lopez: YOUR HONOR, OUR NEXT WITNESS SPEAKS SPANISH, BUT NOT PERFECTLY.

Judge: SHOW HIM IN AND HAVE THE INTERPRETER READY.

Dr. Lopez: PLEASE, STAND.

Judge: YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED AS A WITNESS IN THIS ONGOING TRIAL

AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE FIRST 3 MILITARY JUNTAS

OF THE REGIME KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL REORGANIZATION PROCESS.

DO YOUR SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH?

Robert Cox: YES. Judge: PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.

Uki: YOU SEE, AT THE BEGINNING, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THERE HAD BEEN ALL THIS KIDNAPPING GOING ON

DURING THE PERONIST YEARS.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE TURNED UP DEAD.

SOMETIMES THEY WOULD THROW THE BODIES

AT THE BASE OF THE OBELISQUE

ON THE 9 DE JULIO.

SO WHEN PEOPLE STARTED DISAPPEARING UNDER THE DICTATORSHIP,

WE THOUGHT THEY WERE BEING HELD SOMEWHERE.

DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE ON TRIAL?

SOME OF THEM, PERSONALLY.

I CAN RECOGNIZE THE OTHER GENERALS BECAUSE

I LIVED IN ARGENTINA FOR 20 YEARS.

Judge: DO YOU SHARE A FRIENDSHIP OR ENMITY WITH ANY OF THEM?

DO YOU HAVE ANY SOCIAL CONNECTIONS?

NO, I AM NOT FRIENDS WITH ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS.

Judge: CAN YOU REMAIN IMPARTIAL?

IS THERE ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MIGHT AFFECT YOUR HONESTY?

Cox: NO, I WILL BE VERY IMPARTIAL.

TOTALLY IMPARTIAL.

Pamela: I DIDN'T REALLY LIVE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE.

BUT I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FED UP

AND THEY WELCOMED THE MILITARY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENED WAS PRETTY AWFUL.

Cox: I HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY PEOPLE.

THE FIRST THAT ONE I RECALL CHRONOLOGICALLY

IS A MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE WITH PRESIDENT VIDELA.

THERE WAS A SMALL GROUP OF JOURNALISTS,

PRESIDENT VIDELA CALLED SMALL GROUPS OF JOURNALISTS TO SEE HIM.

THE CONVERSATION WAS EXTREMELY MOVING.

ALTHOUGH I HAD NEVER MET PRESIDENT VIDELA

AND HE WAS NOT A FRIEND,

I LOOKED UPON HIM AS A FRIEND.

NOT ONLY OF MYSELF BUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF ARGENTINA.

[Music]

[Elevator approaching]

Maud: HE CAME HOME ONE NIGHT, IT WAS ALWAYS QUITE LATE.

HE CAME HOME AROUND 10:30 or 11. SOMETIMES MIDNIGHT.

WHEN THE NEWSPAPER WAS SENT TO PRINT.

HE CAME TO ME AND SAID:

APPARENTLY, THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MEET IN PLAZA DE MAYO.

APPARENTLY THEY'RE MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

HE WASN'T TOO SURE AT THAT STAGE.

I THINK I'LL GO THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

Cox: I HEARD THAT PEOPLE WERE MEETING AT PLAZA DE MAYO

AT AROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT.

SO I JUST JOINED THE CROWD THERE.

THERE WAS QUITE A CROWD, ABOUT 30 OR 40 PEOPLE.

THE CROWD GREW DURING THE NIGHT

BECAUSE WORD HAD SPREAD AROUND THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY.

AND THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD GONE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY

TRYING TO FIND OUT SOMETHING.

Mother: AN ANSWER, THAT'S ALL. THEN, WE'LL LEAVE.

Mother: MY DAUGHTER WAS 5 MONTHS' PREGNANT WHEN THEY TOOK HER.

MY GRANDCHILD WAS DUE IN AUGUST LAST YEAR.

I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO HIM.

GIVE US OUR CHILDREN BACK!

OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN!

WHY DON'T THEY SHOW THEIR FACES?

Mother: BECAUSE THEY'RE COWARDS!

[Mothers yell over one another]

Marta Vásquez: WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE FACING.

WE WERE TOTALLY UNAWARE.

WE STARTED LOOKING FOR OUR CHILDREN.

INSTEAD WE FOUND CLOSED DOORS, DEAF EARS

FEAR, IGNORANCE AND MORE AND MORE REPRESSION.

AT POLICE STATIONS, AT CHURCHES, AT THE DIOCESE.

WE WENT TO GOVERNMENT OFFICES, TO THE INTERIOR MINISTRY.

OF COURSE, WE NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY FROM THE POPE.

NOR FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING POPES.

FROM NONE OF THEM.

AND WE WENT TO THE VATICAN...

18 TIMES.

THOSE PEOPLE IN SOCIETY WHO HADN'T BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED

WAS TOTALY INDIFFERENT TOWARDS US.

THEY THOUGHT THE MILITARY WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WE WENT TO THESE PLACES

HOPING THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAD TO SAY:

THAT OUR CHILDREN HAD BEEN TAKEN, HOW THEY WERE TAKEN,

HOW WE WERE LEARNING ABOUT OTHER MOTHERS AND FAMILIES.

Mother of Plaza de Mayo: THEY'VE TAKEN THE MOST PRECIOUS THING

A MOTHER COULD EVER HAVE: HER CHILD.

WE'RE UPSET BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE SICK,

IF THEY'RE COLD, IF THEY'RE HUNGRY.

WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.

WE'RE DESPERATE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO.

CONSULATES, EMBASSIES, MINISTRIES, CHURCHES

THEY'VE ALL CLOSED THEIR DOORS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEGGING YOU.

YOU'RE OUR LAST HOPE.

PLEASE HELP US.

YOU'RE OUR LAST HOPE.

[Sombre music]

[Noisy downtown streets]

Pamela: YEAH, PEOPLE PRETENDED IT DIDN'T REALLY EXIST.

EVEN WHEN I WOULD TELL FRIENDS ABOUT

MY SPANISH TEACHER'S SON.

OH, WELL, HE MUST HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

I THOUGHT: INVOLVED?

HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD. WHAT WAS HE INVOLVED IN?

Andrew: WE HAD READERS WHO READ THIS EVERY MORNING.

AND I WENT AND SAW THEM YEARS LATER

AND THEY DENIED THEY KNEW ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW, SO WHAT WERE YOU READING?

NO, NO, WE DIDN'T KNOW.

WHEN I WANTED TO TALK TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT...

I WOULD ASK THEM: HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCES?

THIRTY YEARS LATER, THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I REPLY: "BUT WE SPOKE ABOUT IT".

"WE DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU. WE COULDN'T BELIEVE YOU".

Cox: IF YOU WERE JUST WALKING AROUND THE STREETS OF BUENOS AIRES

YOU SAW THAT THERE WERE DEATH SQUADS MOVING AROUND.

AND PEOPLE MANAGED NOT TO TAKE IT IN UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM

AND MADE THEM REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPERS,

NOTHING ABOUT IT ON TELEVISION.

MOST OF IT WAS CONTROLLED BY THE MILITARY.

BUT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY FOR THE PRESS

TO PLAY ITS PROPER ROLE IN SIMPLY INFORMING PEOPLE.

Newsagent: WE'VE GOT ALL THE MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS!

Videla: I WOULD LIKE REPEAT

HOW SATISFIED I'VE FELT BY BEING WITH YOU HERE TODAY.

I'VE FELT AS IF I WERE AMONG FRIENDS,

CURIOUS FRIENDS.

YOU HAVE THE DUTY, THE OBLIGATION

TO RESPONSIBLY INFORM AND FORM OPINIONS.

IN LIGHT OF YOUR OBLIGATIONS

I HAVE TRIED TO FULFILL MY OWN,

BY GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEEDED.

YOUR QUESTIONS WERE LEGITIMATE.

AND IT WAS MY DUTY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANSWERS.

Judge: DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY DIRECTIVES

FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PRESS

ON THE WAY TO HANDLE ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS?

Interpreter: DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY DIRECTIVES

FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PRESS ON THE HANDLING

OF NEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS?

Cox: THIS WAS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE JIGSAW.

QUITE SHORTLY AFTER THE COUP D'É-TAT,

WHILE I, MYSELF...

AND MY NEWSPAPER WERE STILL PRAISING THE ARMED FORCES

FOR HAVING CARRIED OUT A BLOOD-LESS COUP...

[Music]

Cox: WE RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL IN THE NEWSPAPER

INSTRUCTING US THAT FROM NOW ON WE WERE PROHIBITED

FROM PUBLISHING ANY INFORMATION

ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCES OF PEOPLE

THE DISCOVERY OF BODIES

AND OTHER CRIMES CONNECTED WITH THE SUBVERSION

WITHOUT OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION.

Commentator: LUQUE TAKES THE BALL, A PASS TO KEMPES.

HE SHOOTS AND IT'S A GOAL!

Cox: SO INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE KILLING...

THEY TRIED TO STOP PEOPLE REPORTING THE KILLING.

Commentator: THE WORLD CUP, THE BEST WORLD CUP

EXTRAORDINARILY WELL ORGANIZED.

25 MILLION ARGENTINES WEARING THE SAME COLORS:

BLUE AND WHITE!

THIS MARVELOUS COUNTRY...

Cox: AND THEY CALLED US ALL IN AND THEY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY SAID: "THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING,

YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL AND YOU BETTER BEHAVE YOURSELF."

THAT PARTICULAR TIME

BECAUSE IT WAS A JOURNALISTS AFFAIR, I SAID:

"I HAVE A LIST OF THESE JOURNALISTS, WHERE ARE THEY?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM?"

AND I HAD MY TAPE RECORDER ON, WITHOUT REALIZING IT.

IT DIDN'T DAWN ON ME UNTIL LATER ON THAT HE TOLD ME THEN:

"WE'RE KILLING PEOPLE."

HE SAID: "I CANNOT BE LIKE JESUS AND SAY 'LAZARUS, ARISE AGAIN'."

NOTHING COULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER, THEY WERE ALL DEAD.

BUT I KNEW EVER REALIZED THAT, I COULD NOT GRASP THAT.

[Music]

Cox: WE HAVEN'T ANY NEWS ABOUT THEM AT ALL.

IT'S A TERRIBLE LIST.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT 50 PEOPLE.

50 JOURNALISTS, WHO HAVE EITHER VANISHED

OR SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD, MURDERED.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE STILL BEING HELD.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS IN REGARD TO TIMERMAN.

HE AT LEAST IS IN HOUSE ARREST NOW AND HE'S NOT IN JAIL,

BUT WE HAVE NO NEWS ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE.

Judge: DURING THE TIME YOU WERE IN CHARGE...

OF THE BUENOS AIRES HERALD NEWSPAPER...

DID YOU RECEIVE REPORTS OR VISITS FROM VICTIMS

OR RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF ALLEGED DISAPPEARANCES

OR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES?

Cox: YES, HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY.

HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY MORE. MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND.

Uki: THE HERALD WAS A GROUND FLOOR

AND ON THE FIRST-FLOOR WAS THE NEWSROOM.

SO THERE WAS THIS STAIR THAT WENT UP TO THE NEWSROOM.

AND I HAVE THIS IMAGE OF THESE WOMEN COMING UP THE STAIRS,

DRAGGING THEIR HUSBANDS WITH THEM

AND THE HUSBANDS SAYING:

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS, YOU'RE CRAZY."

MY HUSBAND WAS AFRAID SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME.

HE WAS TERRIFIED.

I HAD THE BAD HABIT OF TELLING HIM EVERYTHING I WAS ABOUT TO DO.

HE WOULD SAY: NO, NOT THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, HE WOULD SAY.

NO, DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T DO ANYTHING.

I ASSURED HIM BUT THEN, WE DID WHATEVER WE WANTED.

IS MY HEADSCARF ON OK?

IT'S ALL VERY BLURRY. I'M 91 YEARS OLD, REMEMBER.

SO, I CAN'T REMEMBER SOME THINGS.

Carmen: YOYI SPOKE ENGLISH VERY WELL.

Carmen: SO, SHE WAS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ROBERT AND THE REST OF US.

Nora: ONE OF THE MOTHERS, RENE EPELBAUM, SPOKE ENGLISH.

SHE WOULD BUY THE PAPER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

THAT'S...

THAT'S HOW I FIRST HEARD OF THE BUENOS AIRES HERALD.

Chicha: FOUR OF US GRANDMOTHERS WENT.

WE MET WITH ROBERT COX.

IT SEEMED UNREAL THAT SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN TO US SO ATTENTIVELY

AND WOULD TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH.

Uki: WHY ARE YOU COMING HERE?

WE'RE A SMALL NEWSPAPER, WE'RE IN ENGLISH!

WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE THE BIG NEWSPAPERS?

I WAS A LITTLE NAIVE AT THAT TIME.

THEY JUST LAUGHED, NERVOUS LAUGHTER OF COURSE.

THEY SAID: "WE'VE BEEN TO THE OTHER BIG NEWSPAPERS

BUT THEY WON'T EVEN LET US IN THE DOOR."

WHICH IS THE TRUTH.

I MUST HAVE BETTER MEMORIES

BUT ROBERT'S KINDNESS!

IT WAS LIKE GOING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE, NOT TO A NEWSPAPER.

HE WAS A FRIEND...

A FRIEND WHO LISTENED TO US.

[Crowd chanting] ALIVE, THEY TOOK THEM! ALIVE, WE WANT THEM BACK!

Cox: THESE WERE SUCH HUMAN PEOPLE.

IT WAS SUCH A HUMAN PREDICAMENT THAT THEY WERE IN.

[Crowd chanting]

THEY COLLECTED MONEY TO GIVE ME A SILVER CIGARETTE CASE.

AMONG OTHER... I MEAN...

ONE OF THEM, THEY GAVE ME AN ELECTRIC RAZOR!

THESE WERE PEOPLE

[Sad guitar music]

Cox: WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT THE MOTHERS DID,

WHICH TO MY MIND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

THEY WERE SO BRAVE AND SO COURAGEOUS.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

I THOUGHT ALL THE TIME:

IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A MOTHER TO REALLY RESPOND.

IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT, MY GOD,

IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THOSE MOTHERS WHO HAD

THIS MATERNAL INSTINCT SO STRONG THAT THEY COULD NOT BE OVERCOME

AND I REMEMBER TELLING HARGUINDEGUY:

"YOU'RE GOING TO LOOSE, YOU'LL NEVER EVER STOP THEM.

YOU'LL NEVER STOP THEM. THEY'LL GO ON AND ON AND ON.

FOR GOD'S SAKE, DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.

TELL THEM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"

[Music]

Interpreter: I RECEIVED MANY CALLS FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Cox: AND I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT

Judge: PARDON, PARDON.

DID YOU RECEIVE CALLS FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE

REGARDING ARTICLES TAT YOU WROTE

WHICH WERE UPSETTING THE GOVERNMENT?

[Cough]

Cox: I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

Uki: BOB WAS VERY AWARE OF HOW DANGEROUS HIS WORK WAS.

Cox: THE AVERAGE JOURNALIST HERE KNOWS THAT HE'S UNDER THREAT.

IT CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE HE WRITES SOMETHING.

BUT HE KNOWS HE CAN'T POSSIBLY AFFORD TO HAVE BODYGUARDS.

HE CAN'T POSSIBLY AFFORD TO ASSUME THAT HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER.

SO HE JUST ASSUMES HIS LIFE IS NOT IN DANGER.

AND HE TAKES THE ORDINARY PRECAUTIONS THAT ANYBODY COULD DO.

HE LOOKS TWICE OR THREE TIMES BEFORE HE GOES OUT IN THE MORNING.

[Laughs] HE DOES THINGS LIKE THAT.

Uki: HE WAS VERY INSISTENT ON SAYING:

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY AT RISK

BY SENDING THEM OUT TO DO A STORY THAT COULD

ENDANGER THEIR LIVES.

I... I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS.

I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION

THAT I LIVED THROUGH FOR THOSE PARTICULAR TIMES.

Andrew: THERE HAD BEEN TWO RAIDS ON THE HERALD.

I WAS ARRESTED AT 3'OCLOCK IN THE MORNING.

THE POLICEMAN WHO FINALLY TOOK ME IN TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS

SAID: "YOU'RE LUCKY MAN. YOU WERE DEAD".

[Telephone rings]

Pamela: HORRIBLE. IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING.

AND YEAH. THERE WAS A GENERAL FEAR AND MALAISE.

[Typewriter]

Estela: HE WAS ALWAYS CONSISTENT, ALWAYS VERY OPEN.

WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE DANGER HE WAS FACING.

BUT I THINK HE DID. STILL, HE NEVER BACKED DOWN.

[Wind]

[Waves crashing]

Cox: I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE.

NONE OF US DID.

BUT MAUD WAS MUCH MORE SENSIBLE ABOUT THINGS THAN I WAS.

WE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH TWO FAMILIES OF TWO YOUNG MEN

WHO WERE IN THE ESMA.

THAT'S THE TORTURE CENTER.

A HORRIBLE PLACE WHERE THEY PLAYED PSYCHOLOGICAL GAMES ON PEOPLE.

AND WHERE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN OFF

AFTER BEING GIVEN A SHOT OF PENTATHOL

AND THEN THEY WERE TAKEN UP IN AEROPLANES AND THROWN INTO THE SEA.

AND THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE HAD BEEN ALLOWED

TO CALL THEIR PARENTS FROM ESMA.

ON AUGUST 5, 1979, PABLO WAS AT HOME.

THEY WERE WAITING FOR HIM 2 OR 3 BLOCKS AWAY,

WHERE HIS TAXI WAS PARKED.

WE STOPPED HEARING FROM HIM.

A DAY WENT BY.

WE DECIDED TO GO TO HOSPITALS, TO POLICE STATIONS,

TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

NOBODY KNEW ANYTHING.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE CASES I NEVER WROTE A WORD ABOUT.

I NEVER PUT THIS INTO THE NEWSPAPER

BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO SEE

IF THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE LIVES.

SO, HE GRANTED US A MEETING.

WHEN WE GOT THERE

OF COURSE, ALL I DID BACK THEN, AND EVEN STILL TODAY,

WAS CRY.

WE MET COX AND HE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY.

I WANTED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHO PABLO REALLY WAS.

I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE MADNESS THAT WAS GOING ON.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH FAMILIES.

I WOULD SAY: "I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUBLISH SOMETHING."

YOU NEEDED TO DO IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I KNEW BY THEN THAT SOMETIMES IF A LONG TIME HAD GONE BY,

THERE WAS LESS CHANCE.

COX BROUGHT ME UP TO SPEED.

HE SAID: WE COULD PUBLISH THIS.

MY HUSBAND SAID NO, AND I SAID YES.

THEN, I SAID YES AND THEN, NO.

I BELIEVED I COULD PERSUADE

EITHER PRESIDENT VIDELA OR GENERAL HARDGUINDEGUY,

THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR,

TO BRING THEM TO TRIAL IF THEY WERE SUSPECTED OF SOMETHING.

AND THEY SENT ME A TELEGRAM SAYING:

"THEY'RE STILL WELL."

AND THEY HAD THIS TERRIBLE EXPRESSION.

THEY WERE TELLING THEIR PARENTS:

"NO MUEVAN PAPELES". ESSENTIALLY SAYING:

"DON'T DO ANYTHING, JUST KEEP QUIET."

"MAM, DON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU'LL GET ME IN TROUBLE.

I'LL COME HOME SOON".

IT WAS A LONG TIME BEFORE THE FAMILIES GAVE UP ALL HOPE.

BUT AS I RECALL, THEY RECEIVED NO MORE TELEPHONE CALLS

AFTER MARCH OF 1980.

THEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE MOTHERS

IN WHICH SHE ASKED ME TO CRY TO THE HEAVENS

BECAUSE SHE WAS NOW CERTAIN THAT HER SON HAD BEEN MURDERED.

[Music]

[Wind, waves crashing]

Cox: THE WAY I SAW IT WAS THAT OUR JOB WAS TO TRY AND SAVE LIVES.

THAT'S THE WAY I LOOKED AT IT.

I IMAGINE THAT IT'S NOT WITHIN THE ETHICS OF JOURNALISM.

BUT TO MY MIND IT IS.

[Music]

Consuelo: I SHOULD BEGIN BY EXPLAINING HOW I FIRST HEARD THE NAME BOB COX.

I WAS BEING HELD AT THE VILLA DEVOTO PRISON

DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP.

I HADN'T HAD A VISITOR IN OVER 3 MONTHS

BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN SOLITORY CONFINEMENT.

UNTIL ONE DAY

SOMEONE ORGANIZED FOR MY FATHER TO VISIT ME.

THE FIRST WORDS MY FATHER SAID

AMID THE EXCITEMENT AND TEARS, WERE:

IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT MAN.

AND HE REPEATED IT TWO OR THREE TIMES.

I THOUGHT: WHO ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Roberto: SOME NAVAL OFFICERS CAME TO SEE ME CARRYING A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING.

IT HAD BEEN PUBLISHED IN AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

THE BUENOS AIRES HERALD.

FROM THAT MOMENT ON, WHEN THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID:

LOOK WHAT YOUR MOTHER HAS PUBLISHED.

MY LIFE AND MY PARTNER'S LIVES WERE SAVED.

Consuelo: WHAT WAS THIS MAN DOING PRINTING OUR STORY ON THE FRONT PAGE?

WHY WAS HE DOING IT?

[Music]

MR COX, YOU'VE WORKED AS A JOURNALIST IN ARGENTINA FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY NOW?

I HAVEN'T DECIDED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY PERMANENTLY I HOPE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A SPATE OF THREATS RECENTLY

THAT HAS ZEROED IN ON THE FAMILY

CULMINATING IN A LETTER TO MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON.

MORE OR LESS TELLING US TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY OR

SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO THE FAMILY.

[Music]

Uki: I THINK BOB IN THIS CHILDISH WAY

WAS STILL FIGHTING THE NAZIS BACK IN LONDON AS A KID,

BUT AS A GROWNUP IN ARGENTINA.

BUT THE REALITY WAS A LITTLE BIT LOST TO HIM.

I THINK MAUD WAS SO MUCH MORE AWARE

OF HOW MUCH THE LIVES OF THE WHOLE FAMILY WERE AT RISK.

Maud: IT WAS THE LETTER WHAT TRIGGERED OUR DEPARTURE.

I SAID: "NO, WE HAVE TO GO, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN."

SO WE LEFT, WE LEFT FOUR DAYS LATER.

BOB WROTE IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT WE WERE LEAVING.

AND WE LEFT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, WE DIDN'T ESCAPE.

WELL, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RESPONSE

PEOPLE EVEN HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO MY CHILDREN REASSURING THEM, AND

AND SAYING THEY FEEL VERY SORRY FOR WHAT'S HAPPENED

AND THAT'S NOT ARGENTINA

I KNOW IT'S NOT ARGENTINA WE ALL LOVE ARGENTINA

THE FAMILY OF COURSE DIDN'T WANT TO GO

THE LITTLE BOY WHO GOT THE THREAT

IS THE MOST ARGENTINE OF MY CHILDREN

THEY WERE ALL BORN IN ARGENTINA

HE'S VERY MUCH A FOOTBALL FAN,

BUT THIS HAPPENED AND IT REALLY UPSET THEM

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE LIVED THROUGH

HE DOES WANT TO GO HOME

HE'S EVEN PREPARED TO LEAVE HIS LITTLE FRIENDS

Marta: WE FEARED FOR HIM.

"Robert Cox, the worthy journalist, the upstanding man"

Marta: WE WERE VERY UPSET TO HEAR THAT THEY THREATENED HIM.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAD TO SUPPORT HIS DECISION TO LEAVE

SO THAT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM OR HIS FAMILY.

Marta: HE WAS SO COMPASSIONATE, SO HELPFUL.

A TRUE COMRADE.

"The Trial of the Century"

[Cameras flashing]

Court clerk: PLEASE STAND, GENTLEMEN.

Judge: PLEASE BE SEATED.

Prosecutor Strassera: YOU HONORS...

WITH THIS TRIAL AND THE SENTENCES I PROPOSE

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTABLISH A SENSE OF PEACE.

A PEACE BASED ON REMEMBRANCE.

NOT ON VIOLENCE BUT ON JUSTICE.

THIS IS PERHAPS OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY.

FOR THESE SAME REASONS,

I ACCUSE THE DEFENDANTS OF THE CRIMES FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED

AND I REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:

JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA.

LIFE IMPRISONMENT PLUS THE ATTACHMENT OF SECTION 52 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE.

EMILIO EDUARDO MASSERA.

LIFE IMPRISONMENT PLUS THE ATTACHMENT OF SECTION 52 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE.

ORLANDO RAMÓN AGOSTI.

LIFE IMPRISONMENT PLUS THE ATTACHMENT OF SECTION 52 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE.

YOU HONORS,

I WISH TO RELINQUISH ANY PRETENSIONS OF ORIGINALITY AS I END THIS INDICTMENT.

I WISH TO USE A PHRASE THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME.

IT IS A PHRASE THAT INSTEAD BELONGS TO THE ARGENTINE PEOPLE.

YOUR HONORS: NEVER AGAIN!

Judge: SILENCE IN THE COURTROOM!

[Applause from the public]

[Louder applause as Cox opens the door]

Judge: PLEASE, SILENCE IN THE COURTROOM!

Court clerk: PLEASE STAND, GENTLEMEN.

Judge: SILENCE IN THE COURTROOM!

Marta: IT'S NOT EASY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.

THE MEMORIES COME RUSHING BACK.

ESPECIALLY OF THE FIRST YEARS OF OUR STRUGGLE ALONGSIDE YOYI.

[Music] ESPECIALLY OF THE FIRST YEARS OF OUR STRUGGLE ALONGSIDE YOYI.

ESPECIALLY OF THE FIRST YEARS OF OUR STRUGGLE ALONGSIDE YOYI.

WE ADMIRED HER FOR HER DETERMINATION, FOR HER WILL TO KEEP LIVING.

SHE REPRESENTED US ABROAD, ESPECIALLY IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.

THOSE OF US WHO WERE CLOSEST TO HER MISS HER PROFOUNDLY.

AND IT STILL PAINS US TO THINK OF EVERYTHING SHE WENT THROUGH.

IT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE

HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE?

THAT THEY HAD TAKEN AWAY ALL 3 OF HER CHILDREN?

AS MOTHERS, WE FEEL VERY CLOSE TO THEM.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE APPROACHING THE END

BUT WE WANT EVERYONE

TO RECOGNIZE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CHILDREN?

WHERE ARE THEY?

WE WANT THEIR MEMORY

TO LIVE ON FOREVER.

FOR THE 30 THOUSAND DISAPPEARED ONES.

FOR YOYI, FOR LILA AND HER BROTHERS.

EVER ONWARD TO VICTORY!

[Music]

[Ovation from the crowd]

Consuelo: FINDING BOB WAS LIKE FINDING MY FATHER AGAIN.

MY FATHER HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY.

I FEEL HUGE ADMIRATION FOR HIM.

BOB IS A VERY SIMPLE MAN, A VERY HUMBLE MAN.

Nora: IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS.

Cox: EXACTLY. BUT YOU'RE ALL BETTER THAN EVER.

[Nora laughs]

Cox: IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU.

Roberto: IN TIME, I GOT UP THE COURAGE.

I CALLED THE HERALD'S NEWSROOM.

THEY GAVE ME HIS DETAILS.

Roberto: HE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY

TO THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE HAD DONE

FOR US AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

HE HAS THE AGE AND EXPERIENCE TO BE EXTREMELY HUMBLE.

Consuelo: HE TREATS YOU AS IF YOU WERE PART OF HIS FAMILY.

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.

Consuelo: TO THIS DAY, HE TELLS ME: I DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE.

UNDER BOB'S LEADERSHIP,

THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.

THEY SIMPLY DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE.

I AM VERY FOND OF THEM, OF BOB ESPECIALLY.

AND I KNOW THAT SOMEHOW,

I OWE HIM MY LIFE.

COX SAVED MY LIFE AND MY DAUGHTERS' LIVES.

[Music]