European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Showdowns in South America Sappho it Argentine add Etling a crowd which gathered at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos. Al ret in support of democracy after a Brief military Mutiny left a rebel army colonel came to an end. By Bruce handler associated press new civilian governments have faced Down mutinous soldiers in a series of recent confrontations across South America a continent where just a few years ago military men ruled supreme. In the latest episode which began april 15, Argentina s president Raul Alfonsin quieted an uprising by disgruntled army units. The time for coups is Over forever Alfonsin declared. In Argentina As in earlier cases the civilian politicians appear to have made concessions to the military in order to quell the unrest. But the Overall message backed by hundreds of thousands of cheering citizens who jammed Buenos Aires streets remained Clear Argentina and the rest of South America refuse to return to military domination. A decade ago eight of the 12 Independent nations on this politically volatile continent were under the military Boot. Today As a result of inept performances by Soldier politicians Public outcries against secret arrests torture and disappearances and International pressure Only three nations Chile Paraguay and Suriname remain without civilian administrations. Still South America s armed forces Are never far from the political stage. After centuries at the Center of Power Many latin american military men still Reserve to themselves a right to intervene again a threat that May diminish Only with time and experience in civilian Rule. Delirious crowds shouting Viva for democracy or Laws prohibiting coups Are not enough commented the widely read Rio de Janeiro newspaper journal do Brasil the countries of this continent still Lack institutional Here is a look at the military civilian clashes that have rattled South America in recent months Argentina the president s troubles began recently when an army major refused to answer a court summons in a human rights Case stemming from Argentina s 1976-83 period of military Rule when thousands were killed in the military s dirty War against suspected leftists. Responding to the crisis Alfonsin persuaded hundreds of thousands of argentines to gather in City plazas to proclaim their opposition to a new military takeover. Addressing a Multi party Assembly in the Argentine Congress he declared armed forces officers have Only one obligation to obey orders from the the major s rebellion and two others that followed ended last week. In the process however Alfonsin replaced the army chief of staff who had backed the courts against military officers in human rights cases. Authorities reportedly Are considering other Steps to ease the prosecution of soldiers. Ecuador in january angry paratroopers kidnapped president Leon Febres Cordero a civilian elected in 1984, and held him for 11 hours until he ordered the release of former air Force commander Gen. Frank Vargas Azzos imprisoned for attempting an earlier military revolt. Febres Cordero and Vargas Azzos made a typically latin Deal the general would be free to organize a Campaign to run for president in elections set for Early next year and there would be no More coup attempts. Febres Cordero who expressed Public sympathy for Alfonsin during the Argentine rebellion said military dissidents in both countries Are following personal ambition and do not represent the will of the armed forces much less the will of their Peru Peru s elected president Alan Garcia also openly backed Alfonsin having faced similar problems just two weeks earlier when air Force jets buzzed his Lima presidential Palace because he fired air Force commander Gen. Luis Abram. Abram had opposed a Law championed by Garcia merging the three armed service branches under a civilian defense minister and ending the secrecy of the military budget making process. Polls showed that 63 percent of peruvians supported the defense Law. Garcia highly popular because of his economic policies held his ground and Abram remained dismissed. But the president who took office in 1985, made a still undisclosed agreement with the air Force leadership regarding Abram s firing. Brazil rumours of a military coup circulated this month in Brazil where the soldiers ruled for 21 years before turning Power Over to civilians in 1985. But the army and Navy ministries said the rumours were baseless. President Jose Sarney telephoned Alfonsin with words of Hope that he would overcome the Argentine revolt. Sarney has carefully nurtured Good relations with his own armed forces allowing the military to put Down recent strikes and rigidly enforcing a 1979 amnesty that rules out trials of military men for human rights abuses during the previous regime. Gen. Ernesto Geisel a former military president said Sarney had no other Choice but to support Alfonsin. Solidarity with the constitutional government in Buenos Aires was the Only path Geisel said to the Surprise of some brazilians. Uruguay military grumbling grew louder last year in Uruguay because of the attempted prosecution of officers accused of torture and disappearances under military governments that ruled from 1973 to 1985. Finally in december civilian president Julio Sanguinetti pushed through an amnesty barring such trials. It saves our democratic institutions said one legislator. Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday april 26,1987
