Spring Break
Symposium brings violence against women to the forefront
Meredith Shamburger, News Editor, mshamburge@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News
Careaga, speaking through a translator, said the babies were taken as "war booty." About 95 of these babies have been recovered and identified due to the efforts of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Maya.
The military coup that occurred in Argentina on March 24, 1976 was one of the "most cruel and unprecedented," according to Careaga, who noted that it was not the only coup in the area. She explained that Operation Condor, a campaign of political repressions, occurred throughout South America and was supported by the United States.
In Argentina, there were 502 clandestine detention centers, 46 in the capital of Buenos Aires. Though the number was great, Careaga said the methodologies used were the same.
About 500 people were taken to the Naval Mechanic School (ESMA) during this time. Careaga herself was taken to another detention center, Club Atletico, which was located in the basement of the supplies building on the federal police.
She was 16 and three months pregnant when she was taken in 1977.
"I was tortured there for four months," she said. Careaga explained that while she was detained, she lost her identity and became "K04."
"In those places, being a women meant more cruel punishment and torture," she said.
Careaga said her family had been persecuted; her parents were refugees from Paraguay. When she and her brother-in-law were kidnapped, her family began to meet and walk in the Plaza de Maya because they could not find any information about what happened. People still walk in the Plaza today.
Careaga was eventually released and fled to Brazil. She then moved to Sweden as a refugee. After she was released, Careaga had her daughter. Three days later, when she called her family to let them know, Careaga found out that her mother had been kidnapped.
In what is now known as the "Abduction of the Santa Cruz Church," Careaga's mother and several others were taken when a naval officer infiltrated the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Maya.
The military coup that occurred in Argentina on March 24, 1976 was one of the "most cruel and unprecedented," according to Careaga, who noted that it was not the only coup in the area. She explained that Operation Condor, a campaign of political repressions, occurred throughout South America and was supported by the United States.
In Argentina, there were 502 clandestine detention centers, 46 in the capital of Buenos Aires. Though the number was great, Careaga said the methodologies used were the same.
About 500 people were taken to the Naval Mechanic School (ESMA) during this time. Careaga herself was taken to another detention center, Club Atletico, which was located in the basement of the supplies building on the federal police.
She was 16 and three months pregnant when she was taken in 1977.
"I was tortured there for four months," she said. Careaga explained that while she was detained, she lost her identity and became "K04."
"In those places, being a women meant more cruel punishment and torture," she said.
Careaga said her family had been persecuted; her parents were refugees from Paraguay. When she and her brother-in-law were kidnapped, her family began to meet and walk in the Plaza de Maya because they could not find any information about what happened. People still walk in the Plaza today.
Careaga was eventually released and fled to Brazil. She then moved to Sweden as a refugee. After she was released, Careaga had her daughter. Three days later, when she called her family to let them know, Careaga found out that her mother had been kidnapped.
In what is now known as the "Abduction of the Santa Cruz Church," Careaga's mother and several others were taken when a naval officer infiltrated the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Maya.
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