A Step Toward Justice

Stiff of bearing and devoutly Roman Catholic, Lieut. General Jorge Rafael Videla was a reassuring figure to many Argentines in March 1976, when he emerged as President of a military government intent on ending years of economic chaos and political violence. Then Videla led Argentina's armed forces into a four-year "dirty war" against terrorism, during which more than 8,000 people disappeared and hundreds of others were murdered and tortured. Last week the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces formally indicted and jailed Videla, 59, for his part in a program "based on methods and procedures that are manifestly illegal." The military decision was a relief to civilian President Raul Alfonsin. Months of foot dragging by the Supreme Council had cast doubt on Alfonsin's ability to fulfill his longstanding promise to bring the junta members who governed during the dirty war to justice. Four former junta members have already been charged with other offenses, ranging from alleged involvement in a murder case to responsibility for the disastrous Falklands war.