A judge in Rome has ordered the trial of Lt. Col. Carlos Luis Marat, a former Argentine army officer charged with murder and forced disappearances during Argentina’s 1976-83 military dictatorship.
The charges specifically include the premeditated murder of eight people.
Marat was accused of crimes against humanity in Argentina and fled the country in 2011, living in a tourist village on the island of Sicily.
Despite allegations that he took an active part in detention procedures and torture interrogations during the dictatorship, his trial in Argentina did not begin because the country does not allow defendants to be tried in absentia.
In 2014, Rome rejected Argentina’s extradition request due to insufficient evidence. But in 2015, Italy launched an investigation into Marat for the murders of eight people, including celebrities such as Marie-Anne Elysée and Juan Carlos Campora.
The revelation that Marat was living peacefully in Italy sparked controversy in Argentina.
Marat’s trial is scheduled to begin on April 22nd and could include life in prison if convicted.
Notably, Italy has a history of handling cases related to South American dictatorships, such as the 2019 sentencing of 24 people for their involvement in Operation Condor.
Argentina’s human rights courts have so far convicted 1,204 people, after new liberal president Javier Millay expressed views that questioned the established narrative of military excesses in the 1970s. There are concerns.
The impact of Millais’ comments on the continuation of these trials remains unclear, with some fearing retaliation from authorities.
Despite the challenges, families of the victims, represented by NGOs like 24 Marzo, continue to seek truth, memory and justice. Viviana Arias, daughter of the disappeared, underlines the new president’s obligation to ensure the continuation of the fight for justice even in the face of changing public opinion regarding the historical events of the military dictatorship.