Argentina is marking the 30th anniversary of the start of the country’s lastmilitary dictatorship. In one of many ceremonies, President Nestor Kirchner reinstated to the military an officer who denounced the junta and confirmed reports of torture, kidnappings and assassinations.

“We always wanted to have armed forces integrated with democracy,” said the president. “Working in tandem with human rights, plurality, consensus and diversity.” The Argentinean government has also just announced it is opening up the archives of the armed forces, to help investigators looking into allegations of crimes dating back to that period. The mothers of people who disappeared during the regime have also taken part in anniversary events. The grieving families say they were long ignored by Argentine governments, but are now being recognised under President Kirchner’s leftist administration. It was also the president who took the unprecedented step of designating today as a national holiday.

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