Argentine Junta during Falklands War - Galtieri, Leopoldo Fortunato (Gen.)

Galtieri, Leopoldo Fortunato (Gen.)

A graduate of the School of the Americas, 1949.

Commander of the 2nd army corps when the first junta took power in 1976. The third president of the de-facto government between Dec 1981 and June 1982.

While president, during the worst economic depression in Argentina since the 30's, Galtieri turned to the traditional remedy of unsuccessful tyrants and attempted to divert public attention by ordering the occupation of the Falkland (Malvinas) and South Georgia Islands.

The small group of islands in the south atlantic which Britain has ruled since 1833 and which have long been claimed by Argentina, were invaded on April 2nd 1982 by the Argentine army. As it turned out, Galtieri and his advisors fatally misjudged Great Britain's willingness to defend its territory and citizens. The sudden occupation has led to a brief war and a quick defeat of the Argentine forces.

 On June 14th 1982 the Argentine forces in the Falkland islands, led by Gen. Mario Menendez, surrendered unconditionally to the British and the British rule of the islands was restored. The loss of the Falklands war has led to the resignation of Galtieri from presidency on June 17th, 1982. A third (and last) junta was placed in power under a new president, Reynaldo Bignone. Ironically, the occupation of the Falklands, has accelerated the end of the junta rule.

Galtieri was acquitted in the junta trials on charges of committing crimes against the Argentine people, but convicted later, in 1986, on charges of incompetency while leading the army in the Falklands War. He was set free after serving only a small portion of his sentence as a result of military pressure.

"A young woman testified that after she had been held blindfolded and tortured for months she and others in her group were allowed to clean themselves, in preparation for a visit to the detention center by General Galtieri, who was then army commander of the local district. Galtieri asked if she knew who he was, and if she understood his absolute power over her. ``if I say you live, you live, '' he said, ``and if I say you die, you die. As it happens, you have the same Christian name as my daughter, and so you live.''