| Jorge Rafael Videla | |
|---|---|
| Rafael Videla in the film El Almuerzo (2015) | |
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Name: |
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo |
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Born: |
August 2, 1925 |
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Died: |
May 17, 2013 (aged 69) |
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Occupation: |
Dictator of Argentina |
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Notable For: |
Killing Commies and watching soccer |
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Allies: |
Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Augusto Pinochet, Francisco Franco, Ion Antonescu |
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Enemies: |
Joseph Stalin, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Fidel Castro, Juan Perón, Salvador Allende, Winston Churchill |
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Nicknames |
Videla |
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Relatives |
Alicia Hartridge (wife) |
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo (2 August 1925 – 17 May 2013) was the General Commander of the Army, member of military junta and dictator of Argentina for five years.
Biography[]
He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón. In 1985, two years after the return of a representative democratic government, he was prosecuted in the Trial of the Juntas for large-scale human rights abuses and crimes against humanity that took place under his rule, including kidnappings or forced disappearance, widespread torture and extrajudicial murder of activists and political opponents as well as their families at secret concentration camps. An estimated 13,000 to 30,000 political dissidents vanished during this period. Videla was also convicted of the theft of many babies born during the captivity of their mothers at the illegal detention centers and passing them on for illegal adoption by associates of the regime. In his defense, Videla maintained the female guerrilla detainees allowed themselves to fall pregnant in the belief they wouldn't be tortured or executed. On 5 July 2010, Videla took full responsibility for his army's actions during his rule. "I accept the responsibility as the highest military authority during the internal war. My subordinates followed my orders," he told an Argentine court. Videla also sheltered many Nazi fugitives as did Juan Perón before him, as Alfredo Stroessner did in Paraguay and as Hugo Banzer did in Bolivia. He was under house arrest until 10 October 2008, when he was sent to a military prison.
Following a new trial, on 22 December 2010, Videla was sentenced to life in a civilian prison for the deaths of 31 prisoners following his coup. On 5 July 2012, Videla was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the systematic kidnapping of children during his tenure. The following year, Videla died in the Marcos Paz civilian prison five days after suffering a fall in a shower.
In the Parody Universe[]
He appears in the Adrián Román Puerto Rico parodies. He is portrayed as a moronic leader like Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Hideki Tojo, and Augusto Pinochet.
Videla is played by Argentinean actor Alejandro Awada.
Gallery[]
