Jorge Videla, the former leader of the military junta that ruled Argentina from 1976-1983, will remain behind bars, after a tribunal rejected a request for bail ahead of an upcoming trial on crimes committed during the dictatorship.
Videla’s defence team had made the request on the grounds of the former military leader’s old age. However the National Judicial Chamber opposed the motiuon by a count of two to one, and Videla must remain in custody in Campo de Mayo.
Videla was the first leader of the military junta which seized power in 1976. Under his rule the junta instigated the National Reorganisation Process, which imprisoned, tortured and murdered thousands of political and intellectual critics of the regime. It is estimated now that up to 30,000 people were detained under the process, with many never heard from again.
After the return of civilian rule in 1983 Videla was arrested and in 1985 sentenced to life imprisonment, on charges of kidnapping, homicide and torture. However in 1990 he was pardoned by President Carlos Menem, sparking massive protest in and outside of Argentina.
Videla then returned to prison in 1998 when he was found guilty of kidnapping babies under military rule. Then in 2006 under the presidency of Nestor Kirchner his pardon was ruled unconstitutional by Judge Oyarbide, meaning that he could once again be put on trial for human rights abuses.
After spending 38 days in prison in 1998, he remained under house arrest until 2008, where he was transferred to a military prison in Campo de Mayo. Videla is now being detained until formal charges for the crimes of the military junta are presented before the courts.