12 Argentines Arrested Over Blasts, ‘Campaign of Violence’

President Raul Alfonsin today ordered the arrest of six army officers and six civilians in connection with an alleged “campaign of violence against democratic institutions,” including a string of recent bombings.

Another bombing occurred today, hours after the early morning arrest order was issued. The blast in a guard cabin outside the offices of the army chief of staff caused damages but no injuries, police said.

Alfonsin invoked special executive powers in decreeing the arrests.

By mid-morning, 11 of the 12 suspects were under arrest, authorities said. Only ex-army Gen. Guillermo Suarez Mason, a longtime fugitive sought on human rights and fraud charges, remained at large.

Those under arrest included two active army officers, Col. Pascual Guerrieri and Capt. Leopoldo Cao. The other three officers, all retired, are Maj. Jorge Granada, Col. Alejandro Arias Duval and Capt. Osvaldo Antinori.

All 12 suspects are known rightists with links to the former military regime, which ruled Argentina from 1976 until the installation of the Alfonsin government in December, 1983.

Alfonsin’s decree referred to the suspects as “minority sectors, violent leftovers of past epochs that do not hesitate in renewing illegal methods ranging from intimidation to direct acts to create a climate of terror and insecurity in the population and a loss of confidence in the government.”