class trip to ESMA

In my Latin American culture class, we traveled to ESMA, Escuela de Mecanica de la Armada, which was the largest illegal detention center of its kind during the Dirty War (1976-1979). About 5,000 people were taken and tortured and murdered (or "disappeared"). There were only 200 survivors. Many were killed in "death flights" in which the victims were sedated and then thrown into the Rio de la Plata from airplanes. Most detainees were held in the concentration camp for about 15 days. They were forced to stay in a small blocked off wooden space separate from other detainees. They were given just enough space to lay down but no room to move. They were allowed to use the bathroom once a day if the officer wanted to escort them. There last days were spent being tortured in the basement and then they were "transferred," which really meant they were going to be killed. All of this went on in the Officers' Mess. The attic was where most were kept and the basement was the main place of torture. Meanwihle, officers slept and lived with their families on the first and second floors. The ground floor was where they ate and had their conferences and meetings. It was shocking that these officers stayed in the same building in which these poor people were being tortured. 

Here are some pictures. We were only allowed to take photos outside of the buildings because some of the officers are still being charged and going to trial.

This is the entrance in which all detainees entered, hooded and shackled. ESMA was built right in the city and in plain view. Although some things were kept private, the public aspect of this camp was to create fear.

Pathway leading to the Officers' Mess

The Officers' Mess