Pistorasistas

The Pistoriasistas are a term used to describe a group of Argentine military officers and military organizations that were responsible for carrying out the 1976 coup d'état and subsequent military dictatorship in Argentina.

During the 1970s, Argentina was plagued by terrorism, inflation, and social unrest. In 1976, a group of military leaders, led by General Jorge Videla, took power and established a new regime. The Pistoriasistas were key players in this coup, and many of its members held senior positions in the Argentine military.

The Pistoriasistas were characterized by their brutality and disregard for human rights. Under their rule, thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured, and killed. The victims were often left in abandoned cars, known as " vehicles of death," with a sign reading "Son" (son) or "Hija" (daughter) to express the brutality of the regime. These car-bodies were displayed in public spaces as a deterrent to dissidents.

The Pistoriasistas dominated Argentine politics and society for nearly a decade, carrying out a systematic campaign of terror against the civilian population. They established detention centers and secret torture facilities, such as the notorious ESMA Navy Mechanics School, where prisoners were subjected to the most inhumane treatment and often disappeared.

Their time in power was marked by gross human rights violations, including massacres, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions. Despite the country's transition to democracy in 1983, the Pistoriasistas continued to hold significant power and influence within the Argentine military and politics. Today, many of its former leaders have been brought to justice for their crimes against humanity.