The last leader of Argentina’s Junta gets 25 years

The Times reports today that Reynaldo Bignone, Argentina’s last dictator, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses, including kidnappings, torture and murder committed during the country’s “Dirty War”

Bignone, 82, served as Argentina's de facto president between 1982 and 1983. He was convicted with five other former military officers for ordering the torture of dissidents at the Campo de Mayo army base, a clandestine interrogation camp, in the late 1970s. Of the 4,000 political prisoners incarcerated at the prison, only 50 emerged alive.The military also ran a secret maternity unit where dissidents who gave birth had their babies taken away to be adopted by army families

Relatives of victims of the military regime held up photos of their loved ones and cheered as the judge handed down the ruling. “Like with the Nazis, wherever they run, wherever they go, we will find them,” some chanted.

General Bignone, who is currently under house arrest, has been ordered to serve out his sentence in a civilian prison but is likely to appeal on grounds of ill health.

Better justice comes late than never at all. Luckily for him he will not face that which many thousands faced at his hands