Officials and political leaders of the ruling party paid tribute this Saturday to the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo on the occasion of 45 years of uninterrupted struggle in search of their disappeared sons and daughters during the last civic-military dictatorship and highlighted -with publications on their social networks- their “peaceful and unwavering” attitude to achieve memory, truth and justice.
In a post on his Twitter account, President Alberto Fernández expressed his “most sincere appreciation” and his “eternal gratitude” to the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, about whom he stressed that “they looked terror in the eye”, and published a video with archive images.
the vice president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner also joined in the greetings: “Today marks the 45th anniversary of the first round of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Women who faced, in the most absolute solitude, the terror of the dictatorship. An example of unparalleled bravery and courage,” the former president wrote in her account from Twitter.
45 years ago a group of women met in #May Plaza hoping to find out where their children and grandchildren were and with the courage to face the most atrocious dictatorship.
In this video I approach each of them with my most sincere appreciation and my eternal gratitude. #Memorypic.twitter.com/QJngvpPsP2
– Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) April 30, 2022
From the official account of the Casa Rosada an animated video was published, with the slogan “Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, 45 years leading the way” and the label #Mothers45Yearsin which the slow march of two mothers is first seen -one emulates Taty Almeida and the other Hebe de Bonafini- with music that repeats: “They will never silence their voices again”, and to which other Mothers join on the sides , with the Casa Rosada in the background.
As the animation progresses, Malvinas soldiers appear and different audios are heard with milestones in Argentine history such as the trial of the military boards, the demand for trial and punishment, the repression of the Mothers in 2001 under the government of Fernando de la Rúa, and the video ends with handkerchiefs held high and the emblematic song: “Mothers of the Plaza, the people embrace you”.
Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, 45 years leading the way. #Mothers45Yearspic.twitter.com/bpJBEfpKZx
– Pink House (@CasaRosada) April 30, 2022
The video was replicated on their social network accounts by several officials and leaders of the Frente de Todos.
“Today we remember the first round of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. An example of struggle and resistance that still guides us in building a better country. We will continue to accompany them hand in hand, as they did during the darkest stage of our history. “, published the chief of staff, John Manzur.
“45 years ago, the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo marched for the first time. Their example of courage, struggle and integrity represents us with pride throughout the world. Today and always, the people embrace them with love and vindicate the claim for Memory, Truth and Justice”, added, for his part, Foreign Minister santiago cafiero.
The Minister of Justice, Martin Soriahighlighted: “On April 30, 1977, a group of women gathered in Plaza de Mayo to complain about the disappearance of their sons and daughters. Since then, their unwavering search for Memory, Truth and Justice has made them a beacon for the development of our democracy.
Secretary for Human Rights, Horacio Pietragalla Corti, also paid tribute to “these women who would become an example of struggle, resistance and collective claim for the search for truth and justice” and published a four-minute video, which begins with the voiceover of Nora Cortiñas, Mother of the Founding Line ; and then other voices such as those of Hebe de Bonafini are intertwined, who narrate the history of the group from its beginnings.
45 years after the first round of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in claim for the kidnapping and disappearance of their children, we pay tribute to these women who would become an example of struggle, resistance and collective claim for the search for truth and justice. pic.twitter.com/GqnxxMCkkA
– Horacio Pietragalla Corti (@pietragallahora) April 30, 2022
In the video, images that go from black and white to color follow one another, and that round recorded in 1978 by the Dutch journalist Jan van der Putten, author of the emblematic interview with the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, on the same day of the start of the World Cup that year. There are also acknowledgments to the Mothers by Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández when they held the Presidency, as well as by Alberto Fernández today.
Home Secretary, and recovered grandson, Eduardo “Wado” de Pedrowrote: “45 years ago, united by the anguish of not knowing where their sons and daughters were, a group of mothers defied the terror of the dictatorship by marching in circles. With their love they marked the path towards Truth and Justice that today We continue to travel with Memory. #Madres45años”.
Meanwhile, the Buenos Aires governor, Axel Kicilloalso joined the commemoration by noting that “45 years of example of struggle, heart and conviction that continue to be a guide. Mothers of the Plaza, the people embrace them! Always” and published a photo hugging Hebe de Bonafini.
The Minister of Public Works, Gabriel Katopodisexpressed that the Mothers are “women full of courage and with an unbreakable force to keep Memory, Truth and Justice alive. The People embrace them and always accompany them,” he added.
#45YearsOfMothers45 years of example of struggle, heart and conviction that continue to be a guide.
Mothers of the Plaza, the people embrace you! Forever. pic.twitter.com/ygg53V9uJW
— Axel Kicillof (@Kicillofok) April 30, 2022
In the same way, its pair of Territorial Development and Habitat, Jorge Ferraresirecalled that 45 years ago the native of Avellaneda “Azucena Villaflor proposed to go to Plaza de Mayo. She organized with a group of women to do it on April 30, 1977. The police demanded that they circulate. Then they began to walk around the pyramid Thus a universal symbol of struggle was born. #MemoriaVerdadyJusticia”.
The Minister of Women, Gender and Diversity, Elizabeth Gomez Alcortahighlighted that “45 years have passed since the first march of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo to demand the appearance of their children alive. Since that day they teach us not to lower our arms and continue fighting for Memory, Truth and Justice in every space we occupy”.
Your colleague from Science and Technology, Daniel Filmusremarked that the Mothers “are an example of a peaceful and unwavering struggle in the search for Truth, Memory and Justice”, while his peer from Social Development, John Zabaletahe added: “They continue to be an example of struggle and search for Truth, Memory and Justice. The people embrace them, yesterday, today and always.”