At dusk on the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice, which this Thursday commemorated the 40th anniversary of the return to democracy after more than seven years suffered by the worst military dictatorship our country has known in its history, the hill was illuminated by the Gianícolo the Faro degli Argentini, which illuminated the center of Rome in memory of that tragedy which left thousands dead, disappeared, tortured and imprisoned.
The light emitted by the lighthouse combines the green, white and red of the Italian flag and had to stay on all night.
Built in 1911 thanks to donations from Italian residents in Argentina, the only lighthouse in Rome, “with no ships in sight or sea breeze”, brings together those who do not want to forget what the country has suffered and its many victims.
The Argentine ambassador Roberto Carlés presided over the greeting and in his speech stated that “the return to democracy presents us with strong challenges to the social consensus created since 1983”.
He underlined that at the moment “incitements to hatred are circulating strongly which, as we saw in the attempt on the life of the vice president, translate into actions, undermining the most basic principles of post-dictatorship consensus, basically the never again to violence”.
“This new anniversary is an opportunity for all of us to renew our commitment to the democratic pact, but also to reflect on the reasons that have led to the uneasiness that many Argentines feel in the face of expectations that they have not been able to face in recent years and which imply a strong challenge for political representation”, added the ambassador to Italy.
The Argentine diplomat concluded by stating that “listen to the demands and perceive more carefully the insecurities of our people is perhaps the best way to prevent the advance of extreme and illiberal positions such as those that currently threaten democracies in various parts of the world”.
Memories of Dagmar Haguelin
The Swedish ambassador in Rome sent a message of solidarity to the commemoration in memory of his compatriot, the young Dagmar Haguelin, who was shot on the head in one of the bloodiest clandestine detention centers for missing persons, the Naval Mechanics School (ESMA), of Buenos Aires.
Enrico Calamai, decorated after the recovery of democracy by the Argentine government, also attended the commemoration at the foot of the centenary Faro de los Argentinos, as it is known in Rome.
Calamai was Italian vice-consul in Buenos Aires and thanks to his diplomatic action he allowed many persecuted people fleeing the dictatorship to take refuge in Italy.
Representatives of Amnesty International and the Municipality of Rome also spoke, which officially commemorates the mournful anniversary of March 24, 1976 and organizes the commemoration together with Italian solidarity groups.
This Thursday at Casa Argentina in via Veneto and on Friday in a cinema in the center of Rome they screened the Spanish version of “Argentina 1985”, the Oscar-nominated film which recounts the trial of the Military Juntas in 1985.
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Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.