Raúl Alfonsín is a symbol. Not only an Argentinean symbol; he is a Latin American symbol. And he is a universal symbol, of democracy and the Rule of Law, standing in stark contrast to the indignity of those soldiers who committed ruthless murders, believing that they would only be held responsible when standing before God.

(From Madrid) UPON LEARNING OF RAÚL ALFONSÍN’S DEATH, this columnist remembered when he met the former Argentinean president. It was in the lobby of the hotel in which he was staying in Madrid, at Plaza de España. Yours truly gave him a book that I had written on political communication, and the former president appeared to be very interested in the subject. He told me that he too wanted to write a book on political communication, and that the book that I had given him was a very opportune gift.

“When Raúl Alfonsín moved into the Casa Rosada, Argentina was a country ravaged by the immorality of a military dictatorship that murdered ruthlessly”

He was an eloquent speaker who knew how to listen, and that afternoon -without knowing the author of the book at all- he showed interest in learning about political communication, with a humility that moved yours truly.

Raúl Alfonsín is a symbol. And not only an Argentinean symbol: a Latin American symbol, and a universal symbol. The reader might be wondering: a symbol of what? A symbol of recovered dignity. A symbol of democracy. A symbol of the Rule of Law, standing in stark contrast to the indignity of those soldiers who believed that they owned their compatriots’ lives and their children’s lives, who murdered and stole, believing that they would only be held responsible when standing before God and history.

IN CONTRAST TO THE IMMORALITY OF THE DICTATORSHIP

When Raúl Alfonsín moved into the Casa Rosada, Argentina was a country ravaged by the immorality of a military dictatorship that murdered ruthlessly, kidnapped the children of those murdered so as to be able to place them in other families, and counted on the complicity of the Catholic Church in order to carry out its misdeeds at the expense of the citizens.

“It’s not important now if he failed in economic terms, and it’s also historically irrelevant if he had to step down early. These are history’s footnotes. What is important is the other thing: the recovered dignity, and the justice”

When they suspected that their power was slipping away, the soldiers wasted no time in declaring war on Great Britain over a few isolated hectares of land, which they were unable to gain control of. In fact, the ineptitude and mediocrity of those in uniform only led to a crushing and humiliating defeat, causing the blood of many young Argentineans to be spilled.

THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS WORD

Raúl Alfonsín became president of the Republic on December 10, 1983, strongly intent on investigating into who had planned and given the orders during the dictatorship, and who had committed those crimes against humanity. President Alfonsín kept his word. His hand did not tremble when he confronted the soldiers, who were brought to justice. Indeed, the prominent role that the prosecutor Strassera played in Videla’s trial is still in our memory.

It is not important now if he failed in economic terms, and it is also historically irrelevant if he had to step down early. These are history’s footnotes, which will not be remembered by future generations. What is important is the other thing: the recovered dignity and the justice in the face of those who hoped that their crimes against the State would go unpunished.

“Argentina began to feel respected by the world once more”

If they wanted to go down in history as the Republic’s saviors, they barely made it into the books: as murderers and accomplices of murderers, as human rights violators, and as mere supporting characters in a story in which Raúl Alfonsín shines brightly.

THE NEVER AGAIN REPORT

During his time in office, the Ernesto Sabato coordnated “Never Again” report was written. Furthermore, Argentina began to feel respected by the world once more, because it taught the world a moral, legal and political lesson with its Buenos Aires equivalent of the Nuremberg Trials, which brought to justice those responsible for the infamous acts.

On the other side of the estuary (in Uruguay), Sanguinetti tried out another formula worthy of respect, which worked at the time, but is now being questioned: general amnesty, which appeased the military and saved Bordaberry. East of the Río de la Plata, the people now want to bring Bordaberry and those responsible for the crimes to court.

ALFONSÍN DESERVES A MONUMENT IN BUENOS AIRES

In our hearts, there is already a monument to Alfonsín, and rightfully so. And he will have, without a doubt, his own monument in Buenos Aires, which will remind future generations that dignity and courage are priceless, and that they can make no pact with immorality and murderers, even if they are in uniform and do not hide their disdain for the citizens that judge them.

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay will have to recognize that he was the founder of MERCOSUR, along with his friend José Sarney, the former Brazilian president, who recently gave a moving and heartfelt elogy to Alfonsín. He also deserves a monument in Asunción, Montevideo and Brasilia, and he will surely have them.

“As we pay our last respects, let’s thank the great politician from Chascomús for the services that he lent to the cause of democracy, to the cause of human dignity, and to the cause of courage in the face of stupidity and immorality”

As we pay our last respects, let’s thank the great politician from Chascomús for the services that he lent to the cause of democracy, to the cause of human dignity, and to the cause of courage in the face of stupidity and immorality.

In a demoralized Argentina, where an honest politician appears to be a rare find, Rául Alfonsín lived and died in his home on Santa Fe street which, according to what I’ve been told, is only fifty square meters. That poverty is, paradoxically, his wealth. That is his legacy. He is going down in history as one of the greats.

As we pay our final respects, when death erases differences – although it establishes others – and allows us to use the informal “tú” form, we say to you, emotionally, that which the Romans would say while burying the remains of a friend: Raúl Alfonsín, Sit Tibi Terra Levis.