Reports 1995-1998 Edited by Dwain C. Epps

Letter to H.E. Walter B. Gyger, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva, 4 July 1997.

Nos églises membres en Argentine, profondément meurtries par l’expérience de ce que les Argentins appellent communément «la sale guerre,» viennent de solliciter notre aide afin de déterminer l’existence et, si possible, de retrouver les documents relatifs aux atrocités commises par les forces armées durant cette période.

Nous supposons que vous êtes déjà au courant de cette affaire dont le gouvernement suisse a été saisi, suite aux révélations de certains officiers argentins à Buenos Aires qui ont déclaré que le haut commandement des différentes branches militaires auraient déposé des archives dans une banque suisse au Tessin.

Dans une telle situation, la recherche de la vérité prend une envergure énorme. Sans l’établissement de cette vérité, il est impossible d’instaurer un climat de réconciliation. Les églises argentines, membres du Conseil œcuménique, poursuivent ce but au nom de leur foi et de leur responsabilité sociale. Elles ont réuni des informations assez précises sur ces faits. Cherchant à se protéger de possibles inculpations pour leurs rôles dans les disparitions forcées, meurtres et tortures systématiques de personnes soupçonnées d’opposition politique au régime militaire, certains officiers haut placés auraient déposé des archives compromettantes pour les utiliser ultérieurement comme moyen de chantage dans les milieux militaires, politiques et judiciaires. Ces archives auraient transité par l’Espagne pour aboutir en Suisse. II est également dit que des sommes d’argent considérables auraient été versées aux détenteurs de ces archives pour s’assurer de leur silence.

Jusqu’à ce jour, les réponses des autorités des deux pays concernés ont été très prudentes et souvent équivoques, donnant l’impression aux églises et au peuple argentin qu’il existe une possible complicité dans des milieux politiques et financiers en Suisse. Nous voulons croire que ce n’est pas le cas. Mais pour dissiper ces impressions, il est important que le gouvernement suisse prenne cette affaire en main avec tout le sérieux qu’elle mérite.

Aujourd’hui même, j’ai transmis la lettre ci jointe, provenant du Conseil National des Eglises d’Argentine, au Pasteur Rusterholz de la Fédération des Eglises protestantes de la Suisse, en le priant d’intervenir auprès du gouvernement à ce sujet. Comme vous êtes notre interlocuteur direct à Genève, je me devais de vous faire part de nos démarches et de notre inquiétude face aux préoccupations des églises d’Argentine.

En vous remerciant par avance de l’attention que vous porterez à ce problème, je vous prie de recevoir l’assurance de mes sentiments les meilleurs.

Konrad Raiser

Secrétaire général
[Translation]

Your Excellency,

Our member churches in Argentina, profoundly affected by the experience of what Argentines commonly call “the Dirty War,” have just sought our assistance to determine the existence of, and if possible, to locate the documents related to the atrocities committed by the armed forces during that period.

We suppose that you are already apprised of this matter with which the Swiss government has been seized following the revelations in Buenos Aries by some Argentine officers who have declared that the high command of the different branches of the military are likely to have deposited archives in a Swiss bank in Ticino.

In such a situation, the desire for the truth takes on enormous importance. Without the establishment of the truth it is impossible to create a climate of reconciliation. The Argentine member churches of the WCC pursue this goal as a matter of faith and of their social responsibility. They have gathered together quite precise information on the facts. Seeking to protect themselves from possible indictment on charges for their roles in forced disappearances, murders and systematic torture of persons suspected of political opposition to the military regime, some highly placed officers are said to have deposited compromising archives for eventual later use to blackmail persons in military, political and judiciary milieus. These archives are said to have transited through Spain to Switzerland. It is equally said that considerable sums of money have been paid those holding the archives to assure their silence.

Up to now, the responses of the authorities of the two countries concerned have been very careful and often equivocal, giving the impression to the Argentine churches and people that there exists a possible complicity between political and financial circles in Switzerland. We would like to think that this is not the case. However, in order to dissipate that impression, it is important that the Swiss government take this affair in hand with all the seriousness that it merits.

Today I have sent the enclosed letter to Pastor Rusterholz of the Swiss Protestant Federation, requesting him to intervene with the government on this matter. As you are our interlocutor in Geneva, I wanted to make you aware of our initiative and of our concerns related to those of the Argentine churches.

Thanking you in advance for the attention you will give to this problem, kindly receive my best regards

Konrad Raiser

General Secretary

Brazil

Expression of concern about the massacre in Eldorado dos Carajas and the plight of landless peasants in Brazil

Letter to H.E. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, 26 April 1996.

The World Council of Churches has received with deep sadness and concern the news about the Eldorado dos Carajas massacre perpetrated by military forces against the defenseless rural workers, and shares the repudiation expressed by the Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) and other church leaders in front of such violation of human rights.

The tragedy of Eldorado dos Carajas is unfortunately not an isolated case of violence against landless peasants in Brazil. The former massacres were left unpunished, and the impunity granted to the military criminals in the past has paved the way to further crimes.

Moreover, this tragic event exemplifies once more the Brazilian administration’s lack of consideration for the landless workers’ claims despite your expressed intention to give priority to the implementation of agrarian reform.

We strongly support the Brazilian churches’ appeal to your Government to take decisive actions on two crucial issues related to justice. First, to break the vicious circle of violence and impunity by identifying and bringing to trial the persons responsible for this massacre, at all levels. Second, to implement rapidly the promised agrarian reform in order to provide decent living conditions for thousands of landless farmers and to eliminate the root causes of the cycle of violence which creates so much suffering in various states of Brazil.

Knowing your profound attachment to the defense and the promotion of human rights, and your deep concern about this tragedy, we assure you of our firm support in pursuing a just solution to these essential questions.

Respectfully,

Rev. Dwain C. Epps

Coordinator, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs

Chile