In an act for the Day of the Cavalry weapon, the retired general Rodrigo Alejandro Soloaga He vindicated his “comrades” imprisoned for crimes against humanity, and despite avoiding naming the dictatorship, he stressed that these peers fulfilled their functions during a “difficult time for our country.” Defense Minister Jorge Taiana ordered his removal for apology of State terrorism.
“It is to remind all the cavalry comrades who are deprived of their liberty as a result of having served in the ranks of the force during a difficult time for our country and to express our permanent and renewed accompaniment in these circumstances that they have to face. and that they carry with stoicism. I only have to convey our permanent spiritual support and the wish that they can soon meet their relatives and other loved ones,” said Soloaga during a commemoration that took place last Tuesday at the Remonta y Veterinaria del Ejército property , which earned him removal.
The day after the statements, the official Twitter account of the Military College of the Nation reported that Soloaga had participated in another commemoration for the Day of the Cavalry Weapon with the cadets.
Soloaga’s claim against those who were involved in crimes against humanity during the years of State terrorism is not new, since in 2004, when he held the position of Army Chief of Staff, he requested retirement when he was told that the then President Néstor Kirchner would take down the cadres of Jorge Rafael Videla and Reynaldo Benito Bignone from the National Military College.
“It runs counter to principles and convictions that I am not willing to negotiate, much less with the petty objective of endorsing behaviors that tend to devalue the institution and, in some way, force it to abandon a history full of greatness, honor and dignity,” he wrote. at the time in a public letter.
The Minister of Defense ordered the removal of Soloaga for violating the Code of Military Discipline: “The statements of Soloaga referred to go against not only a very broad national consensus that supports the policies of Memory, Truth and Justice that the National State has been carrying out since the year 2003, but also the decisions adopted on repeated occasions by the Legislative Power and the high authorities of the National Justice”, affirms the resolution of the Ministry.
“After 40 years of democracy, it is unacceptable and we will not tolerate this type of demonstration under any circumstances and the corresponding disciplinary sanction will apply to those who have these pronouncements that violate democracy and the policies of memory, truth and justice,” the document concludes. .
