The World : Argentina to Speed Trials

Argentine President Raul Alfonsin ordered acceleration of hundreds of trials of military officers on human rights charges pending since 1983. At least 600 human rights cases have become backlogged in the Supreme Military Tribunal since Alfonsin took office as the head of an elected civilian government. The only trial to date was that of nine former military junta members, including three former presidents. A federal appeals court removed that case from the tribunal and found five of the nine guilty of widespread human rights violations. They were given sentences ranging from 4 1/2 years to life in prison.