Two retired army officers face dying in prison after receiving life sentences for the 1976 murder of a Roman Catholic bishop during Argentina’s junta rule.

Former army Gen. Luciano Benjamin Menendez is 86, and former Vice Commodore Luis Fernando Estrella is 82. The bishop’s name was Enrique Angelelli.

The Independent reports:

Angelelli was believed to have been assassinated at the beginning of the Dirty War after becoming active in labour unions and an outspoken campaigner for workers’ rights.

He died in a car crash while travelling with another former priest, Arturo Pinto.  For decades officials claimed that the incident was a tragic accident.

Angelelli’s political views were at odds with the military dictatorship that had just sprung to power as it sought to crack down on Socialist activity and the “threats” against its conservative, anti-Marxist rule.

Read more here.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

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