Buenos Aires, March 26 (teleSUR-RHC) The Central Bank of Argentina opened archives and declassified records of its meetings during the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1976 to 1983 at an event held at its headquarters Wednesday.

“The publication of these proceedings will allow for a contribution to memory and the search for truth and justice, so a bean of light can shine on one of the darkest periods in our history,” said Central Bank President Alejandro Vanoli.

Among the declassified documents are records of the export of military equipment to other countries in Latin America that were ruled by dictatorships. This military equipment was subsequently used by repressive regimes that sought to impede the restoration of democracy in much of the continent.

During the era of dictatorships in the region, some 50,000 people were disappeared by military regimes throughout the continent.
The declassified documents also revealed that the Argentine armed forces secretly acquired debt through the central bank in order to purchase arms. Vanoli, who ordered the release of the documents, tied the economic policies of Argentina during the dictatorship to the policy debate currently taking place in the country.

In Argentina, the bank president stated, “two projects face off, one that is national and popular and the other, neoliberal, which was present during the dictatorship.” The Central Bank president pointed out that some opposition politicians have openly mused about returning to the policies of financial liberalization carried out during the dictatorship.