UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 RELEASE IN FULL 0174 Current Class 771771-13 Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 PAGE 01 BUENOS 03376 70 ACTION ARA-06 INFO SS-14 SCS-01 SCA-01 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 AR U S D Margaret P Release 01 OF 02 202216ZErmampda s Declassify IS0-00 OCT-01 Page 1 - L-01 NSC-05 SY -02 NSCE-00 H-01 INR-05 DHA-02 CIAE-00 SCCT-01 116461 040 W P 202120Z MAY 76 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5735 A L SECTION 1 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 3376 LIMDIS REVIEW AUTHORITY Richard Zorn Senior Reviewer FOR ARA APU E O 11652 XGDS-4 TAGS SHUM PINS CASCIIONDER MER EDES NAVEIROc AR SUBJECT WELFARE WHEREABOUTS AMCIT MERCEDES NAVEIRO BENDEA t REF BUENOS AIRES 3336 A- 1 SUMMARY AMCITiMERCEDES BENDER WHO HAS PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS IN ARGENTINA PERSONALLY INFORMED AMCONSULATE MAY 7 THAT SHE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED ON MAY 5 INTERROGATED BEATEN THREATENED THEN RELEASED AFTER TWO DAYS BY GROUP OF ARMED MEN WHO DESCRIBED THEMSELVES AS COMBINED POLICE AND MILITARY COMMAND EMBASSY HAD LEARNED OF ABDUCTION MAY 5 FROMEFNDE RELATIVES AND INITIATED IMMEDIATE INQUIRIES THROUGH PO ICE CONTACTS APPARENTLY THROUGH EFFORTS OF THE EMBASSY AND OF BENDER'S ARGENTINE RELATIVES SHE WAS RELEASED BUT WITHOUT GOA CKNO EDGMENT AT ANY POINT THAT ITS SECURITY FORCES HAD DETAINED HER OR KNEW ANYTHING OF THE MATTER AS I RESULT OF THREATS OF HER ABDUCTORS BEFORE HER RELEASE CENDEN WITHDREW COMPLAINT FILED BY RELATIVES WITH POLIICE AND HAS INSISTED THAT EMBASSY MAKE NO RPT NO REPRESENTATIONS TO GOA DEPT REQUESTED Q PROTECT ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING INCIDENT FOR TIME BEING MRS BENDEDIS CONSIDERING LEAVING ARGENTINA END SUMMARY CONFI Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 1 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 Page 2 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BUENOS 03376 01 OF 02 202216Z 2 SUBJECT IS MERCEDES NAVEIRO BENDER DPOB FEB 3 1942 ARGENTINA IS UED US PPT NO C-696297 ON MAR 24 19 IN WASHINGTON D C NATURALIZED US CITIZEN PETITION NO 36020 US CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION NO 8634317 ISSUED NOV 12 1963 IN WASHINGTON D C RESIDING JUNIN 1083 5TH FLOOR APT B BUENOS AIRES TELEPHONE 847303 MRS BENDER IS DIVORCED WIFE OF FORMER FSO LYNN BENDER WHO IS NOW DEAN AND PROFESSOR AT INTER-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT SAN GERMAN PR 3 EMBASSY EARNED LATE MAY 5 FROM ARGENTINE RELATIVES OF VI-RS BENDE THAT SHE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED FROM HER HOME DURING THE EARLY MORNING OF THE SAME DAY EMBASSY SECURITY OFFICER LEGAL ATTACHE AND LOCAL SECURITY SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY CALLED GOA POLI E CONTACTS ALL OF WHOM DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ARREST OR OF MRS BENDEIES WHEREABOUTS DURING SAME PERIOD HERUHCLE iiM lR LUCIO BALLESTER UNDER SEC OF STATE FOR INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPMENT IN MIN ECONOMY ADE ORAL COMPLAINTS ---OF KIDNAPPING TO POLICE 4 ciy S BENDE CAME TO CUNSULATE IN AFTERNOON OF MAY 7 AND MADE ORAL AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS TO CONSULAR OFFICER SHE CLAIMED THAT ABDUCTORS HAD BEATEN HER AND MARKS AND BRUISES WERE EVIDENT EMBASSY MEDICAL DOCTOR ARGENTINE CONSULTANT WAS CALLED TO CONSULATE IMMEDIATELY TO EXAMINEWS BENDER_ ON MAY 14 HE SUBMITTED WRITTEN STATEMENT CONFI ING EVIDENCE OF BLOWS AND HANDCUFF MARKS AS WELL AS COMMENT THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT ON HER IS VERY MARKED 5 CiES BENDE WAS IN HIGHLY EMOTIONAL STATE AND WRITTEN STATEMENT WAg-- HORT IT WAS NOT SWORN SHE WROTE THAT SHE WAS ABDUCTED FROM HER APARTMENT ON NIGHT OF MAY 5 BY SIX ARMED MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES UNKNOWN TO HER THE MEN STOLE MONEY AND JEWELRY AND THEN TOOK HER BLINDFOLDED AND HANDCUFFED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION SHE WAS INTERROGATED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS KEPT BLINDFOLDED MOST OF THE TIME AND HANDCUFFED AND THREATENED REPEATEDLY WITH TORTURE AND DEATH SHE WAS FINALLY RELEASED SHE WROTE AS THE RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM RELATIVES AND THE AMERICAN EMBASSY ON CONDITION THAT SHE WOULD WITHDRAW CHARGES OF LOOTING THE HOUSE SHE WAS FORCED TO SIGN STATEMENT WHICH IN HER WORDS INVOLVED ME IN AN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF SUBVERSIVE CHARACTER CONFIDENTIAL Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 2 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 Page 3 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BUENOS 03376 01 OF 02 202216Z ABDUCTORS TOOK PHOTOS OF HER IN FRONT OF FLAG OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMY OF PEOPLE ERP AN ARGENTINE TERORIST ORGANIZATION WHICH WOULD BE USED IN EVENT SHE SHOULD DO ANYTHING TO INCRIMINATE ABDUCTORS OR MAKE ANY COMPLAINTS 6 BOTH WRITTEN STATEMENT AND DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE WILL BE POUCHED TO DEPT 7 ORAL STATEMENT TO CONSULAR OFFICER WAS FAR MORE DETAILED AND INCLUDED CHARGE THAT SHE WAS BEATEN FOLLOWING IS SUMMARY OF CONSULAR OFFICER'S NOTES ABOUT 2 00 A M MAY 5 SIX MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES ARMED WITH PISTOLS APPEARED AT HER APARTMENT AND DEMANDED ENTRY ON THREAT OF SHOOTING DOOR DOWN SHE WAS TOLD SHE WAS UNDER ARREST BLINDFOLDED HANDCUFFED AND PUT IN A CAR BEFORE LEAVING GROUP RANSACKED APARTMENT AND TOOK JEWELRY WITH ESTIMATED VALUE OF US $5 000 AND US $1 000 IN CASH AS WELL AS OTHER VALUABLES SUCH AS CAMERAS STEREO SET TYPEWRITER ETC SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING AREA IN CAR WITH HER GROUP RETURNED TO BUILDING AND LEFT SOME OF BULKIER ITEMS IN LOBBY NONE OF JEWELRY CASH OR OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS HAS BEEN RETURNED SHE HAS NOT YET MADE FULL INVENTORY OF MISSING ITEMS 8 AFTER PUSHING HER DOWN OUT OF SIGHT IN CAR ABDUCTORS DROVE FOR DISTANCE SHE ESTIMATES AS 30 KILOMETERS TO OUTSKIRTS OF BUENOS AIRES TO A COUNTRY HOUSE DURING ARREST SHE CONTINUALLY REPEATED TO GROUP THAT SHE WAS AMERICAN CITIZEN THEY RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE TO THEM BETWEEN ARGENTINE AND AMERICAN AND THAT IF SHE DID NOT BEHAVE THEY WOULD SHOOT HER AND DROP HER ON ROAD 9 AT DETENTION LOCATION ABDUCTORS DESCRIBED THEMSELVES TO HER AS A NAZI-FASCIST AND ANTI-SEMITIC ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO COMBATING SUBVERSION LEFTIST ELEMENTS AMERICAN COOPERATION AND CAPITALISM AS WELL AS JEWISH PLOT TO CONTROL WORLD SHE WAS SEARCHED AND LETTERS AND NOTEBOOK TAKEN NOTEBOOK CONTAINED NAME PARTIDO POPULAR CRISTIANO WHICH CAPTORS DESCRIBED AS LEFTIST POLITICAL PARTY TOO 10 WHILE BLINDFOLDED S BENDE SAID SHE HEARD VOICES OF ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT PERSONS SCIME APPARENTLY AS YOUNG AS CONFIDENTIAL Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 3 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 Page 4 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 BUENOS 03376 01 OF 02 202216Z 16 OR 17 BEING BEATEN KICKED AND OTHERWISE TORTURED SHE IDENTIFIED VOICES OF HER ARGENTINE ACQUAINTANCESERML PREMAT AND HIS WIFE SHE COULD HEAR SCREAMS AND CRIE OF PERSONS BEING TORTURED WITH ELECTRIC PRODS SHE HEARD RS PREMAT IN DELIRIUM AFTER SUCH TOR E AND MR PREMAT B GGING FOR MEDICAL DOCTOFgLEIRS BEND BELIEVES REMAT5MAY BE DEAD E NOW AND STATED THAT GUARD TOLD HER THAT FOUR PEOPLE HAD DIED IN TWO DAYS SHE WAS DETAINED CONFIDENTIAL NNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 BUENOS 03376 02 OF 02 202224Z 70 ACTION ARA-06 INFO OCT-01 SS-14 ISO-00 SCS-01 SCA-01 L-01 NSC-05 SY-02 NSCE-00 H-01 INR-05 DHA-02 CIAE-00 SCCT-01 116648 040 W P 202120Z MAY 76 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5736 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 2 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 3376 11 RS BENDER SAID THAT DURING HER INTERROGATIONS SHE WAS HIT 111 FACE AND BACK OF HEAD PERSON SHE TOOK TO BE HEAD OF GROUP INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO HER AS AN AIR FORCE COLONEL HE TOLD HER SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED BECAUSE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL SUBVERSIVE ORGANIZATION AND WAS POLITICAL ASSOCIATE AND FRIEND OFREMATSDWHO WERE CONSIDERED SUBVERSIVES AND LEFTIST ACTIVISTS SHE RESPONDED THATEREMA 0 OWNER OF AN ADVERTISING FIRM WHOM SHE KNEW TO FAVOR SOCIALIST IDEOLOGY WAS ONLY A FRIEND HE WAS NOT TO HER KNOWLEDGE A SUBVERSIVE POLITICAL ACTIVIST OR TERRORIST 12 EES BENDEaFELT ABDUCTORS WERE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED THEY WERE EFFICIENT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WERE Current Class CONFIDENTIAL B Ejo Page 4 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 Page 5 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 TOTALLY SYSTEMATIC INTERROGATORS TOLD HER THEY DID NOT CARE IF SHE WAS AMERICAN AS SHE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND NO ONE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS THEY WERE ONLY ONES WHO WOULD DECIDE WHETHER SHE WOULD WALK OUT ALIVE OR FEET FIRST FINALLY ABDUCTORS SAID THEY WOULD RELEASE HER ONLY IF SHE SIGNED STATEMENT DICTATED BY THE COLONEL TO NOTARY PUBLIC CONFIRMING THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL SUBVERSIVE ORGANIZATION SHE WAS THREATENED REPEATEDLY THAT IF SHE MADE ANY COMPLAINT TO ANYONE SHE WOULD BE FOLLOWED AND KILLED ANYWHERE IN WORLD SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD HER TELEPHONE TAPPED HER PICTURE WAS TAKEN BEFORE ERP FLAG AND SHE WAS WARNED THAT IF SHE REVEALED DETAILS OF CONFINEMENT PICTURES AND SIGNED STATEMENT WOULD BE GIVEN TO POLICE AND PRESS COLONEL TOLD HER THAT HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KILL HER BUT SHE WAS MEMBER OF ARGENTINE OLIGARCHY AND ARGENTINA WAS STILL DEPENDENT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BUENOS 03376 02 OF 02 202224Z UPON AMERICAN HELP INTERROGATORS KNEW THAT HER UNCLE WAS COMPLAINING TO POLICE AND SAID THAT AMERICAN EMBASSY IS DRIVING US CRAZY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE SHE WAS BEING HELD SHE WAS MADE TO PROMISE TO WITHDRAW ANY COMPLAINTS MADE TO POLICE WHICH SHE DID UPON RELEASE SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT HER LIFE WAS SAVED ONLY BY QUICK INTERVENTION OF EMBASSY AND HER RELATIVES 13 COMMENT ARGENTINE AUTHO TIES AT NO TIME HAVE ADMITTED ANY KNOWLEDGE OFIE'ES BENDER' ABDUCTION OR ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT BASED ON ALL EVIDENCE VAILABLE I APPEARS THAT AN WAS HELD FOR TWO ABDUCTION DID TAKE PLACE THAT MRS BEND BEATEN AND THAT SHE THAT SHE WAS DAYS BY UNKNOWN PERSONS IS IN DEEP FEAR FOR HER SAFETY ASSUMING HER STORY IS TRUE MOST LIKELY EXPLANATION IS THAT ABDUCTORS WERE INDEED MEMBERS OF ARGENTINE SECURITY FORCES ACTING EITHER WITH AUTHORIZATION OF GOA OR IN EXTRACURRICULAR FASHION REMINISCENT OF ARGENTINE TRIPLE A OR BRAZILIAN DEATH SQUADS WHILE IT IS NOT COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE THAT ABDUCTORS WERE PRIVATE PERSONS ACTING WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION OR KNOWLEDGE OF GOA FACT THAT THEY COULD CARRY OUT SUCH AN OPERATION ARMED IN PRESENT SECURITY CLIMATE IN ARGENTINA POINTS TO GOA ACQUIESCENCE AT MINIMUM ABDUCTORS ALSO APPARENTLY WE AWARE OF SPECIFIC EFFORTS BEING MADE TO OBTAIN RELEASE OF MRS BENDEll AGAIN SUGGESTING OFFICIAL CONTACTS Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 5 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling LIMDIS Document Number 1976BUENOS03376 Page 6 Channel n a Case Number 200000044 14 UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WE WOULD MAKE STRONG PROTEST TO GOA OVER INCIDENT WHICH IS FIRST OF ITS NATURE INVOLVING AMCIT TO COME TO OUR ATTENTION UNDER NEW MILITARY REGIME WE PRESUME GOA WOULD SIMPLY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF INCIDENT HOWEVER ANDJEFS BENDE HAS REPEATEDLY INSISTED B tit THAT SHE DOE NOT WISH -S CH A PROTEST TO BE MADE IN ANY EVENT i SHE HAS ASKED THAT NO PUBLIC USE BE MADE OF ANY OF THIS INFORMATION SHE FEARS FOR HER LIFE AND IS TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO LEAVE ARGENTINA WE HAVE ASSURED HER THAT INFORMAON SHE HAS REPORTED WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY AND AT HER REQUEST WE ARE HELPING HER TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER ORMER HUSBAND 15 PENDING IRS BENDER' DEPARTURE FROM ARGENTINA AND OR HER AUTHORIZ ION TO TAKE THE MATTER TO THE GOA WE WILL CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BUENOS 03376 02 OF 02 202224Z CONTINUE TO TRY TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION WE TAKE THE MATTER WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS AND CONSIDER IT AN OMINOUS DEVELOPMENT IF IT CAN BE ESTABLISHED THAT THE GOA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABDUCTION WE WILL CONSULT WITH DEPT ON ACTION TO BE TAKEN HILL CONFIDENTIAL NNN Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 6 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No 0-2016-16244 Doc No C06307399 Date 04 18 2017 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu