Who are los Desaparecidos?
The term “los desaparecidos” is used to describe the victims of forced disappearances in Central and Southern America. Many people are referring specifically to people swept up in Operation Condor, a notorious campaign which was directly implicated in thousands of disappearances and acts of repression in South America in the 1970s. In most cases, the fates of los desaparecidos or “the disappeared” are unknown, despite the efforts of friends and family members. Most of the people included in the blanket term “los desaparecidos” were left wingers and moderates who were caught up in right-wing government campaigns which were designed to stamp out dissidence. Many of los desaparecidos were accused of terrorism, treason, and other anti-government acts, while others were simply quietly abducted because of their associates, physical appearance, or taste in books. The abductions of los desaparecidos often involved members of the military and law enforcement, but they were outside the legal sys
