National Council of Churches logo represents the church 
as ecumenical ship, serving the world

1999 NCC News Archives

NCC Head Asks U.S. To Open Uruguay, Argentina, Chile Files
Purpose is to Help Find "Disappeared," Some of Whom Are Still Alive

September 29, 1999, NEW YORK CITY – Just back from leading an ecumenical delegation that met with families of the "disappeared" and their advocates in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, (U.S.) National Council of Churches General Secretary Joan B. Campbell is calling on President Clinton to open U.S. government files on those three countries that might help locate the missing – some of whom are still alive.

The Rev. Dr. Campbell wrote the President and spoke with him about her concern during his annual breakfast with U.S. clergy Tuesday morning (Sept. 28).

Some 25 years after nearly 25,000 people were "disappeared" by repressive regimes in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, their families' human rights remain unresolved to find their dead and to give them a proper burial, or in some cases to find those "disappeared" who are still alive today – babies taken from their imprisoned parents and put up for adoption..

The Rev. Dr. Campbell spent Sept. 22-26 in Uruguay and Argentina heading the NCC delegation, whose purpose was to support the families, human rights organizations and churches struggling together to find the truth and to encourage the political will to resolve this outstanding human and ethical problem. Other delegation members went on to Chile for meetings Sept. 27-28 before returning to the United States.

In her letter to President Clinton, the Rev. Dr. Campbell wrote, "The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo (Argentina) asked the National Council of Churches of Christ (USA) to join their efforts to gain much needed information that might lead to finding their family members. We join them in their request to the United States government to open the files for the period of the military dictatorship. We believe that these files contain information that would lead to the reunion of more families. The opening of these files will ultimately lead to reconciliation between government and people." The full text of Dr. Campbell's letter to President Clinton follows.

 

September 27, 1999

President William J. Clinton

The White House

Dear Mr. President:

From September 22 - 28, 1999 a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Christ (USA) visited the churches in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. The purpose of our visit was to focus on the issue of human rights especially the current status of those persons who were detained or who disappeared during the military dictatorship in the 70s and 80s. The delegation met with families and relatives of the victims who shared with us their continued pain, agony and suffering. These nations and, in fact, the whole of the international community have been affected by this gross violation of human rights. State power was used against the citizens of Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. This reality needs to be addressed if there is to be reconciliation in the affected nations. Families have a right to know where, when and by what hands their loves ones died. Some are still alive especially children who where abducted from their families or born in captivity. By the untiring work of the mothers and grandmothers these children are being identified and families are being made whole again.

The grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo asked the National Council of Churches of Christ (USA) to join their efforts to gain much needed information that might lead to finding their family members. We join them in their request to the United States government to open the files for the period of the military dictatorship. We believe that these files contain information that would lead to the reunion of more families. The opening of these files will ultimately lead to reconciliation between government and people. As we have learned from the South African experience – only the truth will set people free. We ask you Mr. President to add your voice to those who seek the truth. We ask you to use your influence to open our files so that the grandmothers might know their grandchildren.

Many thanks for considering this request. We look forward for your positive response.

Sincerely,

Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary

-end-

Contact: NCC News

NCC Home Page
NCC News Service Index