Enrique Alfonso Severo, the ex-railway worker and key witness in the Mariano Ferreyra murder trial who went missing on Wednesday night, was found alive yesterday in Gerli, a neighbourhood of the Avellaneda district. The discovery comes after a nationwide manhunt and dramatic protests in the capital.

Severo, a former manager for the railway company Ferrobaires, was due to testify yesterday at noon in the ongoing trial of José Pedraza, general secretary of the Railway Union (UF) and Juan Carlos Fernández, his assistant, who are accused of organizing the clash on 20th October 2010 that left Partido Obrero (PO) militant Mariano Ferreyra dead. Of the more than 300 witnesses in the trial, Severo is believed to hold the key evidence linking Pedraza and Fernández to those who carried out the murder.

Ferreyra and other PO activists were protesting on 20th October 2010 with outsourced railway workers, known as “tercerizados”, on the Roca line in the south of the city. The protesters, who were demanding equal pay and benefits as fulltime employees, were met by a gang of unionized railway workers, who followed them as the protest moved to Barracas. Violence broke out between the two groups near the Constitución train station, in a clash that left Ferreyra dead and another PO militant, Elsa Rodriguez, seriously injured.

The suspected shooters are Cristian Favale and Gabriel Fernando Sánchez, football hooligans with ties to political and union violence. Several police officers are also on trial for failing to stop the attack.

Severo left his home around 11.30pm on Wednesday night to visit his grandson but never made it to his intended destination. After failing to appear at his testimony on Thursday at noon, Minister of Security Nilda Garré called for a nationwide search. Various left-wing and social organizations, spearheaded by the PO, marched on the Plaza de Mayo last night demanding an end to the kidnapping of witnesses.

The situation echoed the disappearance of Jorge Julio López in 2006, key witness in the trial against ex-director general of police investigations for Buenos Aires province Miguel Etchecolatz. López disappeared before his scheduled appearance in court and remains missing to this day.

After an anonymous call to 911 on Thursday night, Severo was found outside of a taxi station in Gerli, his hands bound with plastic ties and showing signs of physical abuse. Earlier in the day, police had located his car, with the keys placed in a nearby street. Severo was taken to nearby Finochietto de Sarandí hospital and stated that he does not know who is responsible for the kidnapping.

His son, Gastón Severo, told Canal 9 that his father told him he was held captive in a location three blocks from a railway facility used by his former employer, Ferrobaires. He was taken from his car by two armed men on a motorcycle. After a blow to the head, he lost consciousness.

“He’s dehydrated, he’s vomiting and coughing”, Gastón said. “He couldn’t talk much.”

“The message was not for me”, Severo told the press before being taken to the hospital. “It was for the president.”

Severo would not give details of what had occurred during his kidnapping, but vowed that the experience had not deterred him from delivering his testimony. “Whatever happens, I’m going to testify in court”, he affirmed. “Somebody has to do something. I’m going to testify, I’m going to recount everything…I’m not scared.”

His family said they had begun receiving threatening phone calls in the days leading up to the court date. However, since they were never reported, according to the Ministry of Justice, Severo did not qualify for witness protection.

An unprecedented trial took place in Cordoba yesterday to prosecute two agricultural workers for environmental contamination in the area. Two men have been sentenced with three-year prison terms for the use of agrochemicals endosulphin and glyphosate in the barrio of Ituzaingó Anexo. Rural producer Francisco Parra and the person responsible for the chemical application, Edgardo Pancello, were sentenced yesterday in the Cordoba Criminal Court. Producer Jorge Gabrielli was acquitted in the same hearing.

The trial, which began two months ago, brings to a close a ten year struggle against the impacts of spraying in the local community. So far, 200 cases of cancer have been discovered in the barrio, 100 of these fatal. In a survey of 142 children, 114 had traces of agrochemicals in their bodies.

The court deliberated yesterday for nine hours before delivering a verdict of a suspended sentence of three years in prison for both Pancello and Parra. They men are being prosecuted for two cases of fumigation in 2004 and 2008 which contravened Cordoba’s Agrochemical Law Nº 9164.

The law prohibits the spraying of endosulphin and glyphosate within a radius of 1,500 and 500 metres of urban populations. Parra and Pancello are accused of spraying within the barrio of Ituzaingó Anexo, putting the population at risk of severe health impacts.

Both men have had their licences to work with agrochemicals removed as a result of the trial. Parra will be forced to undertake ten hours a week of community service and will have his licence removed for “eight years for the use of agro-chemicals.” Pancella, who was flying the plane spraying the chemicals will be unable to work for ten years and will also be forced to undertake community service.

Parra’s lawyer, Juan Manuel Aráoz said yesterday that they are likely to appeal the decision. He said that while they are awaiting the grounds for the decision, to be released on 4^th September, they will probably appeal the decision “taking into account the fact that this crime is authorised by the National Food and Health body as well as other national organisations.”

Pancello’s lawyer claimed he saw “no serious argument which destroys the presumption of innocence of the client.”

The lawyer for the plaintiff group, Miguel Martinez, said yesterday that people should understand that “people had been fighting for twelve years,” though said he recognised the value of the precedent for this type of case. It is the first time that those responsible for polluting the environment with agrochemicals are prosecuted.

“This trial will be punishing as a crime something which was previously only considered a failure,” said Martinez.

The community struggle against the impacts of agrochemicals resulted in the creation of the Madres de Ituzaingó. Founder Sofia Gatica said yesterday she has “nothing to say”

“Who will return us the health of our children?” she said.

The municipal government in Cordoba had already declared the population in the barrio of Ituzaingó Anexo in a health emergency. The case was elevated to the courts when it was discovered the area was contaminated with a lethal cocktail of chemicals.

Thirty-six years after they were killed, the trial for the murders of catholic priests Carlos de Dios Murias and Gabriel Longueville will begin in La Rioja today. Ex-army general Luciano Benjamín Menéndez, ex vice-commodore Luis Estrella and ex-police superintendent Domingo Vera have been charged with the murders.

Murias and Longueville worked at the parish of bishop Enrique Angelelli, a politically active priest who supported the activities of peasants and workers’ unions from his church in Chamical, La Rioja.

The two priests were tied down, blindfolded, tortured, and shot to death on 18th July 1976, at a time when a military government ruled the country. Two weeks later, and as he was investigating the murders of Murias and Longueville, Angelelli himself died in a mysterious car accident, though it is widely believed he was killed.

Ramiro Fresneda, the lawyer representing the human rights secretariat, said that he will prove the existence of “a systematic plan of persecution against Enrique Angelelli’s diocese.”

The trial for the murders of Murias and Longueville was due to start at 9am this morning, but had to be postponed until this afternoon, as Menéndez is being driven from Córdoba, where he is serving a life sentence for the murders of 31 political prisoners in 1976. Menéndez has also been charged with the death of monsignor Angelelli, together with former dictator Jorge Videla.

The trial against former president Fernando De la Rúa and ex-members of his cabinet started today in Buenos Aires. De la Rúa has been accused of corruption, after allegedly bribing opposition senators to vote in favour of a labour reform in 2000, and could face up to six years in prison if found guilty.

The trial is considered a landmark, since it is the first time a former president has been brought to justice on charges of corruption. It is expected to last between six and eight months, according to Infobae.com.

The judges are expecting to hear testimonies from 339 witnesses. These include high-profile politicians like current president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who was a senator at the time and voted against the bill, former president Carlos Menem, and De la Rúa’s former vice-president Carlos ‘Chacho’ Alvarez, who resigned in October 2000 as the bribe allegations became public.

As well as De la Rúa, other high-profile officials facing trial include his former labour minister Mario Alberto Flamarique, former head of intelligence Fernando de Santibañes, and former parliamentary secretary Mario Pontaquarto. Pontaquarto has confessed to carrying a briefcase with money for the bribes, and accused De la Rúa of authorising the payment of U$S 4.3m in bribes to opposition senators to vote in favour of the controversial bill. “If there’s no sentence for me, there’s no sentence for anyone. If there is no sentence, the trial will remain unpunished,” the repentant Pontaquarto told the press today.

The senators who allegedly received the bribe have also been charged with corruption.

The controversial labour reform bill, which sought to further liberalise the labour market, was put forward by De la Rúa’s government in 2000, a year and a half before his resignation. It was part of a number of policies requested by the IMF in order to provide financial backing to the government. The law was passed in May 2000 and abolished in 2004.

The trial against De la Rúa is the second against a former president, but the first one for corruption. Last year, former president Carlos Menem was found not guilty of arms smuggling.

The trial of the general secretary of the railworkers union José Pedraza, and his right-hand man, Juan Carlos Fernández for the murder of Mariano Ferreyra began on Monday, 6th August at the Comodoro Py courthouse in Retiro. Ferreyra was killed on 20th October 2010 near the Roca train line in the Barracas neighbourhood. Ferreyra was a member of Partido Obrero, which had joined outsourced Roca railway workers on 20th October 2010 in a protest for equal pay, benefits and conditions as members of the Railway Union. The Partido Obrero was out in full force in Retiro and photographers Diego Espinosa and Patricio Murphy were on hand to capture the events.

Partido Obrero congregates en masse in Retiro to show their presence at the trial for the murder of Mariano Ferreyra (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Partido Obrero calls for justice at the trial for the murder of Mariano Ferryera at the Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Leaders of the Partidio Obrero, Néstor Pitrola and Jorge Altamira at the rally at Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

Leader of the Partidio Obrero Jorge Altamira speaks at the rally at Comodoro Py courthouse. (Photo: Diego Espinosa)

The 'stage' in front of the Comodoro Py courthouse is protected by unionists with the press at the ready. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Flags calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Women hold signs calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Signs calling for justice in the trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Jose Pedraza (right) enters the courtroom together with the rest of the accused to stand trial of Mariano Ferreyra's murder. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Police in Mexico have arrested 17 people after last week’s gang attack in a Christian youth camp.

Six of the accused have already confessed to beating, robbing and violating a group of youths at an ecological reserve in the town of Ixtapaluca, Mexico state. During the attack, five girls were raped and three were sexually assaulted.

The state prosecutor, Alfredo Castillo, claimed that two of the arrested were police officers and one a former military member. Prosecutors have also stated that the length of the attack lasted several hours.

Yesterday, television stations broadcasted the interrogation of the accused which angered the families of those that were sexually assaulted. The questions were graphic and explicit.

The interrogation was played for reporters on Wednesday by Televisa and Milenio networks, yet was also aired during prime-time newscasts.

State Attorney General Castillo and anchors of the news channels have both apologised.

Although it is inconclusive whether the victims’ representatives will sue the government, a judge will be deciding today whether to charge the 17 suspects held on the evidence provided by the state of Mexico.

Vice-president Amado Boudou has hopped into the fire once again, after the Anti-Corruption Office denounced him for allegedly falsifying an affidavit that excluded his car from his divorce proceedings.

Local media were all ablaze with reports that the second in command said he lied about the date he purchased a car. By doing so, it would have been declared his “own good” rather than shared property, thus excluding it from his assets during his divorce from Daniela Andriuolo.

If Boudou is found guilty by Federal Judge Julián Ercolini, the crime is punishable with from 15 days to two years imprisonment, plus perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

The presentation was made by Mario Mazzitelli, Secretary General of the Authentic Socialist Party (PSA). El Día reports that Mazzitelli based the claim on the data already verified in another open criminal investigation against former economy minister, stating that Boudou said he bought a 1992 Honda Civic CRX del Sol, on 1st July 1992.

“On 1st July, 1992 the car was not even in Argentina,” Mazzitelli said, according to El Día.

Boudou is already up to his eyeballs in corruption allegations. Boudou has been accused of using his political influence to help an ailing company, one with which he may have had personal ties. Last week, Prosecutor Jorge Di Tello also ordered the opening of an investigation into alleged illegal enrichment by the vice-president.

The leader of Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Hebe de Bonafini, plans to launch a trial against the newspaper Clarín, for its role during the military dictatorship of 1976-1983.

The human rights group claims that the newspaper “robbed children”, in reference to the adopted sons of the founder of Clarín, Ernestina Herrera de Noble.

They are also accusing the media group of lying and hiding the truth from the public during this time.

The trial is planned for the 22^nd December at 7pm when people will congregate in Plaza de Mayo to support the condemnation of the newspaper group.

Bonafini wishes to conduct a serious trial with lawyers where the public is the judge of Clarín.

The former president of the Central American country, Oscar Humberto Mejía Victores, 80, is to be taken to hospital to determine if he is fit to stand trial for crimes against humanity.

Victores’ lawyers claim, after his recent stroke, that he is too unwell to answer questions and to appear in court. However, prosecutors debate this, alleging that the ex-president was simply under sedation at the first court case.

He is accused of directing massacres in indigenous villages during the civil war of the country, both when he served as army minister and as president. He ceased power of Guatemala during the military coup in 1983.

According to the UN, 200,000 people were killed during the country’s civil war, the majority by state forces. The massacres were usually of those suspected of supporting leftist guerrillas.

Argentina’s last military dictator, Reynaldo Bignone, is one of four defendants who will face trial today in a federal court for crimes of unlawful detainment and torture. The accusations stem from his alleged involvement in the operations of a clandestine detention center in a Posadas hospital during the 1976-1983 military regime.

Bignone, who is 83 years old, has been convicted twice already for related crimes, including stealing babies from political prisoners. He is currently under house arrest and serving two life sentences.

The trial will reveal the circumstances surrounding the detention centre known as “El chalet” which operated in the public hospital in Marón. Fifty-six witnesses are expected to testify.

The former dictator, who served from 1982-83, negotiated Argentina’s transition to democracy at the end of his rule. Before stepping down, however, he signed an amnesty law, which was later annulled by Congress, declaring that all members of the Armed Forces were not responsible for crimes committed during the military regime.