High-profile assassinations in Argentina raise questions about regional cooperation

In this document, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Harold Saunders writes to the Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger about the recent assassinations of former Bolivian President Juan Jose Torres and Uruguayan legislators Zelmar Michelini and Hector Gutierrez. These high-profile cases lead Saunders to question the degree of regional cooperation.

Fourteen refugees captured or killed in a raid in Argentina

This is a telegram from the US Embassy in Argentina addressed to the State Department in Washington and the US Embassies in Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil. It mentions that around fourteen refugees from South American countries have been either captured or killed in a raid in an Argentine province on 29 March 1976. The Embassy reports that Chilean leader of the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR) was abducted during the raid and was, probably, assassinated afterwards.

US State Department warns embassies of the possible international repercussions of violent deaths of refugees

This is a warning from the US State Department to the US Embassies of Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, and Bolivia regarding the potential international repercussions of the violent deaths of nationals of their respective countries abroad. The State Department asks for evidence of international arrangements for the assassination and/or refoulment of refugees.

Body of former Bolivian President Juan Jose Torres found in Argentina

The US Embassy in Buenos Aires informs the State Department that the body of former Bolivian President Juan Jose Torres has been found in Argentina. This event- alongside the recent assassinations of Uruguayan legislators Zelmar Michelini and Hector Gutierrez- lead the Embassy to suspect that the murders are part of a campaign to target leftist refugees in Argentina in order to spread fear among the entire exile community.