Part I
The Repression

Nunca Más (Never Again) - Report of Conadep  - 1984
 

The green light (or "free zone")

It is clear that when the gang or ’task force’ had to carry out an operation, they had been given the ’green light’. If any neighbour or caretaker of-the building involved got in touch with the local Police headquarters or with a radio patrol-car asking for help they would be told that the Police were aware of what was going on, but could do nothing.  In order to overrule police authority, the forces taking part in raids would ask for a ’green light’, which they did either by radio, or by parking for a few minutes outside the corresponding police station or central police headquarters.

Adolfo T. Ocampo (file No. 1104) describes how his daughter, Selma Julia Ocampo, was abducted:

At 2 a.m. on 11 August 1976, several men entered the building where my daughter lived, broke down her door and forced their way in. Others stayed outside to keep watch. This episode was witnessed from the flat opposite by naval Captain Guillermo Andrew.  He made a telephone call, and as a result two army trucks arrived at the scene. The two groups immediately began an intense gun battle (bullet-holes can still be seen on the building). The shooting stopped when the troops who had arrived in answer to Captain Andrew’s call heard the others shout: ’We’ve been given a free zone.’ On hearing this the troops withdrew, allowing the gang to get on with their business. They ransacked the flat and stole possessions, then took away Selma and a friend of hers, Inés Nocetti, neither of whom have been heard of since...