Kristina Argentina

A dark past under an underpass

One of the most intriguing parts of the South tour, is also the easiest to miss. Riding along the bike trail from La Boca to San Telmo (just near Parque Lezama), you must pass under the autopista 25 de mayo. As you pass, there is a gate, and if you stop, you will see that there is construction. 

Many soccer clubs have been built under the underpasses. As the city began excavating to build a new one there, they found tunnels. They happened to have stumbled upon a torture chamber.

From 1976 - 1983, there was a military dictatorship. During this dictatorship, secret police began targeting political activists, students, journalists, opposing governments party officials, and any sympathizers or rabble rousers. It is estimated that 30,000 people disappeared during this time - either by evacuating the country, getting detained, or as it is believed of the majority, were killed. The youngest person who was kidnapped during this time was 12 years old. Note - this figure is slightly controversial, as many cases were not documented. It is also believed to be closer to 13,000.

For those of you who cannot understand Castellano, I will translate the sign:

Project of the Recuperation of the Memory of the Secret Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination “the Athletic Club”

The “Athletic Club” was one of the Clandestine Centers of Detention, Torture and Extermination installed in the City of Buenos Aires during the last military dictatorship. IT funcioned from 1977 til 28 of December of the same year in the basement of a building with three floors, located on the Avenida Padeo Colón between Chochabamba y San Juan. The property belonged to the Service of Provision and Workshops of the Federal Police, and was demolished for the construction of the Highway 25 de Mayo. By the testimonies of those who survived that horror, it is calculated that there were 1,500 kidnapped people of those that remain missing today. 

The other signs say:

“San Telmo has a memory”

“We have 30,000 reason to continue that fight”

“Don’t forget nor pardon”

The government is now investigating other highways throughout the country to see if there are other hidden torture chambers. Muy, muy impresionante.