Twelve shadows walk to their cold demise. Does this resonate as you stand before the Monumento Fusilados de José León Suarez? This monument marks a clandestine massacre in Argentina’s history. It is a place where the echoes of injustice still linger.
The Monumento Fusilados de José León Suarez commemorates a dark chapter. It recalls the tragic events of June 9, 1956. On that night, twelve civilians were illegally executed. The massacre occurred in the garbage dumps of José León Suarez. This area lies within General San Martín. It is part of Gran Buenos Aires.
These killings were part of a brutal crackdown. General Juan José Valle led a revolt. His aim was to overthrow the ruling dictatorship. The regime responded with ruthless force. They publicly executed Valle. They also secretly killed civilians. These executions took place in Lanús and José León Suarez. The monument stands as a reminder of this repression.
The victims of the José León Suarez massacre were diverse. Some were Peronists. Others were civilians who opposed the dictatorship. Among them were Carlos Lizaso, Nicolás Carranza, and Francisco Garibotti. Vicente Rodríguez and Mario Brión also perished. Seven others survived.
The story of the José León Suarez massacre remained hidden. Journalist Rodolfo Walsh uncovered the truth. He published his findings in 1957. His book was titled “Operación Masacre”. Walsh exposed the clandestine nature of the killings.
The dictatorship was known as the Revolución Libertadora. It overthrew Juan Domingo Perón in 1955. A civic-military regime took power. They sought to “de-Peronize” Argentine society. Thousands were arrested for Peronist sympathies. Blacklists excluded Peronists from culture, media, and education.
General Valle’s uprising aimed to depose the military dictatorship. The regime knew about the plot. They allowed it to proceed to intensify repression. Hundreds of union leaders were arrested. This weakened the movement. Aramburu signed decrees imposing martial law. These decrees also authorized the death penalty.
The security forces quickly contained the uprising. Only a few objectives were taken. Many rebels were arrested. In Lanús, six detainees were immediately shot. Among those detained were the twelve taken to León Suarez.
At 23:30, police raided a house in Florida. They were looking for General Tanco. Unable to find him, they arrested ten people. Miguel Ángel Giunta was also seized. He had no connection to the Peronist Resistance.
Police chief Fernández Suárez ordered the detainees to be shot. Rodríguez Moreno sought a site for the executions. He was denied collaboration at the San Martín Military Lyceum. He returned to the police station. There he confirmed the order.
At 05:30, the twelve detainees were put on a truck. They were taken to a garbage dump. There, they were forced to walk towards the dump. Police vehicles lit the scene. Realizing they would be killed, some tried to flee.
Gavino ran first. Carranza begged for his children. Police opened fire. Díaz escaped unseen. Livraga, Di Chiano, and Giunta played dead. Garibotti was shot dead. Giunta ran and escaped. Rodríguez was shot and killed on the ground. Brión was shot in the back. Troxler, Benavídez, and Lizaso fought back. Troxler and Benavídez escaped. Lizaso was captured and shot.
Rodríguez Moreno checked the bodies. He ordered Livraga to be finished off. Livraga survived his injuries. Five men died. Seven survived the massacre.
Livraga was the most severely wounded. He eventually reached a police station. The police took him to a hospital. He was later kidnapped by police. Nurses hid his statement from the police. Livraga remained disappeared for 28 days. He was eventually sent to prison. He was later freed and received medical treatment.
The Monumento Fusilados de José León Suarez stands as a stark reminder. It commemorates the victims. It also stands for the resilience of those who survived. Their stories continue to resonate. They remind us of the importance of justice. They also remind us of the need to remember the past.