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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, August 8, 1980
Page 14
After March 1976, the new government decided to fight fire with fire.
They determined to root out this cancer in the body politic. Suspected
guerrillas were shot first, and then those suspected of offering assistÂ
ance of any kind, even of an ideological nature. Thousands of people
have simply "disappeared." Unfortunately, when a cancer is removed,
sometimes healthy tissue is cut out too. Even President Zidela admits
that "I accept that a certain number may have disappeared through an
excess in repression."
But again, Americans and others who did not live through such a period
(though there was the Black Panther raid in 1968) can't make a proper
judgment on the situation. Now Argentina is in relative peace, but most
of the ringleaders did manage to escape with plenty of cash to continue
the battle. Even the middle-of-the-road and sometimes controversial
English-language daily in Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Herald, said
recently, "It is quite clear that now, and for several years to come,
there is no possible combination of civilian forces that could not
merely provide the country with good government but would also be strong
enough to resist the challenges from extremists of right and left,
neither of which have any compunction at all about using violence to
obtain their objectives."
Other things are happening here in the "Southern Cone" too. More next
time, perhaps, with emphasis on another big development--the gradual
merging of the interests of Argentina and Brazil, the two big powers
of South America. Once rivals, still somewhat suspicious of each other,
they are now seeing much more in common, especially as they both view the
decline of the Untied States as a power in the Western Hemisphere.
God's Work in Argentina
In both Chile and Argentina (two highly-literate and impressive countries),
the groundwork has been laid, we feel, for increased promotion of La PURA
VERDAD, the Spanish-language PT. Mr. Speaks, publicity director for the
"PV," traveling with me, acting on instructions from Mr. Leon Walker,
director of the Spanish Work, has made arrangements for several large ads
to be placed in one of the top-circulation dailies of Buenos Aires, La
Arzon. This marks the first time any advertising has been done in the
world's fourth-largest Spanish-speaking nation.
Also, while in Buenos Aires, Mr. Speaks and I had the opportunity to meet
with a small group of God's people here, about twenty-one baptized members
who meet in the suburban area. These people were previously associated
with Sardis-type groups that have since, in the last couple of years or
so, become members of the Worldwide Church of God. We had a wonderful
social event with them in the home of one of the members. It was a truly
unforgettable experience for both Mr. Speaks and myself, and all of the
members were excited to hear about the progress of God's Work in general,
and with the prospects for more advancements in the Spanish-language area.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau