Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Revolutionary Army of the People even joined the Alfonsín administra-
tion as political appointees; others returned to their posts in the universi-
ties. All the while, soldiers' pay was declining.
The Painted Faces
During Easter week of 1987, the junior officers reacted, as much against
the weakness of their own general officers as against President Alfonsín.
An elite group of commandos known as the Carapintada (those who
painted their faces for camouflage) took over the Campo de Mayo
infantry school on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. They were led by
junior officers who had refused to show up for their court appearances.
Military units loyal to the government refused to confront their rebel
brothers-in-arms. A counterdemonstration of 300,000 human rights
supporters in the Plaza de Mayo exacerbated the situation. President
Alfonsín went to Campo de Mayo to confer with the rebel leader,
Lieutenant Colonel Aldo Rico, who demanded an end to the “campaign
of disparagement against the Armed Forces” (Norden 1996, 129).
The president later announced that the Carapintada had given up
peacefully without conditions, yet the government undertook several
Members of the Carapintada commando unit, who seized the Infantry School on the outskirts
of Buenos Aires during Easter week of 1987
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