Manuel Noriega and Jean-Claude Duvalier
Argentina’s “Dirty War” dictator Jorge Videla may be dead, but there are plenty of other notorious strongmen from Latin America and the Caribbean who are still alive. Videla, 87, who ruled at the height of the government’s war against leftist activists, died in prison Friday while serving time for crimes against humanity.
Argentina: Reynaldo Bignone: Now 85, the last head of Argentina’s 1976-1983 military junta was sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity in 2011. He is serving his sentence in a regular prison.
Bolivia: Luis Garcia Meza: One of the early “narco-dictators,” Garcia Meza was sentenced to 30 years prison in 1995 for abuses committed during his 1980-1981 rule. He is serving time at a Bolivian maximum security prison.
Chile: Manuel Contreras: Augusto Pinochet, who ran the country from 1973-1990, escaped justice despite a flurry of legal cases and died in 2006. However, Contreras, the head of his feared secret police, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in murders and abductions during Pinochet’s rule.
Guatemala: Efrain Rios Montt: On May 10, Rios Montt became the first Latin American ex-dictator convicted of genocide. The 86 year-old ex-general, who denies responsibility for the slaughter of Maya natives during his 1982-1983 rule, was sentenced to 80 years prison. His lawyers are appealing the verdict.
Haiti: Jean-Claude Duvalier: Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier ruled Haiti from 1971 until he was overthrown in a popular revolt in 1986. Now 61, he returned from exile in France two years ago and faces charges of corruption and human rights abuses.
Panama: Manuel Noriega: Overthrown by US forces in 1989, Noriega served time in US and French prisons until he was returned to Panama in December 2011, where he is serving three 20-year prison sentences for those killed during his 1983-1989 rule.
Peru: Alberto Fujimori: Peru’s President 1990-2000, Fujimori was convicted of human rights violations for abuses committed during his crackdown on leftist guerrillas in 2009. He is serving a 25 year prison sentence in an specially built prison at a Lima police station.
Francisco Morales Bermudez: This ex-general is known for ousting Juan Velasco (1968-1975) from power and returning Peru to democracy in 1980. However last year an Argentine judge accused Morales Bermudez, now 91, of being part of Operation Condor, a scheme in which regional dictators helped hunt down each other’s opponents. Morales Bermudez rejected the accusation and faces no charges in Peru.
Uruguay: Gregorio Alvarez: The ex-dictator (1981-1985) was sentenced to a quarter century prison in 2009 on charges of “especially aggravated homicide” that took place within the framework of Operation Condor.