Few places like the former ESMA exemplify the plurality of actors ( public administrations , memory and human rights associations , etc .) involved in the memorialisation process of a site . Has this diversity been a challenge or an advantage ? Have the interests of all parties been easy to balance ?
MG : It has been an advantage in the sense that we have a well-established and powerful participation framework . The Site-Museum ’ s team works daily with the Advisory Council of Human Rights Organisations and creates spaces and initiatives for the informed and active participation of the survivors . This ensures multiple perspectives are considered , and the consensus that formed the foundation of its institutionalisation continues to be respected . Regarding coexistence , the Site- Museum is located within the boundaries of the buffer zone , made up of the Space for Memory and for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights which houses public institutions and civil society associations at both national and regional levels . It is administered by an Executive Body made up of representatives from the national government , the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires , and the Human Rights Organisations Directorate . The Site-Museum maintains dialogue and coordinates its agenda with all these actors , sharing the common goal of working towardss Nunca Más and the preservation of memory .
At any point , did military units pending relocation coexist with human rights organisations and / or the Site of Memory itself ? If so , how did this coexistence unfold ?
MG : The process of coexistence began in October 2004 when the decision was made to vacate several buildings , including the Officers ’ Casino , and grant the Bicameral Commission - comprising representatives from the National Secretariat for Human Rights and the City ’ s Subsecretariat for Human Rights - provisional tenure of these buildings for free use as part of the Space for Memory . In 2005 , the first guided tours of the former Officers ’ Casino took place , following an agreement with the Navy that allowed a subdivision of the site , fencing off certain areas to enable the coexistence of military and civilian sectors and the exclusive use of the assigned buildings . That year also marked the beginning of regular meetings of the Bicameral Commission , involving representatives from various human rights organisations , survivors , and staff from the Space for Memory , to agree on issues related to the complete recovery of the site and the construction of the new institutional framework . By 2006 , the authorities of the Navy vacated and handed over another five hectares with their respective buildings . Meanwhile , within the human rights organisations , there were discussions and attempts to reach consensus . Some survivors argued for leaving the place untouched , while others
3 . The Basement Room of the Permanent Exhibition | ESMA
INTERVIEW
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