Argentines commemorate 1994 Jewish centre bombing, demand justice

Edmonton Journal

4 days ago

Buenos Aires — Hundreds of Argentines gathered Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial.
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In the worst such attack in Argentina's history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-storey Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires.
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Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200.
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Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism.
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In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity.
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It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology.
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In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants — former ministers and diplomats.
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No date has been set.
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Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects.
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The Memoria Activa organization, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it 'essential for the accused to participate' for the whole truth to come out.
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The AMIA itself is in favour, but has cautioned that 'holding a trial only for it to end… in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone.'
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Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case.
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Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack.
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It also blamed the state for efforts to 'cover up and obstruct the investigation.'