In the neighbourhood of Balvanera, Buenos Aires City, a white Trafic van converted into a bomb car blasted into the entrance of the AMIA building, seven minutes before 10 am on Monday July 18, 1994, a day which starting then became one the darkest dates in Argentine history.
30 years have elapsed ever since without the court investigation or the actions of different government achieving any satisfactory results for the relatives of the 85 dead and 300 wounded caused by that terrorist attack.
On Thursday, AMIA president Amos Linetzky headed the rally for the victims of the attack on the Jewish association on its 30th anniversary, and questioned courts’ failure to progress in the sentencing of those responsible.
With the presence of Javier Milei and his Cabinet, Linetzky questioned deputies and senators for not modifying laws to combat terrorism. “It seems incredible that 30 years have gone by since that cold morning. 30 years without a single person accountable for this attack. 30 years during which the Argentine State looked the other way, full of patience, delays and mistakes”, he regretted.
He added: “30 years which have taught us the poor actions of a prosecution dedicated exclusively to the AMIA case, with the highest number of people in the country working on a single case but which has made no significant progress in the last 10 years. 30 years during which countries like Qatar, Russia, Syria, Bolivia and Nicaragua have allowed those accused to cross their borders comfortably, violating Interpol’s red alerts and, in some cases, welcoming them with honours. 30 years without our Legislative Branch reacting and updating our legislation”.
In another section of his speech, he pointed at national legislators. He considered that “having suffered two terrorist attacks doesn’t seem to suffice for them to understand that terrorism can’t be prevented, investigated and tried with the same tools as a common crime. How many decades have to go by? Do your job!”, he complained.
Milei
The tribute paid started a few minutes before 10 am with the victims’ relatives to the tune of the song “Venceremos (We shall prevail)” by María Elena Walsh, performed by Jairo.
The siren then went off at 9:53 am, the time of the attack in 1994 and then the names of the 85 people who died in the attack were read.
Minutes earlier, the official retinue led by President Milei had arrived. After the libertarian President arrived, the AMIA victims’ relatives started to protest against the government, claiming for no more “impunity”. “Stop impunity, we won’t be silent anymore”, they chanted.
Later, as Vice President Villarruel, Justice minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona, and La Libertad Avanza deputy José Luis Espert arrived, among other members of the Cabinet, they started shouting: “Go away. We’re all out here and they’re taking photos, it’s disrespectful. Let those who are not immediate family move away”.
--TIMES/NA
Comments