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Edmonton Journal

Argentines commemorate 1994 Jewish centre bombing, demand justice

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. Article content 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. Article content Article content Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200. Article content Article content 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. Article content In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity. Article content 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. Article content In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants — former ministers and diplomats. Article content Article content No date has been set. Article content Article content Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects. Article content 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. Article content 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.' Article content Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case. Article content 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. Article content It also blamed the state for efforts to 'cover up and obstruct the investigation.'