O U R   A M E R I C A

Havana. August 1, 2003

PRESIDENT Néstor Kirchner’s decision to repeal a decree preventing the extradition of Argentines wanted for crimes committed during the military dictatorship (1976-1983), has once again made the trial against top-level military personnel and other officials from the military regime (responsible for the disappearance of more than 30,000 people) a topical issue.

The Argentine president’s decision took place after the country’s judicial system ordered the detention of 43 military personnel and one civilian, in response to extradition orders lodged by Spain and other countries. Kirchner annulled a decree enacted by Fernando de la Rúa’s government to prevent authorization of these extradition requests.

The Argentine leader dismissed the idea that there was unease amongst the leadership of the armed forces because of the detentions and possible extraditions.

Other official spokespersons have stated that they are in favor of authors of crimes committed during the military dictatorship being tried in the Argentine courts. However, for that to be a possibility, the Supreme Court of Justice would have to rule that the Final Point and Due Obedience laws are unconstitutional. That legislation put an end to criminal proceedings against members of the armed forces responsible for the repression in Argentina during the dictatorship.

Meanwhile, in Spain, the Criminal Court backed Judge Baltazar Garzón’s intention to make concrete an extradition application for those Argentines guilty of genocide. One third of the oppressors named by Garzón are already in detention for crimes such as stealing babies whose mothers had “disappeared”.

In turn, it was announced in Paris that the French authorities are to process the extradition of Argentine torturer Alfredo Artíz - known as the Angel of Death - accused of being the mastermind behind the deaths of French nuns Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet.

Likewise, Germany, Italy and Israel have announced that they are to reissue extradition applications for military personnel who murdered their countries’ citizens, requests that had been presented in previous years without results.

Backing the re-opening of the case, Argentine justice minister, Gustavo Béliz stated that the country’s judicial system has the unique opportunity to lead the way in the battle against impunity.