Argentina's Congress Repeals Amnesty Law Granted to Former Regime Officials

Argentina's Congress has repealed the amnesty law that was granted to officials of the former regime. The Chamber of Deputies, part of the country's Congress, voted to withdraw the law after debating whether the amnesty given to military leaders during the previous dictatorship had any constitutional value. Officials of the former regime are facing accusations of human rights violations during their rule. Thousands of protesters demonstrated for the repeal of the amnesty law. Human rights activists in Argentina welcomed the decision of the Congress but stated they are waiting to see if there will be any actual change in the human rights situation in Argentina. In the fight against opponents during the so-called 'Dirty War,' thousands of Argentinians disappeared, and their fates remain unknown after years. Many former military leaders and commanders were imprisoned by a judge last month. A judge in Spain has also requested the extradition of these officials to be tried for crimes committed against Spanish citizens. Hector Timerman, an Argentine journalist, stated, 'This decision by the Congress is merely a political decision, and the Argentine judicial system still has numerous problems that need to be resolved before any change can be expected. When you kill one person in Argentina, you go to prison. If you kill twenty, you are sent to a mental institution. If you kill more than a thousand, you receive a special amnesty.' Now it is the turn of the Argentine Senate to discuss the repeal of the amnesty law. Then, the Supreme Court's ruling will determine whether the former military officials should be put on trial.