[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 106 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1324-E1325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING OF THE AMIA JEWISH COMMUNITY BUILDING

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 1996

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the second anniversary of the 
terrorist bombing of the AMIA Jewish community building in Buenos Aires 
to pay my respects to the hundreds of victims who perished or were 
wounded in the attack. My profound condolences go out to their family 
members whose grief remains unrelieved as all efforts to bring the 
terrorist perpetrators to justice have been fruitless.
  That the second anniversary of this atrocity will pass with the 
terrorists still at large sends a potent message that this tragic 
episode demands our immediate and renewed attention. Although there is 
reason to be encouraged by the recent incarceration of several police 
officers in relation to the bombing, the case is far from a 
satisfactory resolution.
  Regretfully, new and disturbing news has begun to surface as the 
investigation proceeds. It has been reported that Argentine Minister of 
Justice Rodolfo Barra, an official directly responsible for the 
investigation, was forced to leave his post after it was discovered 
that he was involved in an extremist, anti-Semitic organization in his 
youth. Furthermore, authorities in Buenos Aires have denied the 
families of the victims the right to place a memorial sculpture near 
the Argentine Supreme Court. All in all, I am concerned that the 
Argentinean Government is not pursuing the terrorist criminals in the 
most vigorous fashion.

[[Page E1325]]

  It should be known that this tragedy has not been forgotten thanks to 
the efforts of some very special people. I would like to recognize my 
constituent and friend, Rabbi Avi Weiss and his organization AMCHA, the 
Coalition for Jewish Concerns, who have worked tirelessly to ensure 
that justice is carried out. Members of his organization will be 
participating in vigils simultaneously in New York and Buenos Aires 
today at 8:53 a.m. in remembrance of this tragedy.
   Mr. Speaker, I extend my prayers for the victims of the Buenos Aires 
bombing and offer heartfelt condolences to their family members who 
survived them. At the same time, I call upon my colleagues to urge the 
Government of Argentina to reinvigorate its efforts at seeing the 
terrorists brought to justice.

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