[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 106 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1328-E1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMIA JEWISH CENTER BOMBING IN ARGENTINA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend my colleagues' attention 
to the second anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in Buenos 
Aires, Argentina, against the Jewish community center. On July 18, 
1994, a car bomb was detonated outside of the seven-story building in 
Buenos Aires that housed the AMIA [Association Mutual Israelita 
Argentina] and DAIA [Delegacion de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas]. 
That barbaric act took the lives of 86 innocent people and injured more 
than 300 others. To date, those responsible remain at large.

[[Page E1329]]

  Mr. Speaker, we in the Congress have repeatedly expressed to the 
Argentine authorities our firm conviction that they must do everything 
in their power to solve this case, and the as yet unsolved case of the 
1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. While we are 
encouraged by recent arrests of several Argentine police officers in 
connection with the ongoing investigation, clearly much more needs to 
be done.
  I commend my colleagues' attention to the following two letters which 
were sent this day to President Menem of the Republic of Argentina. The 
first was signed by 42 Members of Congress and expresses the view, held 
most certainly by all Members, that Argentine authorities must redouble 
their efforts to find and prosecute the terrorists who committed these 
heinous crimes. The second letter is from Abraham Foxman, National 
Director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. Mr. Foxman 
cites the recent resignation of the Minister of Justice and applauds 
the opportunity for President Menem to appoint an individual truly 
committed to solving these cases.
  Mr. Speaker, on this second anniversary of the AMIA bombing, we must 
restate our determination to fight global terrorism and to support 
friendly governments who wish to join this struggle. As Argentina 
continues successfully its evolution to full democracy, we must urge 
the Argentine Government to stand fast with the United States against 
the mutual enemy of democracy--global terrorism--and to redouble its 
efforts to solve these cases of terrorism:
                                                    July 18, 1996.
     His Excellency Carlos Saul Menem,
     President of the Republic of Argentina, Buenos Aires, 
         Argentina
       Dear Mr. President: We are writing to you on the second 
     anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community 
     Center to express our dismay at the lack of resolution in the 
     ongoing investigation of that bombing and the 1992 Israeli 
     Embassy bombing in Buenos Aires. We fervently hope that the 
     recent arrests of several police officers will yield a long-
     awaited break in the AMIA case.
       Although Members of Congress previously have written to you 
     on this subject, we strongly believe that the anniversary of 
     this tragic event requires us to restate our conviction that 
     Argentine authorities must conduct a reinvigorated effort to 
     find and prosecute those responsible.
       We appreciate the Argentine government's desire to 
     successfully complete these investigations and deliver 
     justice to the victims and their families. However, despite 
     cooperation from United States government experts and years 
     of investigation by Argentine authorities, the murderers are 
     still at large. This is an intolerable situation.
       No citizens of any country should have to live under the 
     threat of terrorism. Unfortunately, until those responsible 
     for the bombings in Argentina are apprehended, the Jewish 
     community of Argentina will live under the threat of more 
     terrorism, and Argentina will appear to be a haven for 
     terrorists from around the world.
        Mr. President, as we have learned from our own horrendous 
     experiences with terrorism, these cases are difficult, but 
     not impossible to solve. With sufficient will and effort, 
     successful prosecution can eventually be achieved. We urge 
     you to redouble your government's efforts in this task.
       We look forward to your response to our previous inquiry 
     for information on the status of these investigations and to 
     working with you to bring the guilty to justice.
           Cordially,
         Tom Lantos, Jon Fox, Ben Gilman, Gary Ackerman, William 
           Martini, Robert Torricelli, Ron Dellums, Stephen Horn, 
           Howard Berman, Martin Frost, Peter King, Robert 
           Menendez, Sander Levin, Jennifer Dunn, Carrie Meek, 
           Charles Schumer, Herb Bateman, Martin Meehan, Michael 
           Doyle, Jerrold Nadler, Sidney Yates, Ken Calvert, Peter 
           Deutsch, Frank Tejeda, Lane Evans, Nita Lowey, John 
           Olver, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Bob Filner, Steve 
           Stockman, Steve Chabot, Zoe Lofgren, Ben Cardin, Peter 
           Blute, Cliff Stearns, Elizabeth Furse, Sherrod Brown, 
           Ilean Ros-Lehtinen, Victor Frazer, Jay Kim, Cynthia 
           McKinney, and Rick Lazio.
                                                                    ____



                                       Anti-Defamation League,

                                                    July 16, 1996.
     His Excellency President Carlos Menem,
     Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
       Your Excellency: July 18 marks the anniversary of one of 
     the most horrible dates in Argentinean history--the bomb 
     attack that destroyed the AMIA headquarters, snuffed out 
     innumerable lives, and shattered the security of the Jewish 
     community. A view of the site leaves an indelible image of 
     the tragedy and reminds many of the 30's and the horrors of 
     Nazi Germany or Stalinist terror.
       The world continues to anxiously await a solution to this 
     crime by the democracy that is now Argentina. The occasion of 
     the resignation of the Minister of Justice provides an 
     opportunity for the appointment of an individual truly 
     committed to democracy, and to finding those responsible for 
     the bombing.
       At the same time, we are particularly concerned about the 
     recent appointment of Mr. Horacio graga as investigator for 
     the official TV station. Mr. Fraga is an individual with a 
     known racist and anti-Semitic background. This appointment 
     raises serious concern in the Argentinean Jewish community, 
     as well as among Jews throughout the world.
       Democracy is a difficult process which requires discipline 
     and vigilance by government and private citizens. The clear 
     actions of your administration in these matters will send a 
     strong signal that democracy and the rights of Argentinean 
     minorities are paramount to your administration. You assured 
     us of these points during the visit of an ADL delegation last 
     year, and we hope that it will become a reality for Argentina 
     and its communities.
       Looking forward to your response,
           Sincerely,
                                                Abraham H. Foxman,
                                                National Director.