Tags
AMIA, Argentina, Bourne, Buenos Aires, corruption, Iran, Jewish people, Kirchner, Matt Damon, Murder, Nisman, suicide, terroism
Reading the news on the sudden and mysterious murder of Argentinian prosecutor Alberto Nisman and its possible connection with Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner reminded me of a “Bourne” movie starring Matt Damon. The coverage of the death of Nisman began with speculation that Argentine agents were behind it. President Kirchner pledged to disband the intelligence body (BBC World News) which had been in power since the Peron era, claiming that rogue members were behind the untimely death.
The government has reported the cause of death as presumably self-inflicted (Forbes, Agustino Fontevecchia ), while many have speculated death or a forced suicide. Nisman informed his friend he was told by a spy that his life was in danger. In response several guards stood watch outside his apartment, locked himself from the inside and borrowed his friend’s pistol A small nook used to gain access to the apartment’s air-conditioning unit had a footprint and a smudge(New Yorkers, Blitzer). Perhaps this was the only method a spy or assassin used to mirror or force a suicide. This has certainly without question become a very suspicious, questionable and strange death, with very little adding up.
Prior to his death, the late Nisman accused several senior government figures-including the nation’s one and only President and Hector Timerman, the Foreign Minister-of involvement in a plot to cover up the alleged Iranian role in the fatal and largest terrorist attack on Argentinian soil. This attack was the bombing of the AMIA, a Jewish community center in Buenos Aries in 1994 that left 85 people dead in (BBC). Nisman believed the cover up would in effect guarantee oil or monetary gains or deals with Iran if fulfilled. This accusation was to be formally brought before court the day before he died.
This was quite a scandalous and stunning accusation and revelation, that did not help with the President’s already not so stunning ratings and popularity(“Argentine Judge Halts”, Ryan Dube). Kirchner’s late husband was the previous president and her own son has been seen as a possible future leader as well.This event has certainly made her family and ruling “dynasty”less popular and as future reality.
In the past two day on February 26th, in favor of the President, Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas dismissed the case. The Centre for Judicial Information explained that “The judge believes the minimum conditions to launch a criminal investigation have not been met, based on what the prosecutor presented” (Buenos Aires Herald). Of course there will be an expected appeal likely heard by the Federal Criminal Appeals Courts in the next few weeks (Bueons Aires)
Before and prior to the Judge’s decision, there have been thousands of Argentine supporters for Nisman and marches. One such event was on February 18, where despite a “torrential downpour” thousands of people marched silently through Buenos Aires in honor of Nisman (The Guardian, Uki Goñi).
This entire uncertain and suspicious story resurfaces the fear and notion that, even if President Kirchner is innocent, governments or those in charge can often be untrustworthy, corrupt or have more power or influence than we know or want them to yield. It also sadly reminds us that there is still much corruption and many nondemocratic-democratic leaders or governments. We as citizens of the free world and those in less fortunate and less just or opportunistic nations, must question, investigate and rally for justice. This is our inherent and natural right and it must never be stripped or denied by the government, militias, rogues or by ourselves.