Argentina: Bishops demand truth after prosecutor is murdered

Argentina's Catholic Bishops have demanded an investigation after the chief prosecutor in a case implicating the President in a cover-up. Prosecutor Alberto Nisma was found dead at home, killed by a gunshot to the head, on 19 January, the day he was due to present documents to Parliament in which he accused President Cristina Kirchner of having negotiated a secret agreement to guarantee impunity to some Iranian citizens accused in relation to the bombing of the AMIA Jewish association in July 1994. A van packed with explosives in front of the centre killed 85 people, injured more than 300, and destroyed the building completely

"We feel the need to invite the authorities and all political leaders to make every effort to reach the truth with honesty", said a statement of the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina,

The Executive Committee expressed confidence that the institutions of the Republic can "overcome the shadow of impunity that damages the health of democracy", and recalled that the current challenges have to be faced "on the basis of moral and deep values" that are the livelihood of coexistence, because "the lack of truth awakens a deep distrust and ends up damaging the social fabric".

The Church calls on the public to maintain unity in the national community. A nuimber of demonstrations against the Presidency have taken place in Argentina.

In 2007, Argentine prosecutors accused Iran of planning and financing the attack, and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of carrying it out. Iran dismissed the allegations as “baseless”. So far, no-one has been convicted in connection with the Amia attack.

Last July, at events marking the 20th anniversary of the bombing, Pope Francis demanded justice for the victims. In a recorded video to mark the anniversary, the Pope described the attack as an “act of madness”.

BBC

Read the full Argentinian Bishops statement here: