Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 19 July 2019

Argentina acts against Hezbollah, blamed for terror attacks

By MAYRA PERTOSSI being the “local connec-
Associated Press tion” for the attack and
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina called for an investigation
(AP) — Argentina’s govern- into a possible coverup by
ment on Thursday branded the government of Presi-
Hezbollah a terrorist organi- dent Carlos Menem, who
zation and froze its assets, had left office in 1999.
25 years to the day after a A court this year cleared
bombing blamed on the Menem of charges he
Lebanese-based group de- had interfered to protect
stroyed a Jewish commu- a friend implicated in the
nity center in Argentina’s case. But the initial judge in
capital, killing 85 people. the case, two prosecutors
The nation’s Financial Infor- and a former intelligence
mation Unit took the action police chief were found
a day after President Mau- guilty of embezzlement
ricio Macri’s government and cover-up in the case.
created a list of terrorist Another former president,
organizations to help co- Cristina Fernández, faces
ordinate actions with other trial along with 11 other
nations and as the nation people on separate charg-
held memorial services for es of cover-up based on a
victims of the attack, for deal with Iran that would
which no one has been A sign reading in Spanish “Memory and Justice” and the names of those who died during the have let a special inter-
convicted. bombing of the AMIA Jewish center that killed 85 people is displayed outside the site of the attack national truth commission
The unit noted that Hezbol- on the 25th anniversary of the bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, July 18, 2019. question those accused
lah has been accused of Associated Press in the case, but with no
responsibility for a 1992 at- pact the ruling will have or ried it out. But nobody has asked Ariel Eichbaum, pres- guarantee they would be
tack on the Israeli Embassy how many assets Hezbol- been convicted despite ident of the association, arrested. She denies any
in Argentina that killed 29 lah might have in Argen- years of tangled investiga- which is known by its Span- wrongdoing.
people, as well as the 1994 tina. The group already has tions. Iran has refused to ish initials, AMIA. Special prosecutor Alberto
attack on the Argentine- been put on terrorism lists turn over the former offi- “We continue to have Nisman originally brought
Israelite Mutual Association by the U.S., the European cials and ex-diplomats who questions to which there such charges in 2015, but
in Buenos Aires. Hundreds Union and several other na- now face charges, and de- are still no answers. Twenty- was found dead of a gun-
were injured in both bomb- tions. nies any involvement. five years have passed and shot wound in his apart-
ings. At midmorning Thursday, The memorial service be- the wound remains open, ment a few days later. No
“At the present time, Hez- sirens resounded across the gan with a moment of si- a wound that cannot be one has been convicted in
bollah continues to repre- Argentine capital to honor lence, followed by a read- closed without justice,” he that case.
sent a current and active the 85 people who died ing of the names of each of added. U.S. Secretary of State
threat to national security the nation’s worst terrorist the 85 victims. The investigation into the Mike Pompeo was flying
and the integrity of the fi- attack. “How is it possible that 25 attack was plagued with to Argentina to attend an-
nancial, economic order Argentine prosecutors years later there has not irregularities from the start. other memorial service on
of the Argentine Republic,” blame Iranian officials for been a single responsible A court in 2004 absolves Friday as well as an inter-
the unit said. plotting the attack and say person imprisoned for this about 20 people who ini- national counterterrorism
It’s not clear how much im- Hezbollah operatives car- crime against humanity?” tially had been accused of conference.q

Mexico cuts budget for all, from athletes to archaeologists

By MARK STEVENSON publican austerity.” ers and archaeologists at
AMY GUTHRIE But his cuts have begun to the National Institute of An-
Associated Press seriously hit everyone from thropology and History said
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The athletes to archaeologists, about 200 employees have
Mexican Olympic Commit- who worry they won’t have been laid off since the start
tee said Wednesday it will enough money to carry out of the year, and more lay-
no longer be able to offer essential tasks. Critics say offs are feared.
food, lodging and medical his government is spending Across the government,
services at its main sports the same amount of mon- Lopez Obrador’s adminis-
training complex, the lat- ey, just reallocating it to dif- tration has eliminated con-
est casualty in a round of ferent things. sultancy and management
deep budget cuts by Presi- The Mexican Olympic positions, and thousands
dent Andres Manuel Lopez Committee said it lacks the more public servants have
Obrador. $4.7 million needed to run resigned.
Seldom has a leftist been so the Olympic sports center Economist Valeria Moy says
obsessively austerity-mind- In this June 8, 2019 photo, Xyomara Valdivia, who will compete in Mexico City with full ser- the government has plenty
ed as Lopez Obrador. In his for Mexico in the women’s fitness bodybuilding competition vices. The complex has of fat to trim, but notes that
first seven months in office, at the upcoming Pan Am Games, practices moves from her track and pool facilities, as this year’s federal budget
he has cut government routine during a training visit to the Mexican Olympic Committee well as a gymnasium and of $5.8 trillion pesos ($304
posts and salaries, and facilities in Mexico City. velodrome. This year, gov- billion) is about the same
drastically reduced spend- Associated Press ernment funding for sports size as the 2018 budget. Lo-
ing on perks and benefits. presidential jet, saying: “We poor.” is about 25% below 2018 pez Obrador took office in
He also has cut his own sal- cannot have a rich gov- Lopez Obrador describes levels. December, allowing him to
ary and plans to sell off the ernment with the people his financial plan as “re- Also this week, research- craft the 2019 budget. q