Approval by the great majority and anger from rightwing and military circles has been the initial reaction in Argentina to the Supreme Court decision declaring amnesty laws unconstitutional. Argentina's justice system now has the task of dealing with perhaps hundreds of cases of crimes against humanity, arising out of the military dictatorship there in the l970's and 80’s. It is only natural that most people believe such criminals must not be forgiven, though former Argentine governments have desperately tried to forget the horrific past.
That was the case of former president, Carlos Menem, who through a series of decrees issued in l989 and l990, pardoned high-ranking military brass for their crimes including ex general Jorge Videla and former admiral, Emilio Massera.
It didn't bother Menem in the least that the two military men and others like them, had been sentenced to life imprisonment in a historic trial held against personalities accused of state terrorism. <snip>
Faced with the real possibility that hearings will be held this year in the cases of some of the 400 military officers and police agents who committed crimes against humanity between l976 and l983, rightwing sectors have begun to bare their teeth. <snip>
http://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/opinion/air180605.htm
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