Argentina's former President, Fernando de la Rua, has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter on the deaths of 5 people who were demonstrating against his regime in Plaza de Mayo (the plaza in front of the presidential palace). The police used strong means of repression and over 30 people altogether were killed. The judged considered that De la Rua could not not have known of what was going on - he would have heard it himself, seen it on TV or heard about it from his family/subordinates - and thus he was negligent in not stopping the repression.
This is the first time a former democratic President is charged with manslaughter, and I hope that not only he will be convicted, but that his prosecution will be an example to other judicial systems.
Posted by marga at October 24, 2007 11:05 AM | TrackBack