“Corruption in Argentina; the mother of all scandals” by The Economist
Under the heading of “Corruption in Argentina: the mother of all scandals?”, The Economist edition of this week has an article on the controversy surrounding the once-revered human rights group Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
One of Néstor Kirchner’s most popular ideas as Argentina’s president in 2003-07 was having members of the country’s 1976-83 military dictatorship retried for human-rights abuses. Among his closest allies was the Association of Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of women who for years defied the generals and staged weekly protests demanding to learn what had happened to their disappeared children. The group’s reputation in Argentina has soured, owing to the leftist activism of its leader, Hebe de Bonafini, who has praised the authors of the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. But its distinctive white shawls remain a potent symbol of the quest for justice in Latin America.
Now the Mothers have attracted criticism for very different reasons and at an inopportune time for Cristina Fernández, Mr. Kirchner’s widow and successor as president. In 2006 they founded a social-work arm, called Shared Dreams, to build homes for the poor. Mr. Kirchner provided an estimated 45 million US dollars of public funds. For the construction work, Ms Bonafini hired Meldorek, a company owned by Sergio Schoklender, a friend and adviser who was jailed from 1981 to 1995 for murdering his parents.
Rival contractors soon complained that Meldorek was charging twice the market rate for homebuilding. The company’s workers said it failed to pay pension benefits. Mr. Schoklender called attention to himself by using a private jet and getting Meldorek to buy several luxury homes, a Ferrari and a series of yachts.
Rumors of improprieties at Shared Dreams have swirled for over a year. But they only entered the public eye in May, when Mr. Schoklender left the organization after feuding with his brother Pablo, who also participated in his parents’ murder and in Shared Dreams. His departure led the media to pounce on the story. The courts are now investigating allegations of fraud, money-laundering and illegal enrichment. Mr. Schoklender says Meldorek charged more than its competitors because its homes are bigger and better-equipped. His lawyer says there is no proof that the Mothers’ money went missing.
So far, the scandal has not dented the popularity of Ms Fernández, who must say by June 25th whether she will run for re-election in October. Pro-government media have painted both the Kirchners and Ms Bonafini as innocent victims of Mr. Schoklender’s alleged trickery. Ms Fernández’s first presidential bid in 2007 was barely affected by revelations of corruption in the building of gas pipelines during her husband’s government. But although Ms Fernández could easily distance herself from the construction companies involved in the gas scheme, she has long sought to wrap herself in the Mothers’ shawls. That now risks becoming an embarrassment.
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www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284132/Tony-Blair-special-adviser-dictator-Gaddafis-son.html
Does that give you a warm feeling?
How about Tax
The world’s four largest grain traders, responsible for the vast majority of global corn, soya and wheat trading and processing, have been accused of large-scale tax evasion in a landmark series of cases being brought against them by the Argentinian government.
My mistake. I believe in the rule of law, so let the judiciary take care of this one. What would you suggest Elaine, summary execution like in Afghanistan? How is that working for you?
There is no evidence of endemic political corruption (well, in Argentina anyway), just a well intentioned, but poorly managed scheme. CFK should learn from this, just as the Australian government should learn from the “pink batts scheme” in which it similarly handed out money without government oversight.
Does that count for an opinion Elaine? I fear that you suffer from an Anti-Argentine condition that does not allow you to see things as they are. Unfortunately it is one shared by too many of your (and my) country men/women.
I am British y soy Argentino, spent a bit of time amongst both and unfortunately I have to say that it is the British who are least able to see reason on issues of the “other.”
“Argies are all corrupt, crass, cocaine addicts”, yes well when was the last time they invaded another country? Since the Malvinas, how many have Britain invaded? Bringing democracy, one bomb at a time?
@8. How does your mind jump from me hoping the Argentines get justice to you thinking about execution?
I am not anti-Argentina as you would know if you read my posts. I spend a lot of time in Argentina (and other SoAm countries) and have many Argentine friends there. I adore the place and the people I meet. However, I agree with the sentiments of many of my friends there that they live with a government in chaos, filled with corruption and incompetance. They deserve much better.
I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman. (Homer Simpson)
@ 11 Why do you waste your time explaining that you're not anti-Argentina to someone who is Argentine but doesn't give a sh*t about the corruption in our country? he doesn't live in Argentina, so he only cares about the islands, I'm sure that if the islands return to Argentinas hands, Hebe de Bonafini and Moyano wll be there the next day haha and with the piqueteros haha that would be more harmful to the islands than BP's belching oil well in the Gulf of Mexico haha pray that never happens
Yup, Britain's way up there with Argentina :-)
My family left in the Ongania regime, how did yours fare? Was that corruption ok? Did you and your class benefit from it? Perhaps we can swap. You seem keen on Britain. If you convince the mother of my children to move to Buenos Aires, I will gladly give you my British Passport, haha.
I actually love it in Britain, I just like it in Argentina more...it's a personal preference you are welcome to your own.
The people of Argentina made their choice, can't say the same for Britain they didn't know which incompetant to pick (que se vayan todos).
Redhoyt, keep on banging the drum. The only way to solve corruption is to fight poverty...CFK is doing that.
Elaine, maybe you are talking to the wrong people. Let me guess, they live in Recoleta (I like it there by the way, I am not trashing it)? The majority support CFK, see any political polling at the moment.
Fido Dido, everyone around me has drank the same Kool-aid. It must taste nice...they're all so convince of their righteousness.
Personally I prefer Thailand .... now here they really know how to operate corruption :-)
Ok then, shall we dig up the dirty on each country within the past 5 years, then compare results??
I don't need you to give me your British passport (I have better idea for that passport of yours) I have two passports.
My class? jojojo who are you??? a classist?
I agree that there are more important things than the Malvinas issue for Argentina (like greater equality, more economic progress, more human rights abusers behind bars etc), and I also agree that politicians of all stripes inflate such issues for their own gain (the world over).
But please, try a little harder to hide your contempt for democracy.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
democracy ? what is it ?
to make free ( already all are free) election ? .... No !
YOU ELECT THE NOMINEES BUT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE
THEM AS THE NOMINEES !
We got Jame Peck and they can have panqueque Xbarilox. HA ha
Some Mohammeds with bad teeth seem want to transplant they African model from UKistand to Argentina. Ha ha
The kingdom of corruption and deprivation lecturing others about ethics and moral standards.
Amazing someone seems the guy David Brent from “The office” surrendered by a bunch of Finchies. Haha
Typical Brits hypocrisy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cir05JyEsV0
No sense of ridiculous at all. Ha ha
www.youtube.com/watch?v=anN_L-JiyIA&NR=1
Xbox is starting to make sense at last and NicoDin is getting sillier.
l had high hopes for Nicholas once, when he defended me from that plonker Martin_Fierro but he's gone downhill since then.
l am glad that you don't want the Falklands, Xbox.
l really don't want Argentina, so we are even-stevens.
Peace & blessed be.
?? Now I'm getting confused here Dim, are you refering to Argentins lecturing the UK ?? Which seems the obvious choice !
Nope Red I am talking about the Mohammed’s corrupted kingdom where Sir Lords gets 25m pounds after had broken his bank on expenses of poor taxpayers.
Where billions of pounds from public funds to be used in hospitals, education, social security, etc were given away to greedy corrupts bankers in exchange for funds to support corrupted politician campaigns.
But in Ukistand idiots voters see these people with admiration. Can you know someone more idiots than that?
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