MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

News from South America.

Explosive report in Argentine Congress

A preliminary report on money laundering, drug trafficking, tax evasion, illegal sales of weapons, suspicious paychecks in the privatization process, involving former president Menem's administration and the current Alianza government was made public in the Argentine Congress by a dissident Radical Deputy. The 1,500 pages report, most of which was constructed from a recent public hearing in US Congress involving "non orthodox" procedures of first line American banks, describes how illegal money in Argentina, was laundered and ended in the legal circuit mainly by triangle operations involving New York banks, British Caribbean Islands, Panama, Uruguay and local Argentine financial institutions with strong political and judicial connections. However, the report does not have the backing of the special Argentine Deputies Investigation Committee since majority members refused to make its contents public demanding more time to read the findings since it involved so many names and institutions. Majority Committee members also alleged Mrs. Carrió was more interested in a public opinion impact in line with her political ambitions. Former Alianza Deputy Elisa Carrió nevertheless went ahead and made the official presentation, with two other members, during a three hours speech in one of Argentine Congress chambers. She was also supported by human rights groups, trade union leaders and dissident members of Congress who have refused to vote the severe austerity "zero-deficit" measures of the De la Rúa administration. Mrs. Carrió mentioned in the report many Menem and Yoma family members and acquaintances; international Arab arms dealers such as Monser Al Kassar and Gayth Pharaon, and even members from the current ruling coalition, Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo and Christian Colombo, President De la Rúa's cabinet Secretary. In spite of her criticisms Mrs. Carrió praised capitalism, "true, transparent capitalism", had words of admiration for countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zeland, and even United States, although she accused American banks and multinational companies as the main money launders and corruption promoters in emerging markets. M