MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Majority favour extradition of Argentine military
A majority of Argentines consider as “correct” the recent decision of President Nestor Kirchner to revoke the decree that impeded the extradition of Argentine military allegedly involved in human rights crimes.
According to public opinion polls published in the Buenos Aires Sunday press 64% of those interviewed supported the decision and 59% believe that Mr. Kirchner's repeal decree does not affect "national sovereignty".
Other opinion polls showed that 65% of those interviewed are inclined to support the repeal by Congress of legislation from the time of former President Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989) that set free over a thousand officers involved in human rights violations.
A poll of 400 interviews in metropolitan Buenos Aires indicated that 61% believe the "issue must undergo an overall review since there are pending issues". However 27,8% said that there should be no going back on legal decisions and 11,2% preferred not to answer.
Two of the polling companies Equis and Ricardo Rouvier involved confirmed the support to the latest presidential decisions.
According to Equis, 61% consider appropriate the decision of allowing the extradition of military personnel involve in human rights crimes; 27,2% disagreed; 2% said they were indifferent and almost 7% preferred not to reply.
The Ricardo Rouvier poll indicates that 65% agree with the repeal of the pardon legislation; 33,2% are against it and 1,3% did not reply.
Last Friday President Kirchner revoked the 2001 decree banning extradition of Argentines wanted by courts abroad for crimes against humanity. Former naval Capt. Alfredo Astiz, known as "angel of death", was one of 45 military officers ordered taken into custody in response to a request from a Spanish judge.
"The Dirty War - the most savage tragedy in the history of Argentina." Writer Ernesto Sábato
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