ARGENTINA: Argentina's human rights group the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo criticizes the Spanish Supreme Court for disbarring controversial Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon

Record ID: 446806

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentina's human rights group the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo criticizes the Spanish Supreme Court for disbarring controversial Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon
  • Date: 11th February 2012
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE (FILE -2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SPANISH JUDGE BALTASAR GARZON ENTERING AND HUGGING ARGENTINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AT AN EVENT TO HONOUR HIM AUDIENCE APPLAUDING ARGENTINE HUMAN RIGHTS SECRETARY EDUARDO LUIS DUHALDE GREETING GARZON
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1F96EHA12CD32T0QHHOORX9FM
  • Story Text: Argentine human rights group the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo announced on Friday (February 10) that they have petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus in a European court in defence of crusading Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon who was disbarred for 11 years by Spain's Supreme Court on Thursday (February 9).
    The judge grabbed headlines around the world in 1998 by using international human rights law to order the arrest in London of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
    Garzon is also well-known in Spain for investigating Basque separatist group ETA and his probe into government death squads in the 1980s is credited with helping to bring down the socialist government in 1996 elections.
    Thursday's ruling may effectively end the judge's career in international human rights trials.
    "I think sometimes the [superior] courts are courts to judge the people, but they aren't 'superior' at all. In this case, this court which has convicted Judge Garzon, is an 'inferior court'. It is clueless. It didn't realize that the whole world was going to stand up for Garzon because he is a man that has shown that he fights against crimes against humanity, more than anything, so that they don't happen again," said the leader of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Hebe de Bonafini.
    The judge was accused of authorizing police to record conversations between defence lawyers and their clients in a corruption case.
    Garzon is widely admired in Argentina for his work as the Spanish investigating magistrate which resulted in the sentencing of Adolfo Scilingo, an Argentine former navy captain, to 640 years in jail in April 2005 for crimes against humanity for throwing political prisoners from planes during Argentina's Dirty War.
    The lawyer working with the Mothers, Eduardo Barcesat, said they are seeking to annul the Spanish ruling and that other cases against Garzon be dropped. Barcesat accused those in power of trying to silence the judge.
    "We're doing it in defence of the entire human rights movement and because we want to say to the world that we know what they're trying to do. We know they are holding onto power and we know that they are trying to keep themselves from being judged. And like it has always been throughout the history of humanity, the people have to come out and take ownership of the judiciary tools to be able to sit those who have economic and political power in the courtroom," he said.
    Garzon is on trial in two more cases, one for allegedly abusing his authority by ordering an inquiry into the murder and forced disappearance of more than 100,000 people by forces loyal to late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.
    Garzon is charged in that case with violating a 1977 amnesty law. The judge maintains he acted at the request of the families of victims and that international law backs him.
    Also on Friday, Argentine Secretary of Human Rights Eduardo Luis Duhalde sent a letter of support to Garzon calling him a "dear friend" and saying he wishes he could have been by his side when he heard the ruling.
    On Thursday (February 9), the leader of human rights group the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Estela de Carlotto, condemned the Spanish ruling on Argentine television saying it should be immediately lifted.
    "They've made room for something that should be retracted because there is no room for this. In any democratic country what you look for is the truth, and not the lid to contain it. I say again, what are they scared of?" Carlotto said.
    Although less severe than a 17-year ban the prosecution had originally demanded, the court said the ruling was not subject to appeal. Fifty-six-year-old Garzon is also liable for a fine of 2,500 euros ($3,300 dollars).
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