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Multiple Forms of Remembering the AMIA
Posted on 07/17/2014
On July 18th, 1994, the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was
struck by a van loaded with explosives, resulting in 85 casualties and over
300 injuries. July 18th marks the 20th anniversary of this attack, a date made
all the more resonant due to the fact that no one has ever been convicted for
the crime.
This date was planted firmly in my mind when I planned my research trip. I
knew I wanted to be in Buenos Aires to attend the commemoration, but I had not
anticipated that multiple remembrances that would take place. This change of
events serves to reiterate what CLACS has informed us throughout the planning
process for our research trips; things change once you’re on the ground.
At the site of the attack, the AMIA will be holding a commemoration. Memoria
Activa, a group organized around demanding convictions for the attack, is
holding its commemoration in front of the Palace of Justice. These groups have
been divided due to their feelings about a memorandum, now rendered
unconstitutional, which called for a joint investigation between Argentina and
Iran into the orchestrators of the attack. Memoria Activa perceives the AMIA,
and the Jewish community more broadly, as interested in maintaining the status
quo and blocking investigations about the attack.
Since the commemorations will be held at the same time, in order to coincide
with the timing of the attack, I’m faced with a choice. Do I attend the
official commemoration hosted by the AMIA, or do I attend Memoria Activa’s
event?
While I have my own feelings about which event I’d prefer to attend, I’m
approaching this problem practically. Because the AMIA was the site of the
attack, news outlet will be more likely to cover their commemoration. As such,
I’m planning to attend Memoria Activa’s event. Tomorrow’s events are
already proving to be informative.
Wendy Escobar – MA Candidate at CLACS / Museum Studies at NYU
http://clacsnyublog.com/2014/07/17/multiple-forms-of-remembering-the-amia/
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