Argentina / 24-09-2012
Swastikas: severe condemnation by the Buenos Aires Jewish Community Center (AMIA) in response to Nazi symbolism used at a Plaza de Mayo parade.
Buenos Aires – The president of the Jewih Community Center in Buenos Aires (AMIA), Guillermo Borger, deemed “the presence of these Nazi symbols as condemnable and objectionable”. In statements given to the Argentine Jewish news agency, the community leader declared that “nothing can justify the presence of these symbols”, which remind us of the “darkest and most aberrant chapter of human history.” Julio Schlosser, vice-president of the Argentine Jewish communities’ parent organization (DAIA), had also condemned the presence of Nazi symbolism at the demonstration.
AMIA President, Mr. Guillermo Borger, expressed his staunch condemnation of Nazi symbolism at a recent Plaza de Mayo demonstration.
“The presence of these Nazi symbols is objectionable, and merits fierce condemnation.” This is part of a series of statements given to the Argentine Jewish news agency (AJN).
Borger noted that “the presence of Nazi symbols in any gathering is objectionable, and is particularly objectionable when observed in Argentina.”
“Argentina comprises a part of the International Task Force, a group devoted to the remembrance of, the research of, and the dissemination of knowledge about the holocaust,” he states.
Similarly, Borger stressed the fact that Argentina is the only country in Latin America which is a member of this international group.
“It is entirely beyond reconciliation that Argentina, a country which acts as a model for world nations due to its being the only Latin American nation that is a member of this committee, would allow this to take place, and the occurrence of such events in Argentina is even more severe as a result.”
In addition, the President of the AMIA noted that this fact is a painful one also because we are dealing with another trying period in human history – When Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes the podium at the UN General Assembly, and rants against Zionism, the Jewish Community and the State of Israel.
Borger also believes that the Nazi symbols observed on 13 August during a Plaza de Mayo procession constitute as an example of “holocaust banalization”.
As a child of holocaust survivors, Borger appears to be “twice as sensitive” given the events of Buenos Aires. Borger ‘s mother, who still bears the numbers etched into her skin during her stay at a WWII concentration camp, “is a living reminder which disproves the arguments of holocaust-deniers.”
“This event merits staunch condemnation, and it is likely that the symbols were used as a result of ignorance, given the fact that similar acts took place during humanity’s darkest hours. Regardless of the discord between human beings, nothing can justify the presence of these symbols.”
The protest, which was designed to promote better security measures, and to protest against the acquisition of US dollars, also included the use of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo’s traditional handkerchief – A humorous expression against the symbol of non-violent resistance to dictatorship.
More Condemnation
Mr. Julio Schlosser, vice-president of the Argentine Jewish communities’ parent organization (DAIA), also expressed his condemnation of swastikas used during the demonstration.
In an announcement, the NMC (New Communal Model, Nuevo Modelo Cuminitario), which endorses Julio Schlosser as its candidate for the DAIA presidency, supported his condemnation of Nazi symbols used in the demonstration.
“The public portrayal of swastikas in our nation’s public spaces is tantamount to a blatant provocation against the memory of millions of holocaust victims and survivors.” Consequently, the NMC urges society as a whole to avoid the use of these despicable symbols, which can only be ascribed to the most tragic chapter of human history.” The organization’s announcement included the signatures of Waldo Wolff and Jorge Knoblovits
