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Friday July 23, 2004

On bombing anniversary, thousands mourn and hope for answers

buenos aires (jta) | The first speech at the 10th annual commemoration of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish center here was the most emotional.

On July 18, journalist Alfredo Leuco recalled the lives of Sebastian Barreiro, 5, and Faiwel Dyjament, 73, the youngest and oldest victims among the 85 who died in the still-unsolved July 18, 1994, bombing.

Barreiro was a Catholic boy walking outside the building with his mother. He was a fan of the Ninja Turtles.

Dyjament, a Jew, was an unemployed tailor. That fateful morning, he had arrived early at the AMIA Employment Service to search for a job.

The commemoration followed a pattern that was no less moving for its familiarity.

At 9:53 a.m., a siren sounded. On Pasteur Street, in front of the AMIA building, several hundred people broke into tears.

Jewish groups, both in Argentina and abroad, have long been critical of what they see as foot-dragging in the pace of the investigation.of the attack.

“Argentina has to punish the people who commit atrocities,” an Argentine official said.

“It’s necessary for us, if we want to have a solid democracy, to do that.”

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