DATE=1/20/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-225553 TITLE=ARGENTINA / REPRESSION (L-ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RELATIVES OF VICTIMS KILLED DURING ARGENTINA'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP HAVE HURLED INSULTS AND EGGS AT A RETIRED NAVY COMMANDER KNOWN AS "THE ANGEL OF DEATH." CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS ALFREDO ASTIZ TESTIFIED IN COURT CONCERNING THE MURDER OF A JOURNALIST. TEXT: THE ANGRY CROWD SHOUTED "ASSASSIN" AND OTHER INSULTS AS IT PELTED THE CONTROVERSIAL OFFICER WITH EGGS. COMMANDER ASTIZ, UNDER HEAVY GUARD, WAS ENTERING COURT TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE 1993 MURDER OF JOURNALIST MARIO BONINO. ON MONDAY, HE TESTIFIED ABOUT THE 1977 DEATH OF ANOTHER JOURNALIST, RODOLFO WALSH. IN A MAGAZINE INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, COMMANDER ASTIZ BRAGGED THAT HE WAS TAUGHT TO KILL POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS, AND SAID THE KILLING OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED DURING ARGENTINA'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP FROM 1976 TO 1983 WAS JUSTIFIED. ON ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM, THE NAVY ARRESTED COMMANDER ASTIZ FOR 60 DAYS, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY. COMMANDER ASTIZ IS IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION FOR ACTS COMMITTED IN THE SO-CALLED "DIRTY WAR" BECAUSE OF AMNESTY LAWS PASSED IN 1987 AND 1988. HOWEVER, HE HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO TESTIFY IN THE MURDER CASES IN THE HOPE HE COULD SHED LIGHT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO FAR, HE HAS OFFERED LITTLE IN THE WAY OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION. ARGENTINA'S INTERIOR MINISTER, CARLOS CORACH, SAYS THE NAVY SHOULD EXPEL COMMANDER ASTIZ FROM ITS RANKS FOR GOOD. HE RETIRED IN 1996. A MILITARY TRIBUNAL COULD ORDER HIS DEMOTION AND DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE FOR HIS REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF ATROCITIES, AND HIS WARNING TO SOCIETY TO STOP CRITICIZING THE ACTION OF THE ARMED FORCES. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/TMD/RRM 20-Jan-98 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC) NNNN
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