Former Argentinian premier appears before Judge
Former Argentinian President Fernando De la Rua appeared before a judge over the violence that led to the deaths of 26 people last December and his resignation from office.
De la Rua, summoned by Federal Judge Maria Servini de Cubria, spent two hours in a federal courthouse in Buenos Aires yesterday before returning to his country home outside the capital.
The 64-year-old former president was elected in November 1999 but served only half his four-year term.
On December 20, police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators in and around Buenos Aires’ main square, the Plaza de Mayo.
Mounted police carrying batons also charged the protesters, some of whom threw stones and bottles at police, set fire to several buildings and attacked officials.
Reports at the time said that among the six people who died around the Plaza de Mayo, most were hit by rubber bullets fired from close range.
De la Rua resigned later that day.
One day earlier, on December 19, the government declared a state of siege after hours of looting and demonstrations, and banned large protests.
Prosecutors had wanted De la Rua to be asked about the legality of the state of siege and questioned over what orders he gave security forces.
But the judge restricted her questions to whether the 29 people arrested in or around the square that day were detained legally, reportedly striking down the prosecutors’ request as ‘‘inappropriate’’.
