Buenos Aires (Reuters) 2/18/2015 – Tens of thousands of protesters marched peacefully through the Argentine capital on Wednesday demanding an independent judiciary, as the country reels from the death of a state prosecutor who had been investigating the president.
The protest, one of the biggest during President Cristina Fernandez’s seven years in power, took place a month after a state prosecutor who had accused Fernandez of plotting to cover up his investigation into a 1994 bombing was found dead.
Alberto Nisman’s death in mysterious circumstances sent shock waves through Argentina ahead of October`s presidential elections and has plunged Fernandez`s final year in office into turmoil.
“Our democratic values are broken,” lamented protester Eduardo Gonzalez, 46, as torrential rain poured down. “We want an end to corruption.”
Nearby, Estela Girbal, a mother of nine, said she was fed up with the perceived impunity of top officials. “This shows people are tired,” she said.
Wednesday’s march was organized by a group of prosecutors who said the rally was to honor Nisman and was not politically motivated. The group has frequently locked horns with Fernandez’s leftist government and complained of a culture of intimidation and meddling in Argentina’s courts.
The White House said on Wednesday it was monitoring the situation in Argentina. A spokesman said Washington was “concerned” about issues surrounding the rule of law and justice that have been laid bare since Nisman`s death.
Argentines have long questioned the independence of the judiciary.
It turned a blind eye to the murder of thousands of suspected leftists during the 1976-83 military dictatorship.
Protesters waved placards reading “Truth” and “Justice” while others held posters saying “I am Nisman.”
Nisman had accused Iran of being behind a 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires and alleged Fernandez had conspired with the Tehran government to whitewash his investigations in return for economic favors.
On Wednesday, the investigator assigned to Nisman’s death revealed Stiusso had testified after the government lifted gag orders. Stiusso was one of the Intelligence Secretariat’s most powerful yet enigmatic operatives until he was sacked by Fernandez in December.