Argentina: Involvement of Juan José Ribelli in the 1994 bombing of the offices of the Israelite Mutual Association of Argentina (Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, AMIA); reports of the involvement of a garage owner in the attack; current situation of this individual (1994 - May 2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 May 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG37065.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Involvement of Juan José Ribelli in the 1994 bombing of the offices of the Israelite Mutual Association of Argentina (Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, AMIA); reports of the involvement of a garage owner in the attack; current situation of this individual (1994 - May 2001), 9 May 2001, ARG37065.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be0cc.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No mention of the individual identified in the Information Request as the owner of a garage linked to the vehicle used in the 18 July 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires offices of the Israelite Mutual Association of Argentina (Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, AMIA) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, a number of reports identify Ariel Nitzcaner and Fabian Jouce, also known as Marcelo Fabian Jouce, as the owners of a garage in Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires where the Renault Traffic van allegedly used in the attack was repaired and repainted prior to being taken away on 10 July 1994 by an unidentified individual (American Jewish Committee July 1995; Microsemanario 31 July 1994; Goobar 1996). The van had originally been purchased as "fire-salvage" by Carlos Alberto Telleldin, an individual with a criminal record who allegedly had links with the extreme right (American Jewish Committee July 1995; Goobar 1996; Microsemanario 23 July 1995). Telleldin reportedly arranged for the van to be repaired at Nitzcaner and Jouce's garage, and then re-sold it (Goobar 1996; American Jewish Committee July 1995; Microsemanario 31 July 1994). Nitzcaner and Jouce were arrested on 28 July 1994 in connection with the bombing, but were released shortly thereafter (ibid. 23 July 1995).
No information on the current situation or whereabouts of Fabian Jouce could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. In a 25 November 1999 report, the Tucumán newspaper La Gaceta stated that Ariel Nitzcaner would stand trial as an accessory (encubridor) in the AMIA bombing. No additional information on Nitzcaner or the outcome of his trial could be found among the sources consulted.
At the time of the attack, Juan José Ribelli, also known as "Juancito" and "El Lobo" (Página/12 14 July 1999), was a Buenos Aires provincial police commissioner, and allegedly a leader of a criminal gang that "dealt in stolen goods and collected 'protection payments' from criminals" (American Jewish Committee 2000). According to a number of reports, Ribelli arranged for the Renault Traffic van to be acquired from Telleldin on 10 July 1994, and subsequently handed it over to those who carried out the attack (ibid.; AMIA 2000 2000; Página/12 11 July 2000). Ribelli has been in prison since 1995 (Anti-Semitism Worldwide 1999/2000 2000). His trial, scheduled to begin in April 2001 (Clarín 6 Dec. 2000), was ongoing as recently as 16 April 2001 (Página/12 17 Apr. 2001).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
American Jewish Committee. 2000. "Unfinished Business: The AMIA Bombing."
_____. July 1995. "Atrocity in Buenos Aires: The AMIA Bombing, One Year Later."
AMIA 2000. 2000. "Juan José Ribelli."
Anti-Semitism Worldwide 1999/2000. 2000. "Argentina."
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 6 December 2000. "Presentan al abogado de la AMIA."
La Gaceta [Tucumán]. 25 November 1999. "El caso de la AMIA."
Goobar, Walter. 1996. El tercer atentado. Buenos Aires: Editoral Sudamericana.
Microsemanario [Buenos Aires]. 17-23 July 1995. "A un año del atentado a la AMIA."
_____. 25-31 July 1994. "Atentado a la AMIA."
Página/12 [Buenos Aires]. 17 April 2001. Raúl Kollmann. "El menemismo, a declarar."
_____. 11 July 2000. "'A Telleldín le pagaron y acusó a policías por el atentado a la AMIA.'"
_____. 14 July 1999. "Una verdadera galería del horror."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases.
Internet sites including:
Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA)
La Capital [Rosario]. 2000-2001.
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 1997-2001.
Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA)
La Nación [Buenos Aires]. 1997-2001.
Shalom Online.
