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'''María Cecilia Pando''' (born in Buenos Aires on September 9, 1967) is the head of the ''Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de los Presos Políticos de la Argentina''  (AAssociation of Relatives and Friends of Political Prisoners of Argentina or AFyAPPA), the relatives and friends of the military, police and civilians who fought against the widespread armed violence from the left and that today are unfairly detained under orders of socialist<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/03/29/argentina-will-no-longer-fund-hugo-chavezs-propaganda-channel/ Argentina Will No Longer Fund Hugo Chavez’s Propaganda Channel]</ref> president [[Néstor Kirchner]] who annulled in 2003 the amnesty granted by then president [[Carlos Saul Menem]] in 1989 to not only to the security forces, but also for the leftist guerillas who had operated in Argentina.

'''María Cecilia Pando''' (born in Buenos Aires on September 9, 1967) is the head of the ''Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de los Presos Políticos de la Argentina''  (AAssociation of Relatives and Friends of Political Prisoners of Argentina or AFyAPPA), the relatives and friends of the military, police and civilians who fought against the widespread armed violence from the left and that today are unfairly detained under orders of socialist<ref>[https://dailycaller.com/2016/03/29/argentina-will-no-longer-fund-hugo-chavezs-propaganda-channel/ Argentina Will No Longer Fund Hugo Chavez’s Propaganda Channel]</ref> president [[Néstor Kirchner]] who annulled in 2003 the amnesty granted by then president [[Carlos Saul Menem]] in 1989 to not only to the security forces, but also for the leftist guerillas who had operated in Argentina.

In a televised address to the Argentinian nation, Menem had explained his decision behind the pardons:{{cquote|I have signed the decrees so we may begin to rebuild the country in peace, in liberty and in justice. We come from long and cruel confrontations. There was a wound to heal.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/09/world/pardon-of-argentine-officers-angers-critics-of-the-military.html Pardon of Argentine Officers Angers Critics of the Military]</ref>}}

In a televised address to the Argentinian nation, Menem had explained his decision behind the pardons:{{cquote|I have signed the decrees so we may begin to rebuild the country in peace, in liberty and in justice. We come from long and cruel confrontations. There was a wound to heal.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/09/world/pardon-of-argentine-officers-angers-critics-of-the-military.html Pardon of Argentine Officers Angers Critics of the Military]</ref>}}

On November 21, 2005, Pando participated in a wife's march held in front of the Federal Courts to demand the release of their husbands detained by the new anti-military trials.<ref>[http://www.infobae.com/2005/12/30/230689-bendini-dispuso-el-pase-retiro-obligatorio-rafael-mercado/ Bendini dispuso el pase a retiro obligatorio de Rafael Mercado]</ref> The march would result in the forced retirement of her husband, Major Rafael Pedro Mercado.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/768593-pasaron-a-retiro-al-mayor-rafael-mercado Pasaron a retiro al mayor Rafael Mercado]</ref>''"I thought that I lived in a country in a democracy but it is not like that, we are living in a dictatorship"'', she countered on December 29 in a ''Radio Continental'' interview.

On November 21, 2005, Pando participated in a wife's march held in front of the Federal Courts to demand the release of their husbands detained by the new anti-military trials.<ref>[http://www.infobae.com/2005/12/30/230689-bendini-dispuso-el-pase-retiro-obligatorio-rafael-mercado/ Bendini dispuso el pase a retiro obligatorio de Rafael Mercado]</ref> The march would result in the forced retirement of her husband, Major Rafael Pedro Mercado.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/768593-pasaron-a-retiro-al-mayor-rafael-mercado Pasaron a retiro al mayor Rafael Mercado]</ref>''"I thought that I lived in a country in a democracy but it is not like that, we are living in a dictatorship"'', she countered on December 29 in a ''Radio Continental'' interview.