Appeal to the status quo. Point to how things are now. Claim that surely things would be worse if the secret atrocities had not been committed. The victims are only in it for the money. This absurd claim can aid in turning the public against the victims, and can even sow dissension among the victims.
People are always suspicious of their purse-strings, and many are just greedy.
This claim ignores the fact the most victims first want the torture to stop, and then want to see some sort of justice done. With the facts out, any claims for compensation can be rationally considered in the open. It's not really that bad. The current American-style system of political imprisonment and harassment has evolved precisely to evoke that sort of reaction from Americans. As such, it is in many ways a reflection of our society.