Argentina - Former soldiers, police clash in Plaza de Mayo

Around a hundred former soldiers who were deployed to Patagonia during the Malvinas war were able to pass through a police blockade patrolling the Government House and entered Plaza de Mayo square to once again claim veteran benefits.

After occupying the Torre Monumental in Retiro on Thursday during five hours, the former soldiers marched around the Obelisk and later marched down to the Interior Ministry and then continued to Plaza de Mayo, as they claim for “war veteran status,” which would make them eligible to receive veteran benefits, per Law 23.848.

As they reached the fencing along Rivadavia avenue, they turned around and continued to march down Leandro N Alem avenue, along the Government House’s left lateral and once again encountered a police blockade. The former soldiers clashed with the police officers, and one policeman had to receive medical treatment.

The former soldiers did not actually engage in combat during the war, were in charge of tasks to defence and logistics in Argentine air forces during the 1982 dispute.