STUPID ARGENTINA CLAIM BY AND THE USELESS NATIONS (ie Corrupt UN officials)

FACT - This map together shows the 35% increase of the "Argentine Platform". It doesn't include Falklands, Georgias, Sandwich and Antarctica. Only the northern section beyond the 200 miles was considered by this UN committee.

THE FALKLANDS WAR - Post Conflict - Think Defence

There is a persistent myth that the Argentine forces were a bunch of frightened, underfed and ill equipped conscripts with no clue of their business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their equipment in many cases was superb, in part, much better than that enjoyed by British forces.

Defensive positions were well sited and constructed, they had made excellent use of visual deceptions and the radar and ECM equipment were not only extensive but exceptionally well operated as well. Many were volunteers, thought right was on their side and fought with great skill, determination and gallantry. They were not short of most things, there were ample rations, ammunition and equipment, it was just poorly distributed which meant there were many local shortages outside Port Stanley, especially of food. However, the rift between the officer and other ranks was enormous, logistics was inconsistent and at the end of the day, they had no campaign plan because quite simply, they did not expect such a resolute response. The best soldiers on the planet, sailing 8,000 miles across open ocean, supported by equally fine air and sea forces, and with firm intent, fighting skill and centuries of tradition behind them was simply not within their range of expectations.

Following the surrender of the Argentine forces, it was now time to consolidate and prevent a rematch.

Although Argentina had accepted the Instrument of Ceasefire they only recognised this locally, there was no wider recognition of the cessation of hostilities so although they were down for the count the British government recognised that the nature of the unfinished business needed sensible and sturdy consolidation.

Unfortunately, the scale of the other problems facing both the victorious military forces and civilian inhabitants of the Falkland Islands were immense, there were many priorities, every single one of them number one.

Disposal of the detritus of war, getting the defeated Argentine forces home safe and well, restoring damaged or destroyed utilities, keeping everyone fed and watered, rotating British forces out of theatre, satisfying the demands of the world’s media and basically getting the islanders back to some semblance of normality all competed with rehabilitating the airport.

That said, commanders were entirely focussed on the airport facilities, it might have been competing with other resource demands but it was generally beating them as well. Unlike the Argentine forces, we recognised the strategic value of air defence from the islands.

For several weeks, there was also a real fear that elements of the Argentine forces might try an armed publicity stunt.

If many considered the conduct of the Argentine forces to very good during the conflict, towards the end, and after, they somewhat spoiled that.

A vast quantity and variety of mines had been laid and not just in out of the way locations. The hazard to civilians (especially children) and service personnel was enormous. On June 14th Major Roddy McDonald, the OC of 59 Independent Squadron Royal Engineers managed to track down the Argentine chief engineer, one Lt. Col Dorago, in order to assess the scale of the mine problem. Other personnel from 59 joined in, a warning was broadcast on local radio and through the military chain of command, and fourteen selected Argentine volunteers were utilised to complete the recce.

By the end of the day, the full realisation of the scale of the Argentine mining and booby trapping efforts had become apparent.

It was staggering.

They simply did not know how many or where mines had been laid, records were incomplete or incorrect, markers had been removed and mines had shifted in peat and deep sand. The problem was made worse because the Argentine chain of command allowed almost any unit to lay mines, marines, artillery and all manner of infantry units, not just the professional combat engineers. After a number of casualties the clearance effort changed to one of ‘marking only’

The POW volunteer force of Argentine combat engineers expanded, formed a close working relationship with British forces and received special privileges and pay not enjoyed by other POW’s. A joint guard of honour and bugler were provided for the burials of Argentine soldiers discovered during the clearance operations and in thanks for the rapid medevac and treatment of an injured Argentine member of the demining team they paid for and cooked a barbecue for British members of the team and OC of 9 Parachute Squadron RE.

9 PARA left for the UK on the 17th July and were replaced in the mine clearance role by 69 Ghurka Independent Field Squadron RE.

There was a lot of sympathy/pity for the prisoners of war but that understandably evaporated when the scale of booby trapping and vindictive sabotage became known. Argentine forces had deliberately set many complex booby traps in the latter stages of the conflict in civilian houses and places of business. These were often linked to attractive items like boots, binoculars or thermos flasks and many of the discarded munitions were also booby trapped, some even attached to propane cylinders. Water supply in Port Stanley was always a problem, Argentine forces even turned all the taps on in houses they occupied and opened fire hydrants. Desalination equipment was lost on the Atlantic Conveyor, as well as tentage for five thousand personnel, exacerbating the problems. 9 Squadron and 61 Field Support Squadron RE managed to get water supplies running after four days and this was supplemented with water dracones towed into Port Stanley harbour.

In addition, to mines and booby traps, an equally huge problem was that of unexploded munitions of every kind. Everything from small arms ammunition to napalm canisters to anti-aircraft missiles to flares were strewn around the area, half opened and often poorly accounted for.

‘Dumdum’ small arms ammunition was found in addition to a large stock of SA-7 MANPAD missiles fresh off the plane from Col. Gadaffi. Grenades, flares, rockets, cannon shells, mortar bombs, small arms ammunition, aircraft bombs, missiles, napalm, and artillery ammunition all needed to be tackled. Unboxed ammunition was recovered to the UK but anything else was made safe and destroyed by a combined Royal Navy, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force team of EOD specialists.

Repatriating Argentine personnel and maintaining good order was made worse by the gulf between their officers and other ranks, a gulf, generally speaking, filled with a deep dislike bordering on hatred. This was plainly a result of the huge difference in the way they were both treated; officers had different, and larger, rations packs for example, including whiskey and cigarettes. The Globe Store was burned down by Argentine soldiers because they thought it was where their officers were accommodated and but for officers being allowed to retain their side arms, many might not have made it home.

For the most part, Argentine forces were well beaten and looking forward to going home, some weren’t though, the marines, for example, marched to the weapons surrender point and promptly burned their colours lest they become a souvenir in some Officers Mess in the UK.

Indeed, there were a number of slight lapses of UK military discipline as the acquisition of trophy’s and venting steam threatened to spoil the atmosphere. As Jeremy Edmund Shackleton Larken, British officer commanded HMS Fearless during Falklands War, 1982 commented that there was a;

a general acquisitive approach to liberating Argentine equipment

This was quickly dealt with.

The area of Port Stanley, a town that normally supported about 800 people, was no home to ten thousand POW’s, about five thousand UK military personnel, and of course, the permanent residents.

And all this was before the problems of the airport had been addressed.

There were three broad objectives for the British Forces;

ONE; Re-establish basic air operations at Stanley Airport such that they could support Harrier and Hercules aircraft. This would allow much of the task force, especially the aircraft carriers, to return to the UK, and replacement forces to arrive quickly.

TWO; Extend and reinforce Stanley Airport to allow the Harriers to depart and be replaced with Phantoms.

THREE; Select a suitable location for a large military airfield that could support all current and future combat and transport aircraft.

RAF Stanley – Phase One

Stanley Airport, formerly BAM Malvinas, was in an equally poor state as Port Stanley.

The image below reportedly taken the day after the surrender, shows Stanley Airport

Day after surrender.

Prisoners were an added complication around the airport in the days after surrender. Many of them were temporarily accommodated at the airport, it was an obvious place, easily contained, safe, yet surrounded by their own mines and with only one means of access before Boxer Bridge was built by 25 Field Squadron Royal Engineers in 1983.

Surrender

Clearance

The first task to conduct a survey and make safe any exploded munitions, booby traps and mines, of which there were plenty.

This task would fall to both the Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force EOD teams. No.1 Bomb Disposal Group RAF would play a considerable part in clearing Stanley Airport of unexploded munitions but that had a difficult start to the campaign. On the 27th of match they boarded RFA Sir Bedivere with all their vehicles and equipment but when loading had completed, were ordered off again. Another four man team clearing unexploded cluster bomblets from the West Freugh range in Scotland had been killed and the embarked team were disembarked in order to complete the task. The team would eventually join the task force by being flown to Ascension Island to catch up with Sir Bedivere. The team cleared munitions in San Carlos and Goose Green, especially the leaking napalm cannisters and mines at Goose Green. By the time the team had finished its deployment, it had cleared over 900 unexploded bombs, numerous mines and booby traps and tonnes of napalm.

The Argentine aircraft that were left at Stanley Airport were also cleared of booby traps, munitions removed and to prevent accidents by the ever present ‘trophy hunters’ the ejection seats were removed (firing the ejection seats was also used to initiate booby traps)

Once made safe, aircraft were then moved to an assembly area for eventual disposal

A number of PoW’s volunteered for removing none explosive debris and sweeping the runway after they assumed that such endeavours would earn them a priority ticket home, quite how they came to this belief has never been determined!

A number of Exocet missiles were also found, the canisters which would be used later.

Making Good the Runway

During the conflict, the runway was cratered by 5 bombs. The first and deepest was from Black Buck I and the others were much shallower, from retarded bombs dropped by the Sea Harriers/Harrier GR.3a’s. There were also over 1,000 shallow scabs from rockets, BL 755 bomblets, 4.5” shells and cannon fire.

59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (with a troop from 20 Field Squadron) filled in three craters and about 500 of the scabs on the Northern half of the runway, the repairs were made by using magnesium phosphate cement called Bostik 276.

The thousand pound bomb craters on the runway were backfilled and a quantity of AM-2 repair matting used to cover them. It was also discovered that Argentine engineers had used filled oil drums to fill the Vulcan crater, these were removed

his allowed the runway to be used for planned Hercules flights.

The first RAF Hercules landed on the 24th of June 1982, ten days after the surrender, a magnificent, and generally unrecognised achievement.

Harrier Operations and Airport Development

Using PSA-1 from the Port San Carlos FOB and a quantity of AM-2 matting left at the airport a short parallel runway, to the north of the main runway, was also created for use by Harriers.

The RAF Harrier GR.3 detachment, armed with Sidewinders, went ashore to Port Stanley Airport on the 4th of July and operated in the air defence role. A number of Rhubb shelters were installed to provide sheltered maintenance spaces but the weather was so severe, a number were dislodged and damaged aircraft.

11 Field Squadron Royal Engineers also supported the repair effort and as can be imagined, the tasks were extremely varied. Not widely known is that in order to create a drainage culvert, the engineers used a pair of empty Exocet missile containers.

In addition, to the runway, the airport support facilities were enhanced greatly and the sign was changed as well.

Greatest Mysteries of War - The Britsih Falkland Islands

New arms threat: Argentina's £3billion boost to military

British military chiefs were last night “carefully monitoring” developments after Argentina announced a £3billion revamp of its armed forces.

 

Buenos Aires will acquire military hardware including fighter aircraft, ­anti-aircraft weapons and specialised radar, as well as beefing up its special forces.

 

The news comes months before drilling for oil ­begins in earnest off the Falkland Islands, provoking ­Argentina’s struggling President Cristina ­Fernandez de ­Kirchner.

 

Last month she created a new cabinet post of Secretary for the Malvinas, her country’s name for the Falklands.

 

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has refused to confirm that Britain would retake the Falklands if they were overrun by enemy forces.

 

The extra cash means Argentina will ­increase defence spending by 33.4 per cent this year, the biggest rise in its history. It will include £750million for 32 ­procurement and modernisation programmes.

 

They will include medium tanks and transport aircraft and the refurbishment of warships and submarines. The shopping list also ­includes Israeli air ­defence systems, naval assault craft, rocket systems, helicopters and a drone project.

 

There will be a range of hi-tech capabilities for the army and the formation of new commando and special ­forces units.

 

In August last year the Sunday Express revealed details of a contract to buy 20 French Mirage fighter jets from Spain, giving Argentina the ability to attack Port Stanley airfield with laser guided bombs.

 

Sources from British oil and gas firm Rockhopper Exploration confirmed serious drilling could begin in a few months. Its Sea Lion field is thought to have 394 million barrels of oil.

 

“We’re just waiting for a rig, which isn’t easy to organise in the South Atlantic, ­before we can escalate to the next stage,” said the source. President de Kirchner’s new Malvinas Secretary Daniel Filmus sent over 200 letters to oil firms threatening fines of up to $1.5billion and 15-year-jail terms if they drilled without consent.

 

Though the threats have no validity in international law, it is seen as an example of the lengths the president will go to in order to bolster domestic political ­support.

Britain has strengthened its defences of the islands, with four RAF Eurofighter Typhoons and 600 troops. A Royal Navy nuclear submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles visits twice a year.

 

Senior military sources told the Sunday Express they were “carefully monitoring” the situation. The real fear, however, is a raid by Argentinian special forces aimed at damaging Port Stanley’s runway.

Admiral Lord West, who was at the helm of HMS Ardent when she was sunk in the Falklands War, said: “Any major increase in defence expenditure by Argentina must be viewed with concern. I am concerned that, without any ­aircraft carriers, we are incapable of ­recapturing them.”

He said Britain’s new carriers will not be operational until 2020 and until then Argentina had a window of opportunity.

Falklands’ War: Defense releases stats on deaths of military personnel

A comprehensive statistical study of the deaths of personnel deployed to the Falklands since the end of the conflict has been published in the UK. The study, by Britain’s Defense Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) was published on Tuesday 14 May and is the first of its kind.

According to the study, 25,948 UK Armed Forces personnel served in the Falklands Campaign; 237 personnel died during the campaign; 1,335 Falklands veterans have died since 1982 and 95 of these deaths (veterans and in-service) were attributable to suicide and open verdict deaths.

There had been concerns that more Falklands veterans had taken their own lives since the conflict than died in action. However, the statistics show that 7% of the deaths of Falklands’ veterans since the campaign were attributed to suicide, significantly less than the number of deaths during the campaign.

“Every suicide is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families and relatives of all those lost who bravely served in the Falklands conflict”, said a MOD spokesperson on presentation of the study.

Whilst the extensive study suggests that the rate of suicide amongst those who served in the conflict is in fact lower than the UK civilian population, “we are clear that the mental health of our personnel and veterans remains a top priority. That is why we have committed £7.2 million to ensure we have extensive mental health support in place for everyone who needs it”.

This includes tailored NHS mental health services and a 24-hour helpline with Combat Stress so Service personnel and veterans can seek help at any time.

“We would encourage any Falklands veterans or serving personnel who need help to come forward to access the wide range of support available”, added the spokesperson.

The MOD has been working with the Department of Health to implement the recommendations in Dr Andrew Murrison’s report, Fighting Fit; A Mental Health Plan for Servicemen and Veterans.

Highlights include the extension of military mental healthcare to qualifying Service leavers for up to 6 months after discharge and the uplift in the numbers of mental healthcare professionals. Others include setting up a 24-hour helpline with Combat Stress so Service personnel and veterans can seek help at any time, and making available access to the Big White Wall well-being website for Service personnel, their families and veterans.

Some ex-Service personnel delay seeking help on service termination because of the view that civilian health professionals do not understand military life and the context of their problems.

A key aim is therefore provision of services for veterans which are multifaceted, including both healthcare interventions and social support, and involve public and charitable organizations working together. The government has also provided advice for NHS GPs in the form of an e-learning package for managing veterans’ health issues.

These statistics will continue to be updated and an updated statistical notice will be published in April 2014.

Falklands’ lawmakers meet Chaco human rights group following formal Argentine request

 On request from a group of human rights representatives from Chaco, Argentina, Falkland Islands lawmakers met and listened to their views on a number of issues resulting from the 1982 war. The meeting followed a formal request from the group directly to the Falklands elected Legislative Assembly.

''The meeting, which took place in the Liberation Room at the Secretariat in Stanley, followed a formal request from the group that was made directly to the Falklands elected Legislative Asembly.'

The Argentine delegation included three regional politicians with specific responsibilities for human rights in the Chaco province along with the Chairman and Secretary of the human rights group. The Falklands were represented by MLA Dick Sawle and MLA Mike Summers.

The official release from Gilbert House stated that:

The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly recently agreed that two of its members should meet with five representatives of a human rights group from Chaco, Argentina in order to listen to their views on a number of issues resulting from the 1982 war.

MLAs Dick Sawle and Mike Summers attended the meeting following a request from the group made directly to the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly. Three regional Argentine politicians with specific responsibilities for human rights in the Chaco region attended the meeting, along with the Chairman and Secretary of the human rights group.

Following the meeting, MLA Sawle said: “The Falkland Islands are a modern democracy, and we uphold fundamental values such as freedom of speech and human rights. On humanitarian grounds, it was only right that we should listen to the views of this group who are actively involved in investigating the cases of abuse of many Argentine veterans who suffered greatly at the hands of their own officers during the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. However, whilst we may listen to their views on a variety of issues, on the specific issue of DNA testing we have made it very clear that we can only consider any practical action if and when we receive a request from the International Red Cross which must have the full and unequivocal support of the Families Commission in Argentina.”

MLA Mike Summers said: “It is notable that an Argentine group such as this recognise the legitimate and democratically elected Government of the Falkland Islands, and should request this meeting. We made it clear to the group that all peoples, including Falkland Islanders, have human rights, and that the current approach of the Argentine Government is unhelpful in achieving any co-operation. The wishes of families are important, but the political context will be a determining factor.”
 

Falklands: MPs blast Spanish MEP for comments on the Islands sovereignty

“The EU is encroaching on foreign affairs in a way that I find absolutely outrageous” said MP Andrew Rosindell for Romford, Essex.

“The EU is again giving the impression that it has some influence and power over things which rightly are British government domain”, added MP Rosindell.

Last week a delegation of European lawmakers visited Argentina and met with peers from the Senate mainly to discuss how to advance stalled trade relations between the EU and Mercosur member countries.

Taking advantage of the circumstance Senator Daniel Filmus head to the Foreign Affairs Committee called on members of the EU delegation to press Britain to begin talks with Argentina about the disputed Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty

“To advance in the strengthening of the accords it would be beneficial if the EU would commit itself to help”, said Filmus who added Argentina wanted the UK to dialogue on the “Malvinas question”.

It was then that MEP Luis Yañez Barnuevo, from Spain and head of the delegation replied that for the European Parliament “British sovereignty over the Islands, as such is not accepted”.

This despite the fact that in early March the Falkland Islands held a referendum on their future and political status, and an overwhelming turnout and vote confirmed the Islanders wish to remain as a British Overseas Territory.

MP Rossindell said that this attitude from members of the European Parliament “is yet another reason why PM Cameron must bring forward the referendum (on remaining with the EU) so Britain can reassert its independence and prevent the diminishing or our own power and sovereignty over issues that should rightly be decided by the British people”.

MEP William Dartmouth from the Independent Party said “It is almost unbelievable that a politician from another country considers it appropriate to make unhelpful and hostile comments about Britain’s internal affairs. Spain still holds its own conclaves in Africa claimed by neighbouring Morocco.

“You can’t imagine a British politician going to Morocco and making similar comments”, insisted MEP Dartmouth.

A Falklands’ war veteran Major-General Julian Thompson was also involved in the debate and said MEPs have ‘no right to make such statements’.

“Some might ask what right Spain has to hold colonies in Africa for instance. The will of the Falkland Islanders has been clearly expressed and it should be respected”, said the Thompson is direct reference to the March referendum.

Argentina Propaganda - Falkland Islands: “British sovereignty over the Islands as such, is not accepted by the European Parliament”

“British sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands as such is not accepted by the European Parliament”, according to a visiting delegation of EU lawmakers who met with their Argentine peers in Buenos Aires.

The Falklands issue was brought up by Senator Daniel Filmus, head of the Foreign Affairs committee in the framework of a meeting with a delegation from the EU Commission for relations with Mercosur countries, headed by MEP Luis Yañez Barnuevo from Spain.

Senator Filmus as part of the talks on the stalled Mercosur/EU cooperation and trade agreement suggested to his peers that an additional effort to help Argentina establish a bilateral dialogue with the UK on the Malvinas issue would be very positive for the whole range of issues.

“To advance in the strengthening of the accords it would be beneficial if the EU would commit itself to help so that the UK sits at a table to dialogue bilaterally on the Malvinas question” said Filmus.

He added that the diplomatic path “is the only path we conceive and we stress this position in support of dialogue in all the international forums we participate”.

Senator Filmus claimed that the UK is taking advantage of the dispute to ‘militarize’ the South Atlantic and to extract natural resources that belong to the region.

“There is a growing consensus related to this issue and it’s that both sides must sit to discuss it. Militarization and extracting natural resources has implications not only for territorial sovereignty and integration but also economic for our region”, underlined Senator Filmus.

It was then that MEP Yañez Barnuevo and head of the EU delegation ratified that for the European Parliament “British sovereignty over the (Malvinas) Islands as such, is not accepted”.

However the MEP and his colleagues, Jean Pierre Audy, Josefa Andres Barea y Mario Pirillo asked about the seizure last year of YPF from Spain’s Repsol.

Senator Sonia Escudero said that the reasons to advance over 51% of YPF shares “was directly related to the fact that production and reserves of oil and gas under the Spanish administration had collapsed over 40%, while 100% profits were distributed and debts had also ballooned”.

“This caused serious energy provision difficulties for Argentina, and thus the decision”, added Senator Escudero.

Finally the Argentine lawmakers called for a recovery of the favourable climate that has always signalled relations with the EU, although expressing some apprehensions.

“We observe certain aggressiveness from the EU and some of its member states against Argentina, following the decision to nationalize YPF, which is contrary to the historical links and friendship between the two regions”, admitted Senator Escudero.

Falklands: Warmonger Cristina Fernandez leads ceremony to honour 323 crewmembers from torpedoed ‘General Belgrano’

“We have defined the action many times as such, because the ‘General Belgrano’ was absolutely outside the exclusion zone when it was attacked”, said the Argentine president on Thursday during the commemoration of the sinking at Government House, Casa Rosada.

“I’ve met many of their mothers, their sisters, their girlfriends, their wives, their daughters, many of them, most of them humble women, from the villages. Always, as in all wars those who die come from humble homes, humble families” added Cristina Fernandez.

The president insisted that the best homage to the dead “is precisely building among us all a better Argentina, not only to recover what is ours, but also unmoveable, tenacious, stubborn always in the framework of international Law, in democracy which is the only way that to claim in the world”.

“The best way to honour these men and their families is to continue building an Argentina for which it makes sense that their loss of lives was in the defence of the country”, emphasized the president. 

“They all went to defend a better fatherland, fairer, more integrated more inclusive and with more solidarity”.

And adding some current political spice, since Argentina will be holding mid term elections next October and on May 25th will be the tenth anniversary of the first time her late husband Nestor Kirchner took office as elected president, Cristina Fernandez referred those events.

“I’m sure that each of them wanted a better fatherland, so the best way to honour them, to honour these martyrs from the ‘General Belgrano’ is to continue working as we have been doing for ten years, and always keeping in mind that the fatherland is next to us, our partner in life, in work…”

The ‘General Belgrano’, Argentina’s greatest loss during the 74 day conflict in the South Atlantic following the Argentine military invasion of the Falklands, went down with the loss of 323 crew-members (mostly conscripts), struck by torpedoes from the nuclear powered Royal Navy submersible HMS Conqueror.

The attack according to the Argentine government and long established belief took place outside the 200 miles exclusion zone established by the British. However according to London based on the release of recent documents, and even from Argentine Navy sources and vessel officers, the US built light cruiser (former USN Arizona) was playing cat and mouse along the perimeter of the exclusion zone with the support of two missile armed frigates.

Falkland Island’s: Argentina reclaims “absolute and exclusive sovereignty over the Islands”

 Defence minister Arturo Puricelli said that Argentines “are not prepared to tolerate the usurpation” of the Malvinas Islands ‘for the rest of our lives’ and the honour and glory for those who fought in the South Atlantic “is going to be recalled until we obtain absolute and exclusive sovereignty over our Islands”.

 

“For us Malvinas is a cause that will never prescribe in the life of the nation and will only end the day the Argentine flag is flying over the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands” added Puricelli during a military ceremony to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Argentine Air Force ‘baptism of fire’ on May first 1982 during the Falklands conflict.

The ceremony at the El Palomar Air Force base was also attended by the Argentine Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Jorge Chevallier, the head of the Air Force, Normando Constantino, other government and provincial officials, lawmakers, local magistrates, members of the three forces and Malvinas Veterans and Next of kin.

“We feel in this cause supported and accompanied the peoples and governments of the South American countries and so many others in the rest of the world”, added the minister.

Puricelli said that it is of special concern to the Argentine government “the design of a military instrument which fully guarantees the national defence all along our jurisdiction in the sea, the air and the ground”.

“Our commitment is to continue training men and women so that they belong to the Armed Forces of our nation with the same interest, courage and heroism displayed by the men, women, military and civilians during the South Atlantic war without asking for explanations, only dedicated to honour the allegiance to the flag”.

The minister during his speech transmitted “the greetings and acknowledgement of President Cristina Fernandez to the relatives of those combatants who lost their lives in the war and to the veterans who with the same courage and commitment were able to survive those heroic days”.

During the South Atlantic conflict the Argentine Air Force lost 55 personnel and almost of its combat wings. According to the Argentine version of events on May first after the British bombarded Falklands’ air strips, they were ready to land in the Islands but the Argentine Air Force reaction was immediate.

That May first started the “Air Battle of the Malvinas” and the Argentine combat aircraft at the end of the day had completed 57 attack and cover sorties against British naval targets dropping 20 tons of bombs.

Wednesday’s ceremony in El Palomar following the speeches ended with a military parade and an over-flight of Hercules C-130 and Bell-212 helicopters.
 

P&O cruise vessels choose Falklands over Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires

P&O, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation Plc and one of the world’s leading cruise operators will be omitting Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia and Buenos Aires from its 2013 season because of the difficulties encountered by its red ensign vessels in Argentine ports during recent months. However the company confirms that the vessels will continue to call in the Falkland Islands.

Arcadia and Adonia will continue to call at the Falkland Islands

In an official release the company said that “in these last months we have been working with the Foreign Office and our local agents to obtain reassurances from the Argentine government that our vessels will be allowed to dock in the country’s ports. We have been unable to secure this reassurance and the risk that access is rejected or the vessel delayed is too high”.

“As a British cruise company we can’t allow ourselves to be subject to any political dispute or put our passengers and our crew in any situation in which their enjoyment is compromised”, adds the release.

Furthermore in recent times the red ensign has not been allowed to dock in Argentine ports or has been delayed, in reference to the ‘Gaucho Rivero Law’ implemented in five Argentine provinces which implies the impediment to berth, permanence, supply and logistics operations to British vessels or flying convenience flags.

The law is targeted to vessels from the oil industry, but it has reached the cruise vessels with several of them desisting to call in Falklands/Malvinas Islands, whose sovereignty Argentina claims.

Last November according to press reports, radical activists protested against a company which sells cruise packages which include Malvinas and the façade of the office was attacked with Molotov bombs in the Retiro quarter of the city of Buenos Aires.

Following the incident the UK government summoned the Argentine ambassador in London demanding explanations regarding the “alleged intimidation and harassment actions” against cruise vessels that include the Malvinas in their itineraries.

“Therefore to ensure our customer’s enjoyment of their cruise, we have taken the decision to cancel our scheduled calls to Argentina for the forthcoming Arcadia and Adonia world cruises.

“Letters have been sent to passengers today, via their travel agents where appropriate, to inform them of the changes to their itinerary and where directly affected, the change to their turnaround port from Buenos Aires to Montevideo in Uruguay” concludes the release.

In January begins third phase of Argentine landmine clearance in the Falklands

The third phase of explosive ordnance and landmine clearance in the Falkland Islands is scheduled to begin next January and extend until March 2013 and is programmed to concentrate in the surrounding of the capital Stanley.

The Zimbabwe team celebrates previous successful clearances of areas that included Surf Bay, Goose Green, Sapper Hill and part of Stanley Common  

These are the remnants of the Argentine occupation of the Falklands thirty years ago, back in 1982, which left thousands of mostly antipersonnel mines planted in areas considered strategic from a military point of view to defend the capital Stanley, but with which Islanders have had to learn to live for over three decades.

This next phase of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Explosive Ordnance and Landmine Clearance Programme is to be carried by BACTEC International Limited, who undertook the first two phases.

This is the third such phase of explosive ordnance and landmine clearance in the Falkland Islands. The first was carried out in 2010 with the successful clearance of areas that included Surf Bay, Goose Green and Sapper Hill, as well as land clearance on Stanley Common in 2012 that opened up a large area including the Stone Corral.

The scope of work for Phase Three is the clearance of one known, fenced, minefield in the part of Stanley Common that was released for public use earlier this year, as well as the clearance of the large (currently restricted) area just to the north and west of Mile Pond, which, it is suspected, contains two minefields.

Additionally, a further minefield just to the north of and bordering the Stanley to Goose Green Road, which was subjected to some clearance in 1982, is to be re-processed/cleared and the land released for public use.

Any available time will be used to carry out further land release to the east of Round Pond heading towards the Eliza Cove Road.

The BACTEC team will consist of 51 Zimbabwean demining personnel, most of who have already worked on Phases One and Two.

Phillimon Gonamombe will again be the Operations Manager and the project will be directed by Guy Lucas, who in 1982 set up the post conflict clearance and also directed the 2009/10 and 2012 programmes.

Guy has firsthand experience and knowledge of the Islands and the task at hand. Unlike the 2012 program, which focussed on land release, the 2013 program will focus on clearing known minefields to meet the UK Government commitment in accordance with the Ottawa Treaty, as well as doing some land release.

The BACTEC team is looking forward to returning in January to continue its work following up on 2012’s successful land release project.

BACTEC are pleased that Guy Marot, who was part of the team for Phase 1 in 2009/10, will be the Falkland Islands Demining Project Office (FIDPO) representative. (PN).

Falklands claims UN Decolonization chair is not acting with impartiality

The Falkland Islands government complained on Tuesday that the Chairman of the UN Decolonization Committee, Ambassador Diego Morejón Pazmiño is not acting with the impartiality that his role demands and revealed a letter, which remains unanswered, inviting the ambassador to visit the Falklands matching his informative trip to Argentina on the sovereignty of the Islands dispute.

The Falklands’ release refers to an interview published by the Argentine newspaper Tiempo Argentino where Mr Morejón Pazmiño, last 8 October, is quoted making statements “that, if reported accurately, would conflict with his role as an impartial C24 Chairman” and with a later interview in the same media (November 10) with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who stated people should be able to plan and govern their own future, which “is the main criteria of relevant UN bodies”.

The Falklands government letter dated 18 October to Ambassador Morejón Pazmiño points out that it is clear from the Tiempo Argentino interview and other speeches in the past, “that you have already decided that the Falkland Islands should be ceded to Argentina against the clear wishes of its people. This is in direct conflict with the United Nations principle of self determination”.

Further on the letter underlines that the Chair of C24 has visited Argentina “so as to better inform yourself in this matter and yet you have failed to do what any impartial Chair would then do, namely to visit the Falkland Islands, speak to Elected Members and talk to our people”.

The letter also mentions the fact that Ambassador Morejón Pazmiño admits to have been chosen to the C24 Chair “as candidates in the Caribbean were thought to be biased” on the issue of the sovereignty dispute.

After recalling that the Falklands are a self-governing Overseas Territory of the UK, (“on our own choosing”), the letter says that “we are a thriving democracy with a modern Constitution. We elect our own Government in a democratic manner, make our own laws and run our own affairs. We neither receive funds from nor send monies to the United Kingdom”.

The letter also rebukes statements of alleged ‘militarization’, reminding the C24 chair that the only reason there are military forces in the Falklands is “as a result of our country being invaded by Argentina in 1982”.

Finally the elected Members of the Falkland Island Government “yet again extend an invitation to you and other members of the C 24 to visit the Falkland Islands before the next meeting of the Committee so as to better inform yourselves of the real situation here”.

It must also be said that the Falklands government states that “the Decolonisation Committee is seen by most people as an outdated, ineffective and partial Committee and your actions as Chair have brought its reputation even further into disrepute”.

Follows the complete text of the letter addressed to the C24 Chair:

“Dear Ambassador,

I write to you on behalf of the Members of the Falkland Island Legislative Assembly. We were concerned to read your comments on the Falkland Islands as reported recently in Tiempo Argentino.

In the article you rightly say that the Falkland Islands are no longer a colony. The modern Falkland Islands are a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom; a situation of our own choosing.

We are a thriving democracy with a modern Constitution. We elect our own Government in a democratic manner, make our own laws and run our own affairs. We neither receive funds from nor send monies to the United Kingdom.

As the Chair of a United Nations Committee you are bound to uphold the values of that institution and to act in a democratic and impartial manner. You state that you were chosen to Chair this committee as candidates in the Caribbean were thought to be biased.

However, it is clear from this report, and from other speeches in the past, that you have already decided that the Falkland Islands should be ceded to Argentina against the clear wishes of its people. This is in direct conflict with the United Nations principle of self determination.

You have visited Argentina so as to better inform yourself in this matter and yet you have failed to do what any impartial Chair would then do, namely to visit the Falkland Islands, speak to Elected Members and talk to our people.

You also claim that the United Kingdom has failed to respond to Argentina’s claims of militarisation of the Falkland Islands.

I would first remind you that the only reason there are military forces here is as a result of our country being invaded by Argentina in 1982. On the specific point, I would refer you to the written reply of 22nd February 2012 from the United Kingdom Government to the Government of Argentina.

The Decolonisation Committee is seen by most people as an outdated, ineffective and partial Committee and your actions as Chair have brought its reputation even further into disrepute. The elected Members of the Falkland Island Government yet again extend an invitation to you and other members of the committee to visit the Falkland Islands before the next meeting of the Committee so as to better inform yourselves of the real situation here.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Dr Barry Elsby MLA,
On behalf of Members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly”

Argentine military governor of the Falklands arrested for human rights violations

The military governor of the Falkland Islands during Argentina’s brief occupation of the archipelago in 1982 was detained for his alleged role in human rights abuses at a notorious torture center in the 1970s, prosecutors said Thursday.

General Mario Benjamin Menendez allegedly was head of a torture centre in 1975 during the “Operation Independence” in the province of Tucuman

Former Gen. Mario Benjamin Menendez was arrested at his home in Buenos Aires on Wednesday and transferred to a federal prison in Tucuman province, 1.300 kilometers north of Argentina’s capital.

The 82-year-old Menendez was briefly governor of the Falklands after Argentina occupied the Islands by force in April 1982. It subsequently lost control when British troops retook the Islands and the Argentine troops surrendered on 14 June 1982.

His arrest relates to ‘‘La Escuelita,’’ a torture center in Tucuman province that he allegedly helped run in 1975, the year before the military coup that ushered in Argentina’s 1976-1983 dictatorship, the attorney general’s office said Thursday. Prosecutors said he was head of the ‘‘Tactical Command Post’’ at the center.

A unit of the Marxist Cuban trained Revolutionary People’s Army, ERP, operated in the mountains of Tucuman in 1974, and the civilian government in power at the time ordered a crackdown on the group. The campaign was called “Operation Independence”.

Prosecutors say 1.507 suspects passed through the center between Feb. 10 and Dec. 18, 1975, part of a systematic campaign of repression against dissidents and leftists ahead of the coup.

From February to December 1975, thirty military units were involved in the operation including border guards and federal police which also helped to disband sugar industry unions and militant student organizations.

The operation was under the command of General Adel Edgardo Vilas and later by General Antonio Domingo Bussi, who died in jail in 2008 condemned for human rights abuses. But he was also a successful politician and was voted governor of Tucuman under democracy.

Besides Menendez, 21 other people have been arrested across Argentina in connection with the case. Among them is a cousin of Menendez, former Col. Jose Maria Menendez, who is under house arrest.

Another military officer arrested former Colonel Walter Saborido, was deputy governor candidate in Tucuman’s last elections running for a party called La Linea which supposedly rallied all those who somehow were involved in the “Operation Independence”. He owns a security company which employs 200 people.