First minefield cleared in Falkland Islands – thanks to Zimbabweans
ZIMBABWEAN de-miners were cheered and clapped by a large crowd of Falklands residents today as the, “brave and hardworking” experts demonstrated confidence in their work by holding a soccer game in the recently cleared Minefield 25 on Sapper Hill near Stanley.
The minefield was one of the first laid by Argentine Marine Engineers in April 1982, one of number that was intended as a linear defence of Stanley, said Kev Bryant of the British Mine Clearance Company BACTEC today.
A fascinated audience of Islanders and residents, plus the Governor and a British Foreign and Commonwealth Official, Colin Roberts, were told how the minimal metal mines were laid in six panels each made up of three rows that in turn contained eight mines.
All of the mines in this field were carefully recorded by the Argentine forces; a practice that unfortunately broke down in the latter months of the Falklands Conflict.
The de-miners have been 77 days clearing the area that was, “the hardest to carry out to date,” said Mr Bryant.
He explained that full excavation was needed due to the lack of metal in these particular mines rendering the metal detector pointless. The heavy excavation work was made all the harder by the, “thick fibrous rooted peat,” and because the area flooded easily.
The Falklands has suffered a particularly wet and windy summer this year, adding to the discomfort of the men who are used to a far warmer climate.
To make the task even more difficult, prior to actual mine clearance, the area of land between the road and the minefield had to be cleared of dangerous ordnance that had resulted from British air attacks on Argentine forces in the latter stages of the Conflict.
After the briefing the de-miners, in a demonstration of confidence, walked from one end of the minefield to the other before having a ‘kick around’ with a soccer ball. The Governor, Mr Roberts and others, plus the Islands press, then took a walk through the former minefield.
Mr Bryant also announced that it was a special day for the men as they had just found their 1000th mine in the Surf Bay minefield.
By Lisa Watson –SeAledPR - Stanley
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Well that tells us all we need to know about what passes as thought in Jorge's tiny mind.
Perhaps Argentina should have also sent more Belgrano's for the Royal Navy to turn into reefs?
- I'm here waiting.
Perhaps the FIG and the UK should make this point to the EU and also to Mr Ban at the UN. Let's see if Argentina comes forward to negotiate payment for mine clearance. I doubt they would have the integrity to do such a thing.
Dr Beef
- Every country should clear landmines from its terretorie. The thing here is that Argentina has no access to its terretorie. It has to ask permission to squatters/british and that's unaceptable.
Jorge! - Argentina has full access to its territories, it just doesn't have access to someone elses territories. But hey, no problem .... the world is watching!
Falklands doesn't and never has belonged to Argentina.
Malvinas = where ???? Oh, you mean the Falkland Islands, why didn't you say :-)
Daimler Benz and G Wagon. There are about 3 still in the islands, x2 that run, there is a nice one at the museum in Stanley.. Unimogs x7 that are still in use. and loads up in the ranges.
What a joke! Jorgelito, you guys couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery!
A big problem was starter motors, The argies threw away most of the keys so vehicles were hot wired- many badly and the starters were running all the time . they just burned out and with no new ones, well that was that, They were parked up and canabalised. There were about x50 230 G-wagons and about x50 unimogs, the argies managed to get some of the unimogs back to the mainland before the surrender. [pricks]
The AML 90 panhards went to Onion range but the G-wagons and unimogs went to the Hornby Mt range on west Falkland. Many were never hit so sit were they were droped. A good sorce of spare parts for those left running. Still not very rusty after all these years.
As it obviously shouldn't be the job of Britain to clear up mines left by Argentina to on it's national territory?
If it was so national, and the Islands are so obviously yours and you love them so dearly and suffer multiple orgasms at the sight of the beauty of an integral part of the mainland, Argentina would be begging to be allowed back to clean up weapons of such evil from it's own territory?
Hardly surprising. The Argentinian armed forces have killed more Argentinians than foreigners. In fact the Argentinian armed forces have also killed more Argentinans than foreigners have.
The Falklands are not part of Argentina - never have been and, unless the Falkland Islanders change their minds, never will be. Get used to it.
Fair point, but do look at it pratically you've answered the sentence yourself it is the repsonsibility of were the mines are located not who placed them, since Argentina claims said islands as an integral part of the motherlands bosom, logic dictates that it should be Argentina cleaning up the landmines, or at least offering to by proving how committed it is to liberating La parrot-tree, since Argentina has done neither we can assume that Argentina does not actually own these islands or even recognise them as part of the parrot-tree.
- Life gave us the oportunity to read the valuable Hoytred comments. What would we do without them!?!?! LOL
The Falklands are British and there's bugger all you can do about it .... no problem :-)
What is wrong Jorgina? Can't you take the fact that I show you up as the fool you are? Stop crying and posting rubbish and you might be taken a little more seriously and, you never know, you might be laughed at less.
I'm going to lunch now, you little b*tch.
I'm going to lunch now, you little b*tch.
Do you speak for the entire world? Take about dilutions of grandeur. Is this sense of inflated importance systematic of all Argentines?
- I don't feel like posting links over and over again. You british and americans are not much aware of waht other people around the world thinks about you.
Get out of your box!
Didn't you say the other day that you have studied law???? ROFL
Wave your flags, march and rally ...... it's all for nought in the long run!
As for the LAN flights the majority of it's users are Argentine families of the fallen, so by all means cut off the only link that the bereaved in Argentina have to the final respecting places of their loved ones, wonder how that will go down?
But don't worry I hear that South Africa and Namibia are keen to start their own regular flights to the Islands, and with the soon to be built St Helena airport the Airbrigde will soon be able to operate on a viable economic basis!
You see Jihad Jorge, the Islands have nothing they need from Argentina, but you want everything from them, so how on earth can you force their hand in any many except military posturing which got you very far last time?
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