MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Mines Removal”

An Argentine historian expert in military affairs defends the procedure of the Argentine forces regarding mine planting and demarcation during the Falklands conflict and slams Britain for insisting that the Argentines planted these dangerous artifacts completely out of control.

In an article published today in La Nación, titled "Mines Removal" by Isidoro Ruiz Moreno indicates that the 20.000 antipersonnel mines and 5.000 antitank mines planted by the Argentine Army, "although in a quick analysis could seem exaggerated quantities", in a detailed analysis the conclusion is that the mined zones "were limited compared to the area of the Islands", and "insignificant compared to other conflict theatres in the world".

Mr. Ruiz Moreno insists that the Argentine Army Engineers had "scrupulous records of quantities, distance, density and location of the mines. This was complemented with charts and three copies, one for the Engineers directly involved, for infantry commanders and the Engineers headquarters in Buenos Aires, as indicated by the Geneva Convention".

Apparently all this information was officially handed when the capitulation was agreed and a Coronel Manuel Dorrego became responsible for indicating the mined areas."June 15th, in Government House, (mines) records and charts were handed to Mayor Roderick Macdonald head of the 59th. Royal Engineers Squadron, and a document to that effect was signed", writes Mr. Ruiz Moreno.

Furthermore, Argentine officers and servicemen stayed behind to help clear all mines from West Falkland, while others helped with the demarcation and identification of mined areas, particularly around Stanley.

According to Mr. Ruiz Montero, the voluntary work undertaken by the Argentine servicemen extended from June 16th until July 6th, under British supervision, until because of several accidents (a Corporal lost a leg and a Lieutenant was severely injured), the collaboration was ended.

Mr. Ruiz Montero admits that there were also faults, since some of these defensive "obstacles" planted by infantry commanders were not mapped (they carried their own supply) and possibly in some hills of limited access.

Finally Mr. Ruiz Moreno insists that there's no ground for the "extended and published (British) claim that the Argentine Army, --and the Argentine people by extension--, acted ignoring war legislation", and the consequences which remain in the Islands following the end of war actions.

Mr. Ruiz Moreno who has written among other books "Commandos i