MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Embargo order against HMS Endurance

Argentine farmers who are demanding the British Crown 250 million US dollars requested an arrest order against HMS Endurance that is expected to visit Mar del Plata this coming Thursday.

The demand was presented in a Federal Commercial Court in Buenos Aires by potato farmers Armando Beltrán Louge and Enrique Best. The case dates back to 1980 when imported British seed potatoes later proved to be contaminated leading to serious losses in Argentina's main potato growing area Balcarce in the province of Buenos Aires.

Apparently the imported potato seeds were certified by the British Marketing Board, that finally admitted the virus contamination and began compensatory shipments totally free, but these were interrupted because of the Falklands conflict in 1982.

The farmers have since then been attempting an out of court agreement but were systematically rejected, until finally in September 1999 an Argentine federal civil and commercial Court accepted the demand and a year later ruled that London based Commonwealth Development Corporation, CDC, must pay farmers who experienced losses, 171 million US dollars plus an additional 80 million in legal fees and interest.

Since then the plaintiffs have been trying to embargo British Crown assets in Argentina among which: CDC interests in the Argentine highways toll management; transfers of interest payments on British loans and now apparently one of Her Majesty's ships.

HMS Endurance is expected February 8 in Mar del Plata for a formal ceremony with Argentine vessels involved in Antarctic patrolling.