MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine patriot wishes to remain in Falklands.

The fate of 32 year old Juan Carlos Paillan Soto who remains in the custody of the police in the Falklands should be decided this week. His appeal against his proposed deportation by Falklands Immigration officials will be reviewed by Governor Donald Lamont following representation by Soto's lawyer Kevin Kilmartin.

Soto who was born in Rio Gallegos of Chilean parents has refused to leave the Falklands despite the fact that his 4 weeks visitors permit has now expired. According to his friend, Chilean born Hector Tellez, the ?Argentine' tried to obtain farm work in order that he could remain in the Islands indefinitely. Speaking in broken English, Tellez said ?Juan Carlos is a little loco and believes that as an Argentine he has the right to remain in the Islands for as long as he wants ?.he was no problem in my home and I charged him just £50 a week to rent a room. I tried to get him a job as a shepherd at North Arm but it was impossible'.

Soto was arrested at the home of Tellez and has since remained in custody. He refused an opportunity to take a seat on the regular Lan Chile flight was arrived in the Islands on Saturday, having decided to appeal against his possible deportation. If he is unsuccessful then he will be required to leave the Islands on the 10th March.

A police spokesman said that Soto ?is being treated fairly in prison with his cell door remaining open which allows him to move around freely. He receives 2 hot meals a day and there has been no form of interrogation whatsoever'.

Councillor Mike Summers who has responsibility for Immigration in the Falklands said ?The matter is quite simple ? Soto has overstayed his visitor's permit and therefore has to leave. He simply cannot keep renewing his permit, plus the fact that he no longer has the means to support himself. Under our Constitution if a deportation order is served on a person, that person has the right to appeal to the Governor and Soto has apparently taken this course'.

Another Argentine awaiting his fate in the Islands is 32 year Carlos Rodriguez who was born in Catamarca but has since resided in Buenos Aires. He arrived in the Islands accompanying his Falklands born (of an Argentine father) girl friend 28 year old Beth Reid. They have a 3 year old son Axel who is learning to speak English very quickly. Beth left the Falklands to live in Buenos Aires ?for safety reasons' just 4 days after Argentine Forces invaded the Islands in 1982, and after 18 years of traumatic Argentine life returned a year ago to live and work in her homeland.

Rod