MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Leftwing activists burn Union Jack and throw paint bombs at British Embassy

A group of around one hundred leftwing activists belonging to student, trade union and social movement groups last night burnt Union Jacks and threw paint bombs at the walls of the British Embassy in Buenos Aires while chanting “death to the English” and anti imperialist slogans.

Earlier in the day the same group of leftwing militants of the workers' union umbrella CTA movement, the Trostkyist Class Struggle Movement (CCC), the picketers movement, the University Students Federation as well as representatives of the unemployed and militant trade unions and took part in a rally held before the Malvinas Monument organised by leftwing South Atlantic War veterans.

Picket leader and provincial deputy Luis D'Elia called on the national government to slash the 16.000 special and privilege pensions and earmark the funds saved, - some 30 million dollars per month - to give pensions to the 12 to 15 thousand South Atlantic War veterans.

At mid afternoon a group of those taking part in this demonstration marched from the Malvinas Monument to Plaza de Mayo where paper Union Jacks and a US Stars and Stripes were burnt. Later still a smaller group yet mainly of members of the leftwing CTA Youth movement marched to the British Embassy.

While the demonstrations at the Malvinas Monument and Plaza de Mayo included a small group of leftwing South Atlantic War veterans, the demonstration outside the Embassy appeared to include none and most the banners seen were of militant leftwing groups protesting against British imperialism.

At the same time the demonstration was taking place before the Embassy several hundred veterans and general public gathered at the National Polo Field to take part in a a free open air concert which has singer Soledad as its main attraction.

Earlier in the afternoon President Eduardo Duhalde headed the Armed Forces main ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of the South Atlantic War held at Patricios Regiment barracks in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires.

During the ceremony, which was attended by servicemen of all three Armed Forces as well the Border Guards, the Coast Guards and the police force, Duhalde said that we again lived in a "time for heroic deeds" as those carried out by the men who fought during the 1982 war. After observing a march pass by hundreds of troop, including many units who fought in the South Atlantic War, Duhalde reminded the audience of the "difficult times we face in the months ahead" and called on e