MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fund raising campaign for Darwin Monument kicks off with Colon Theatre concert.

Internationally acclaimed tenor Dario Volonté, a survivor of the 1982 sinking of the cruiser ARA General Belgrano was given a standing ovation as the star performer at a fund raising concert held last night at the Colon Theatre. The special performance was organised by the Families' Commission that groups the next-of-kin of Argentine servicemen killed during the 1982 South Atlantic War.

The organizers announced that 25.000 dollars collected through the sale of tickets for this concert are to be deposited in the account earmarked towards the building of a national monument to the fallen of Malvinas to be constructed at the Argentine Cemetery at Darwin. a project which is currently budgeted at 1,5 million dollars.

While the event attracted a full house - with people standing in the upper floor galleries - most national politicians gave the event a miss for fear of being snubbed by the audience. Among those who did attend was City of Buenos Aires Mayor Anibal Ibarra who when asked whether he did not fear incurring the wrath of the people responded "one has to take risks or do something else".

Also present were British Ambassador Sir Robin Christopher, the heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Juan Carlos Mugnolo, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Ricardo Brinzoni and of the Navy, Admiral Joaquin Stella. Scattered among the audience were numerous diplomats and a handful of national senators, deputies and second tier government officials.

Despite the lukewarm presence of politicians the event was clearly a popular success and throughout the day a continuous queue of people lined up outside the Colon Theatre ticket office to purchase entrances which sold at prices ranging from two to ten dollars.

The presence of the British Ambassador, who as among the first people to confirm that he would be attending the concert, is seen as a goodwill gesture to both the next-of-kin and towards Argentina. Many of those present approached Sir Robin and thanked him for his support.

As one Army veteran told MercoPress after the concert, "this is history repeating itself. At the end of the war the British who held me as a prisoner of war better treated me better than I had been treated by some of my own officers. Tonight again we seem to be getting more support from the British Ambassador than from our own politicians."

Among the other noteworthy personalities seen among the audience was the wife of Malvinas War veteran, Colonel Mohamed Ali Seineldin, who is currently under arrest for his leadership of a 1990 military rebellion against then President Carlos Menem. Ove