MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
'Falklands unconcerned over “Galtieri's death”.
In the Falkland Islands there has been no outright expression of dismay or delight at the news of the death of former Argentine Military Dictator General Leopoldo Galtieri.
Most of the population seem unconcerned and disinterested in the demise of the man who ordered the invasion of the Island on 2 April 1982. Some have expressed their opinions.
Trudi McPhee of Brookfield Farm, who lead a convoy of 17 civilian vehicles which assisted 3 Parachute regiment during their successful attack on Mount Longdon on 11 June 1982, said, 'I am sure that glasses will be raised both here in the Falklands and in Argentina toasting the news of Galtieri's death. Both populations have good reason to despise this man'.
A former senior Falklands civil servant who did not wish to be named said tersely, 'We lost 3 of our civilian population because of this man's unwarranted aggression, and several more civilians died later as a result of the trauma of the invasion and occupation of Argentine troops. There are still people today in the Islands, 20 years after the War, who are receiving medication as a result of the post-traumatic stress which they suffered. I have no sympathy for him or his family, and his departure is no great loss to Argentina or the Argentine Armed Forces'.
Bill Power, who was arrested and interrogated by the Argentine Intelligence authority during the 1982 Argentine occupation of the Islands, said, 'I suppose some good came out of the War for us in the Islands because of Galtieri's aggression, but it was sad that 1000 men had to die to ensure the future of the Falklands. Both the British & Argentine Governments should be blamed for their part in what happened 20 years ago - the British had no interest in retaining the Islands while the Argentines understandably felt that Britain would not respond. All the signs were there. Our lives were severely disrupted and our peaceful Islands will never be the same again, so for that I cannot forgive Galtieri for anything which he did'.
Patrick Watts, (MP) Stanley
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