MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Argentine navy in Falklands zone Foreign Office seeks explanation. Prison for engineer; Cruise season ends.

Argentine navy in Falklands zone Foreign Office seeks explanation.

THE Foreign Office has called for Argentina to explain the actions of a naval ship and helicopter which entered the Falklands Conservation Zone and challenged ships fishing there. On Monday, Argentine icebreaker Almirante Irizarand one of its Sea King helicopters challenged by radio a number of vessels fishing approximately ten miles in the zone, including jiggers and one or two Spanish trawlers. The ship remained in the zone for just under twenty-four hours. His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, says the Foreign Office is waiting for an explanation from Argentina of what the ship and helicopter were doing. Falkland's fishery patrol vessel Doradawitnessed the ship's activities. Mr Pearce said that, according to Dorada's crew, when the helicopter and Almirante Irizarchallenged the vessels, "...what they basically did was ask them to identify themselves." He stressed, "Neither the Almirante Irizaror the helicopter claimed or accused them of fishing illegally." Councillor Richard Cockwell, who holds the fisheries portfolio said there had been rumours that the ship and helicopter had made such an accusation, "...but both the Fisheries Officer and the Captain said at no time did they hear the Irizartelling vessels they were fishing illegally." He added that under law the fishing vessels, "...are not required to reply to challenges from a foreign vessel, and they should not." Mr Pearce said he was not prepared to speculate as to what the objective of Almirante Irizarand the helicopter was. He said the ship, "...like any other vessel, is perfectly entitled to sail through these waters. These waters are high seas, not territorial waters as such." However, he added that the waters are within the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone, sometimes known as the Exclusive Economic Zone, "...and this vessel is not entitled to act as though she is policing that zone. That zone falls within Falkland Islands jurisdiction and only the Falkland Islands authorities are entitled to carry out those actions." The British Embassy in Buenos Aires has been instructed by the Foreign Office in London to seek an explanation from the Argentine Government. Mr Pearce said, "Our embassy went straight to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires on Wednesday and they have yet to receive a response." When questioned if Britain would be making some kind of protest to the Argentine Government, Mr Pearce said although the embassy has asked for an explanation, "...that does not rule out the possibility of further action, subject to whatever the explanation is which the Argentine Government provides."

Flight troubles

After a delay of three weeks, a Fugro Airborne Surveys (a Brazilian Company) aircraft was finally due to arrive in the Islands yesterday afternoon. The aircraft, which will be carrying out survey work for Falklands Minerals Ltd has been held up in Punta Arenas, Chile, after Argentine aviation authorities refused the company permission to fly, in the first instance, from Argentina direct to the Falklands. They also refused to accept flight plans from Chile which would have routed through Argentine airspace, citing the need for separate permission from Argentina to do so. Speaking of the air space ban imposed by Argentina on flights to the Falklands, Argentine pilot Martyn Rappallini, on his fifth visit to the Islands this week, described Argentina's interference as "stupid." He said he personally had experienced no real problems with travelling to the Falklands. But of the ban on charter flights, Mr Rappallini said, "It's so stupid. The last thing this strange relationship between the Islands and Argentina needs is more tension."

Prison for engineer

A MAN whose, "... blatant attempt to flaunt the law," led to a car accident, has been sent to prison for three months. Lance Corporal Paul Roderick Ross MacFarquhar, a civil engineering surveyor with the Royal Engineers, pleaded guilty to four charges when he appeared before the Senior Magistrate on Wednesday. He was accused of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, drink driving and driving without a licence and insurance. On March 6, Mr MacFarquhar took a Land Rover from Mount Pleasant, and drove to Stanley to watch rugby at the pubs. He had no permission to take the vehicle and had been disqualified from driving in the United Kingdom. Later in the evening Mr MacFarquhar set off back towards Mount Pleasant, lost control of the vehicle and left the road. At 10.38pm his vehicle was discovered with substantial damage, the lights still on, engine still running and Mr MacFarquhar behind the wheel. Principal Crown Counsel Graham Cripps said witnesses reported there was a strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle and, "...whether from shock or alcohol, the driver fell over when he got out of the vehicle." Following a positive breath test at Mount Pleasant, Mr MacFarquhar was arrested and taken to Stanley Police Station where, four hours after the accident, a further test gave a reading of 104 mg per 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Mr Cripps told the court, "...it is reasonable to conclude that the reading would have been higher at the time of the accident." Senior Magistrate Nick Sanders told Mr MacFarquhar, "You've said you've been stupid; I will go even further than that. It was a blatant attempt to flaunt the law." He issued Mr MacFarquar with two three-month prison sentences to run concurrently. His licence was endorsed and he was disqualified from driving in the Falklands for three years.

Cruise season ends

THE last cruise ship of the season will call in to the Falklands this week. Amsterdam will spend Monday in Stanley.