MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ousted Argentine Air Force Chief accused of “cover up”

In a harsh speech Argentine President Nestor Kirchner said Wednesday he wasn't moved “by some tears”, and accused the sacked Air Force Commander in Chief (and a Malvinas hero) Carlos Rhode of “cover up” in a drug traffic scandal in the country's main air terminal Ezeiza.

"Nobody told me about the drug trafficking, it was his duty to report it to me so I wasn't moved by some tears I saw around", blasted Mr. Kirchner during an official ceremony delivering government subsidised housing.

Former Air Force Commander in Chief Carlos Rhodes and several other officers with responsibilities in Ezeiza airport security and administration were fired by Mr. Kirchner for their alleged cover up or simple ignorance when a 60 kilos cocaine smuggling operation, four months ago, was discovered in Madrid airport.

"He should have sacked Air Commander Beltrame from running Ezeiza airport because it was Beltrame's son who was involved in the drugs operation. But he covered it up during four months", stressed the Argentine president. "Him, who covers up, is out and will answer in court about his responsibilities; there's no room for corruption in the Argentina we're rebuilding" said Mr. Kirchner promising the Ezeiza investigation will continue and anticipated more "announcements".

Further on he asked the new Air Force command to "stop corporative cover up" and act dutifully, "serving your country" because the fact "you are Malvinas heroes does not entitle you to act as you please". "They must be the first to comply with the law".

In a related decision Mr. Kirchner ordered the end of all links with Southern Winds, the air carrier involved in the drug trafficking and which received fuel and maintenance subsidies from the federal government.

Apparently high ranking staff and the owners of Southern Winds are involved in the drug trafficking according to Argentine judicial sources.

During a radio interview the ousted Air Force Commander Carlos Rhode admitted "having committed an error in not giving the incident (smuggling 60 kilos of cocaine into to Spain) the importance it deserved". It was "one of many" investigations Ezeiza airport authorities regularly send to different judicial courts, argued Mr. Rhode. As to how he feels after having been relieved from the post Mr. Rhode said, "I feel hurt, but not angry". "I can't question a presidential decision", but he regrets that with his ousting "ten Brigadiers with great experience" have been lost for the Air Force.

Mr. Rhode admitted that as Air Force commander he never interfered with Ezeiza's administration and when informed of the drugs case he contacted Commodore Beltrame, head of Ezeiza.

Mr. Beltrame replied his son no longer worked for Southern Winds and assured Mr. Rhode that he had not facilitated in any way "the dispatch of the drug packed suitcases" to Madrid airport. "I sincerely believed Commodore Beltrame; I didn't know about the issue and I only found out about the incident December 6".

The new Air Force Commander is Brigadier General Eduardo Schiaffino formerly posted in Comodoro Rivadavia, helicopter pilot and Malvinas veteran.