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Falklands' clearance of Argentine mines 33 years later reported in UK

Thursday, October 8th 2015 - 10:36 UTC
Full article 19 comments

Explosive mines planted by retreating Argentine forces as Royal Marines stormed the Falklands during the 1982 conflict are still being cleared on the Islands, 33 years later, according to a report credited to David Wells from Westernmorningnews. Read full article

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  • Conqueror

    Congratulations and thanks to Bactec. No matter the safety precautions, mine clearance is dangerous unless the method involves blanket explosions. Thank you Bactec for working to make British land safe for British people.

    Could you consider replanting the mines where argies can tread on them?

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 11:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • falklandlad

    Indeed this is great work being accomplished, professionally and safely, by Bactec, both by management and field workers who are inflicted by the brunt of Falklands weather. Returning recreational land for citizen access is a fantastic bonus, and better it is done in a controlled and systemic way by Bactec, than on some loose, never delivering, Arg promise.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 01:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    If Argentina had a conscience, they would pay the Bactec bill.

    But they don't.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • gordo1

    Will they deny any responsibility for these mines?

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 02:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @4 gordo1

    They have already, in previous years, denied responsibility for them. In some cases the Argentine politicians, and their La Campora lapdogs, have tried to shift the blame onto the British.

    In their warped sense of reality, the RM who were defending the Islands in April 1982 (all 70 odd of them), had somehow managed to magic anti personnel mines (ones not actually used by the UK - but that is a minor point to them) out of thin air, and in the few hours they had to prepare before the Argentine invasion, somehow managed to scatter thousands of them around the place.

    Of course the fact that Argentine documentation and statements by Argentine soldiers clearly state that Argentina laid these mines, and despite the fact that is pictorial evidence of them laying some of these mines, plus the witness testimonies of the people of the Falklands, makes no difference to their delusion.

    Just like their imbecilic Ambassador claiming that the UK started the Falklands War by sinking the ARA General Belgrano, whilst conveniently forgetting that a month earlier Argentina had illegally invaded British sovereign territory and ignored a LEGALLY BINDING UNSC resolution (502) to remove their military forces immediately.

    These Argentine muppets must honestly believe that everyone is as gullible as the great unwashed masses in Argentina itself. They honestly don't realise that everything that they say and do in Argentina can be heard outside of Argentina.

    But well done to the BATEC team. Keep up the good work.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 03:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    Argentina in 1982 should have expelled the English. It would hire a Transatlantic and the pirates would return to England. It would explode every house, buildings and improvements. And wait the Task Force on the continent.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM89VoqPzUY&list=FLmXPTu1f8AdGlizWNiASx2A&index=2

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 04:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #6
    But they did not..Why ?.

    Reference your stupid video. Who is going to invade Argentina..the Chinese?
    They have started already! I presume the Argentine public agree with your sentiments BUT do the Brazilians ?

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 05:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @6 Brasileiro

    As Clyde15 said, why didn't Argentina win in 1982? After all Argentina held ALL of the advantage. More men, shorter supply lines, and weaponry that was on par with what the British had, and in case of fighter aircraft more advanced.

    All Argentina had to do was hold the British off. Yet they couldn't do it?

    Why?

    Well let us start with the fact that the Argentine Navy ran and hid in their ports after the loss of 1 ship (technically 2 if you count the Santa Fe).

    Then let us talk about the Argentine Army. Very brave when facing unarmed civilians. Not so brave when facing people who can and will shoot back.

    Not only that but an awful lot of Argentine soldiers realised that they had been lied too when they arrived on the Falklands. Instead of being liberators, as they'd been told they would be and welcomed with open arms by the people of the Falklands, they found out that they were invaders and oppressors who were there to enslave the people.

    Yes Brasileiro, Argentina could have won in 1982. It was a close run thing. The British had to sail 8,000 miles, all of its supplies had to travel 8,000 miles, yet Argentina didn't have the stomach, will or even the courage to fight on.

    And 33 yrs later Argentina hasn't changed. Still trying to steal land. And if you truly were Brazilian, which you're not, you'd know that Argentina wants to steal Brazilian territory too.

    Good job Argentina is impotent, isn't it?

    It's a good job that Britain is building Brazil some beautiful new ships with which you can defend yourselves against Argentina's imperial colonial ambitions.

    Poor La Campora troll Brasileiro. Paid to make it seem that other people in other countries actually care about Argentina's illegitimate claims.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 05:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    #6 Nostril - shut up! You have been told.

    London is helping with the Olympics, Britain is supplying ships for Brazils navy. We buy Embrauers, fruit and vegetables, minerals, metals. Trade with Brasil is good, we are friends. You are a fake, a little Argie squirt trying to pretend you are Brasilian which you are not, you fool no-one. Get back in your straight jacket and shut the cell door.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    The Argentine government should be ashamed of themselves,

    but then, shame is their backbone, is it not.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 07:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FitzRoy

    Once collected up, they are going to be dumped on a beach in Argentina, clandestinely!!! :-)

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @6 Rainforestdestroyer

    “Argentina in 1982 should have expelled the English. ”

    If Argentina had, you would still be left the Scottish, Irish. Northern Irish (yes my mate down there was born in Eire), Welsh and the Nepalese amongst others to expel.

    You're doing an excellent job of getting rid of your Amazon indigenous people-well done Mr Portuguese.

    Enjoy the British ships you are buying and the Saab Gripens you are building that contain a high proportion of British components and systems so they work.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    We will see.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 08:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    13

    “We will see”

    Ha ha - Tobi- Brassiere sounds strangely like “Hepatia”'

    LOL!!

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 11:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FitzRoy

    @13: Are you blind then? Best of luck with the operation.......No, really.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 11:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    “Mike Summers, a member of the legislative council of the Falkland islands government, said: ”There are a lot of mines in the Falklands, but they are NOT that intrusive. Clearly there is an issue about clearance, but unless they are cleared 110% we are not going to take the fences down anyway. If that can be done, then fine. If the British government was to invest money in clearing mines then we would be more than happy for them to invest it in other countries. Our needs are not as pressing as other people's”

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jun/11/uk.falklands

    Oct 09th, 2015 - 03:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • gordo1

    @ 16 Marquitos Alejandrito

    Your point?

    @13 Brasileiro

    Your point?

    Par de idtiotas!

    Oct 09th, 2015 - 05:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Yes Marcos- Falklands position has ALWAYS been that mines here should not be high priority - other countries have minefields from civil wars etc that are a higher danger to innocent civilians so we have encouraged UK to allocate funds elsewhere first if it wishes to.
    But- under the Int Ottowa convention UK signed up to remove mines from UK territory- so that is what it is working towards.
    Difficult for an Argentine like you to understand I agree- but normally when a respectable and civilised nation signs up to an Int Agreement - it complies with them.

    Oct 09th, 2015 - 10:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Marcos et al

    PMSL

    All aboard the Fail-boat...!!'

    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/10/09/falklands-bound-argentine-militant-yacht-rescued-abandoned-by-fisheries-protection-vessel#comment416865

    Oct 09th, 2015 - 02:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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