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Malvinas veterans to march before UK embassy to demand DNA tests of remains at Darwin cemetery

Thursday, October 22nd 2015 - 06:30 UTC
Full article 30 comments
The march is to demand UK replies to the Red Cross on a protocol to begin taking samples from the 123 unidentified graves in Darwin Cemetery        The march is to demand UK replies to the Red Cross on a protocol to begin taking samples from the 123 unidentified graves in Darwin Cemetery
Veterans groups involvement originates following on a request from president Cristina Fernandez to the Red Cross, delivered on 2 April 2012. Veterans groups involvement originates following on a request from president Cristina Fernandez to the Red Cross, delivered on 2 April 2012.
 'An Argentine soldier known unto God' tomb 'An Argentine soldier known unto God' tomb

Malvinas war veterans will march next Friday in downtown Buenos Aires up to the British Embassy to demand that DNA tests of the remains in 123 unidentified graves at the Argentine memorial cemetery in the Falkland Islands be allowed to commence.

 According to the release from the La Plata center of former Malvinas combatants, CICR, the rally will be taking place at midday 23 October and is motivated by the fact that allegedly the UK has yet to reply to the International Red Cross request for a protocol that should enable to begin testing the remains at the 123 unidentified graves at the Darwin cemetery.

The involvement of CICR originates following on a request from the Executive branch, president Cristina Fernandez which was delivered on 2 April 2012.

That was on the thirtieth anniversary of the Argentine military invasion of the Falkland Islands.

“It's a humanitarian action to begin the search and identification process of the Argentine soldiers buried as 'unknown soldiers' or as it reads in 123 tombs, 'An Argentine soldier known unto God'”, points out the invitation to all Malvinas veterans' related organizations.

The release adds that the action is based on the request from 80 families who have consented and given DNA samples, so that a team of anthropologists in the Falklands begins extracting samples and the bodies, hopefully, 33 years after the end of the war, can be identified.

“The British government has displayed a high degree of insensitivity by not replying to the International Red Cross, and because of this we are going to make public to world opinion such cruelty towards the families of the combatants who are unable to mourn and know about the final destination of their beloved ones”, concludes the release.

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  • Buzzsaw

    But hold on a minute, I thought the UK had responded saying that Argentina needed to speak to the FI, but Argentina refuses.

    Now if a government's response to a request from a foreign power is to tell them to speak to a particular person, body, association , county, BOT etc, etc then they are telling you what you need to do (with the government's permission and knowledge). If you are so up your own arses that you refuse to accept the advice you have been given from the government as to whom you need to contact in order to progress the issue, they you only have yourself to blame.

    You cannot demand that the government deal with the issue because you refuse/deny that the people you have been asked to contact for permission do not exist.

    If this is the Red Cross making the request on behalf of Argentina, not Argentina making the request itself, does the 'Foreign Affairs' argument that certain people 'voice' on here actually hold water. I wouldn't have thought so. But even still, if you are directed by the foreign office to talk with the Islanders Government, then the FO have done their job.

    Oct 22nd, 2015 - 07:19 am 0
  • LEPRecon

    Will these be the same '20 year old' veterans that bravely attacked the Top Gear crew?

    I also believe that the International Red Cross hasn't actually been approached by the Argentine government EVER regarding this. Visit their website and there is NOTHING anywhere about any request, yet they have duly noted every other interaction they've had with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

    More propaganda for the brain dead masses.

    And even IF the Argentine veterans of the Falklands War actually want the remains of these soldiers identified, you have to wonder WHY they didn't assist in identifying them at the time. They should be ashamed of themselves.

    Besides it isn't up to the 'veterans' to demand anything. It is up to the families of the fallen to request, and they have stated that they don't want the remains identified.

    So once again more hot air from BA, and nothing will happen, as usual because the Argentine government wants this to be 'another' grievance against the nasty Brit pirates, so won't actually move to see anything done.

    But should the bodies of these young men get disinterred then they should be returned to Argentina, and then lets see just how well they'll be looked after by their own government. After all, their government didn't give a crap about them in 1982, and they certainly don't give a crap about them now.

    Oct 22nd, 2015 - 07:57 am 0
  • golfcronie

    How convienient, just before the election,what excellent timing. God you wonder if these people have brains. Must be propaganda for the “ masses”

    Oct 22nd, 2015 - 09:04 am 0
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