MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean government condemns vandalism by fans at Malvinas Memorial in Rosario

Ambassador Jose Antonio Viera-Galo received the director of the Flag Monument, Hernan Colautti and war veterans to whom he delivered the official letter

The Chilean ambassador in Buenos Aires met with Malvinas war veterans and the head of the National Monument to the Flag in the city of Rosario, and delivered an official letter condemning the violent actions and destruction by fans from the University of Chile football team against a Memorial to the Malvinas fallen.

 The meeting took place on Thursday following on Monday's defacing and offensive graffiti plus damage to public property at the Memorial to the Heroes of Malvinas, which is located in the National Flag Park, in Rosario, Argentina's second largest city.

Ambassador Jose Antonio Viera-Galo received the director of the Flag Monument, Hernan Colautti and war veterans to whom he delivered the letter and strongly condemned the acts of vandalism perpetrated by the Chilean football fans.

The letter, with a brief text, delivered by the ambassador was signed by the Secretary of the Chilean Executive Marcelo Díaz, and the Minister of Interior and Public Security Jorge Burgos.

In the message the government of Chile expresses to the government and people of Argentina its esteem and respect for the memory of those who delivered their lives for the interests of the motherland.

It is only fair that those responsible for such unacceptable and incomprehensible acts are submitted to Justice and reparations of the damages caused.

Finally the government of Chile hopes that actions of this kind that cause such indignation and pain in Argentina, are not repeated.

The acts of vandalism took place last Monday first of February when 46 Chileans on their way to watch a football match in Montevideo, were involved in offensive scribbling at the Malvinas Memorial and also damaged bins, illumination and urban public property. Apparently there was some scuffling with locals and police.

The group was arrested and taken to a police station where they had so spend several hours. Finally 44 of them, 42 fans and two drivers were allowed to continue while two of them, 24 and 28year-olds remain retained as they assumed responsibility for the group.