MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina under lockdown makes time to recall the start of the Malvinas conflict, 38 years ago

Full exercise of sovereignty over Malvinas, respecting the way of life of its inhabitants in compliance with International Law, are a standing and unrenounceable objective of the Argentine people

“On April 2nd we claim sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands” was the message twitted by Argentine president Alberto Fernandez on the Malvinas War Veteran and Fallen Day, outstanding date in the official calendar of the country which recalls that 38 years ago, Argentine forces invaded the Falklands, triggering a conflict that would end 74 days later.

“On April 2nd we claim sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands” was the message twitted by Argentine president Alberto Fernandez on the Malvinas War Veteran and Fallen Day, outstanding date in the official calendar of the country which recalls that 38 years ago, Argentine forces invaded the Falklands, triggering a conflict that would end 74 days later.

As shown by “history, geography, Law, feeling and our fallen and former combatants, today, as every 2 April we claim our sovereignty and shout forever, ”Argentine Malvinas“, the Argentine president published in his Twitter account.

The president accompanied his message with a minute and a half video with images of fallen soldiers in the 1982 war against the British Task Force sent to recover the Falklands.

Vice-president Cristina Fernandez also remembered the start of the war in a message in social networks praising the fallen in Malvinas ”with pride, respect and honor“.

”To the fallen, to the veterans, with pride, respect and honor Malvinas Argentinas“.

Given the lockdown in Argentina, commemorations were mostly in videos, social webs, and in some barracks, military and security forces, by raising the flag.

The foreign affairs ministry also released a brief message saying that every April 2nd, ”Argentines take time to remember and honor fellow countrymen who gave their lives bravely defending the sovereignty of our Malvinas Islands. Also those who fought and carry in their bodies and minds the indelible scars of the armed conflict“.

The release added that Argentina's debt with the fallen, the veterans, their families will be forever and ”we must continue to honor their memory, besides ensuring the State's capacity to recognize their needs and to effectively deliver“.

April 2nd must be a day of remembrance and homage, but also of commitment, ”commitment to never give up the sovereignty flag for which our young people fought, never again to spill blood for this rightful claim and preserve the path of dialogue with the UK, as established by United Nations and the interests of the Islanders“.

Because as the Argentine constitution states, ”recovering those territories and the full exercise of sovereignty over the Islands, respecting the way of life of its inhabitants in compliance with International Law, are a standing and unrenounceable objective of the Argentine people“

The leader of the Lower House, Sergio Massa , twitted, ”Today I can't embrace you as every April 2nd. But I'm next to you, to your history, You are our heroes. I would love to embrace you as a nation, which united, says forever thank you“.

Likewise the minister of Defense, Agustin Rossi invited Argentines at mid morning to sing the Malvinas March, played by different military musicians in full uniform from their homes, in a virtual band.

Earlier in the day minister Rossi next to the top brass of the Armed Forces, headed a ceremony and with drums playing and singing the national hymn, the Argentine flag was flown. Similar actions took place in different military and security forces barracks.

In brief comments Rossi said that the most glorious pages of the Malvinas war were written by the rank and file that fought ”in our Islands, unbelievable heroism and patriotism. A permanent remembrance for those who are not with us. Our most sincere embrace to their families“.

”Thirty eight years later, this April 2nd finds the Argentine Armed Forces in a different role, a different place. Today all our actions are geared to protect the health of our people, which is also a sovereignty right“

In Tierra del Fuego, governor Gustavo Melella said that this April second has Argentines in a different vigil, ”keeping ourselves in our homes, but with the soul and spirit of our Malvinas fully lit in our hearts as every year“.

”In this framework I invite the people of Tierra del Fuego to proudly fly our flag from windows and talk to our young generations what the Malvinas cause means“

Alicia Castro former ambassador in London, and now with a similar job in Moscow underlined that ”combating colonialism is an ethical imperative of all those of us who want equal and sovereign nations. In homage to those fallen in Malvinas we claim territorial, maritime, insular, Antarctica and natural resources sovereignty”.