Argentine Falklands War vets clash with police over pension dispute.
Reuters
2012-02-14
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STORY: Argentine police clashed with a group of former soldiers mobilized during the Falklands War in downtown Buenos Aires Tuesday (February 14) as they demanded recognition as veterans of war and inclusion in a pension plan for war vets.
The soldiers were deployed in the 1982 Falklands War when Argentina invaded the British-ruled South Atlantic islands, but never reached the islands during the 10-weeks of combat not making them eligible for state pensions afforded to those who reached to the Falkland Islands known as Las Malvinas in Argentina.
The demonstrators were blocking a downtown major thoroughfare when police forces, led by a massive water cannon truck, moved in on them to break up the demonstration.
The ex-soldiers, who began their protest Monday (February 13) night, resisted the police and hurled rocks, sticks and other projectiles at police armed with batons and riot shields.
The police finally fired tear gas and advanced against the demonstrators chasing them through the downtown streets taking a number of them into custody as the demonstrators continued to resist arrest.
The grouping says the want the government to recognize them as "continental combatants" and afford them a "minimal pension."
The Falklands War has become a hot-button issue in the South American country as it in engages in a war of words with the U.K. over sovereignty of the islands.
London has refused to start talks on sovereignty with Buenos Aires unless the 3,000 islanders want them.
Tensions have risen before the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict this year. Oil exploration by British companies off the islands has raised the stakes.
Fernandez, who has accused Britain of "militarizing the South Atlantic," hardened her posture last week following stories in the British press about a nuclear submarine being sent to the South Atlantic
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Argentine police clashed with a group of former soldiers mobilized during the Falklands War in downtown Buenos Aires Tuesday (February 14) as they demanded recognition as veterans of war and inclusion in a pension plan for war vets.
The soldiers were deployed in the 1982 Falklands War when Argentina invaded the British-ruled South Atlantic islands, but never reached the islands during the 10-weeks of combat not making them eligible for state pensions afforded to those who reached to the Falkland Islands known as Las Malvinas in Argentina.
The demonstrators were blocking a downtown major thoroughfare when police forces, led by a massive water cannon truck, moved in on them to break up the demonstration.
The ex-soldiers, who began their protest Monday (February 13) night, resisted the police and hurled rocks, sticks and other projectiles at police armed with batons and riot shields.
The police finally fired tear gas and advanced against the demonstrators chasing them through the downtown streets taking a number of them into custody as the demonstrators continued to resist arrest.
The grouping says the want the government to recognize them as "continental combatants" and afford them a "minimal pension."
The Falklands War has become a hot-button issue in the South American country as it in engages in a war of words with the U.K. over sovereignty of the islands.
London has refused to start talks on sovereignty with Buenos Aires unless the 3,000 islanders want them.
Tensions have risen before the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict this year. Oil exploration by British companies off the islands has raised the stakes.
Fernandez, who has accused Britain of "militarizing the South Atlantic," hardened her posture last week following stories in the British press about a nuclear submarine being sent to the South Atlantic
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