By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Argentina has protested Britain’s plan to conduct military exercises, including firing missiles, on the nearby disputed Falkland (or Malvinas) Islands.  Britain disclosed the plan last week.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina let her reaction to the planned exercises be known via Twitter, tweeting that it would be “a militarization of the South Atlantic.”  She went on to call the situation, “Serious, very serious,” and wrote, “Typical nineteenth century colonialism.  Anachronistic use of force in violation of international law.  They do not care.  A clear example of double standards.”

The President also said she would summon Shan Morgan, the British ambassador, and referred to the British Navy as “pirates for ever?”

An official statement by the President declared, “The Argentine Government reiterates that the Malvinas . . . , part of the Argentine Republic and unlawfully occupied by the United Kingdom, are in dispute, which is recognised by the United Nations and other international organisations.”

In a letter sent to the British embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alberto D’Alotto wrote:  “The Argentine government expresses its formal and energetic protest to this planned military exercise and demands the British government refrain from carrying it out.”  D’Alotto has called Britain’s plan “an unacceptable provocation.”

British companies have been hunting for oil around the Falklands.  Earlier this year, the Rockhopper Exploration company claimed to have been the first to discover oil in the North Falkland Basin.  As the archipelago is situated on Argentina’s continental shelf, Argentina has claimed sovereignty over it and considers Britain’s presence an affront to that sovereignty.  Argentina has said that the Islands are within its sphere of economic influence and has promised to legally prevent Britain from accessing any oil in that area.  The President has previously vowed an “eternal fight” to claim the Islands, though without force.

There is a history of acrimony between Argentina and Britain.  In 1982, they waged war for 10 weeks over the Islands, resulting in the deaths of over 600 Argentine and 255 British troops.  Today, Britain keeps a permanent presence of 1,076 troops and four ships on the Islands.

Argentine veterans of the Falklands war have protested Britain’s upcoming exercises and demonstrated in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires.  Many carried signs with messages such as, “The Malvinas are Argentine,” and “English Go Home.”

A spokesperson from the British embassy has said that the  military tests are “routine and are carried out every six months,” and that therefore, “[w]e are a little taken aback” by Argentina’s protest.

For more information, please see:

Press TV-Argentina protests to UK over drills-10 October 2010

Voice of America-Argentina Protests British Military Exercises on Falklands-10 October 2010

Telegraph-Royal Navy are pirates, says Argentina’s president-10 October 2010

Reuters-Argentina protests UK Falklands military exercise-9 October 2010

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombian officials have arrested an army officer suspected of 11 extrajudicial killings of civilians. Major Orlando Arturo Cespedes Escalona was arrested Thursday in the northwestern city of Medellin.  The 11 deceased individuals were presented as leftist guerillas killed during combat.

Those allegedly killed by Escalona include 11 adolescents and young men, ages 16-28, from Toluviejo, a town in the northern province of Sucre.  Recruiters lured these young men to areas through promises of agricultural work and money, but they were then executed.  While remains from 10 bodies have been found and returned to family members, one 16-year-old is still missing.

Colombia’s Attorney General has stated that Escalona will face aggravated kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and homicide charges.  The case is being handled by a special human rights and international law prosecutor who also ordered the arrest of retired Col. Luis Fernando Borja.

In what has become known as the “False Positives” scandal, the Colombian army has been accused of killing civilians and presenting them as guerrillas killed in combat to pump body counts.  The soldiers who claimed credit for the “kills” received weekend passes and other benefits.  Civilian accomplices lured the victims away from their homes and in what is described as a common practice, army recruiters would bury the men in common graves to give the impression that they were insurgents killed in combat. 

There are many other instances of extrajudicial killings aside from those that Escalona is accused of.  The number of documented victims has already topped 2,000.  However, some suspect that the number could be closer to 3,000 victims.  Other recruiters have been already been convicted and sentenced to no less than 25 years in prison. 

Victims’ families and human rights activists suspect that a directive issued in 2005 by then-Defense Minister Camilo Ospina offering incentives to soldiers for insurgent deaths may have spurred many of these killings.

For more information, please see:

Latin American Herald Tribune – Colombian Army Officer Arrested for Unlawful Killings – 8 October 2010

Colombia Passport – Military Arrested for Murder of a Protected Person – 7 October 2010

Colombia Reports – Army Major Arrested for 11 “False Positive” Murders – 7 October 2010