Page 118 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

620 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

maintained in operation. 25
Meanwhile, over at the continent, the Argentine population woke up to the surprise of
the military operation, and the first demonstrations of joy for the Malvinas recovery began
to take place. At midmorning, the President gave a speech to inform about the reasons which
supported the decision to carry out the operation and the spirit which guided the troops in
relation to the islands’ population. 26
At the Malvinas’ capital, which a few days later would change its name from “Port Stan-
ley to “Puerto Argentino”, the population was slowly getting out of their houses to take a look
at the Argentine forces.
The peace and tranquility of the population had been suddenly shaken. “Everywhere there
are now armed men. Dozens of vehicles. Even the air smells different, with exhaust fumes
and the somke of foreign cigarettes. The town has been raped brutally and without warning,
leaving everyone in a deep state of shock. It’s going to be a long time befote the awful reality
of what has happened links in with some people. Many are utterly confused by this sudden
transition from tranquility to military occupation, Still, we must be thankful that we are still
alive”. 27
“The Union Jack, the Falklands Islands Government, along with everything of which we
were so proud an hour ago, have now been heaved out of the window. When the new gover-
nment says jump we have to jump – but not too quickly”. 28
Once the recovery operation was completed, there came the issue of Decree 681 dated
29
3 April, by the Territory of the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands now
constituted a Military “Gobernación” as of 00:00 hours of that day (Article 1) and General
Mario Benjamín Menéndez was appointed as Military Governor, dependent on the Military
Committee, to exercise all military and civil powers in the jurisdiction (Article 3). (see An-
nex 3).

5. change of scenario for the miLitary operation
The military operation for recovery of the islands complied with the premises set forth by
the DENAC, and it was now left in the hands of diplomacy the task of consolidating the reco-
very in the eyes of the international organizations and the world opinion. In this connection,
“a limited engagement would not require major forces, while Argentina´s existing capability
was considered sufficient to engage in a fait accompli operation; the final outcome of which

25 Büsser, Carlos A.; op.cit., page 325.
26 Privitello, Luciano de, and Romero, Luis Alberto, “Grandes Discursos de la Historia Argentina”, page 392
: “The Argentine position does not involve aggression of any type for the present inhabitants of the islands,
whose rights and way of life will be respected with the same generosity as were those of the peoples freed in
the course of our liberating expeditions, … Our forces will only act to the extent that this is strictly necessary.
They will not disturb in any way the life of the inhabitants and, on the contrary, will protect the institutions
and persons coexisting with us, although they will not tolerate any misbehavior, be it on the islands or in the
continent …”
27 Smith, John; “74 Days – An Islander´s Diary of the Falklands Occupation”, page 38.
28 Smith, John, ob. cit, page 28
29 On 3 April the operation for the recovery of the South Georgia was completed.