Page 120 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

622 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

nalities of the community, mainly for the purpose of reassuring them of his spirit of respect
and his desire to cause the least possible alteration in their living conditions and to try to
32
improve them in the future, for which he asked them to cooperate and transmit the message
to the rest of the islanders.
The Governor’s takeover ceremony took place in the afternoon of 7 April at the Town
Hall, and the military government of the islands was thus formally established. The ceremo-
ny was attended by national and military authorities, and by personalities from political par-
ties, labor entities and cultural institutions who were brought in by plane from the continent.
“The kelpers, even if they were invited, ignored the ceremony”. 33
The celebration was ascetic and at the end of it a message from Governor Menéndez to
the inhabitants was transmitted by LRA 60 Radio Malvinas and then retransmitted over the
national radio network.
34
6. actions of the miLitary government
From 7 April onwards, the Governor oriented his work in pursuit of the initial objectives
in spite of the adverse circumstances which surrounded the diplomatic and military situation.
The Governor was to be assisted by Secretaries for the different areas, each with up to two
undersecretaries, and all of them would constitute the Territorial Cabinet according to Decree
N° 5 issued by General Menéndez, whereas their appointment for such positions was made
by Decree N° 6, both instruments dated at Puerto Argentino on 10 May 1982, with retroactive
effect as of 7 April. (see Annexes 4 and 5).
35
A previous groundwork by the cabinet team determined a series of objectives to be achie-
32 “It was difficult to explain the initial decision of general García, commander of the Occupation Forces on
April the 2nd, to change the direction of traffic circulation from the left hand (in force in Britain) to the right
hand (applied in Argentina and in most of the world), an event which even today is mentioned as a contra-
diction of the Argentine behavior, even if it was explained that the decision was necessary to avoid serious
accidents caused by the drivers of military vehicles who were used to circulate on the right, whereas the
islanders had a smaller number of vehicles could be expected to be more careful (big arrows were also pain-
ted on the pavement to clearly indicate the direction of circulation, and in the end no accidents occurred)”;
General Mario B. Menéndez, interview with the Author.
33 Brigadier Carlos Bloomer Reeve, Secretary General of the Military Government, in Palazzi, op.cit. page 91
34 “I wish to categorically assure you that we have not come as conquerors to seize your property or to consi-
der you as our prisoners or vassals. On the contrary, I wish to reaffirm that, as permanently pointed out in
our talks maintained since 1967, we are prepared to respect as much as possible the present way of life of the
islanders. … Of course and as from now we consider you all as inhabitants of the Argentine Republic with
the same rights granted by our Constitution and detailed in its articles 14 and 14 bis, such as: to work and
exercise any licit industry; to navigate and trade; to make petitions to the authorities; to freely enter, remain,
circulate and leave the Argentine territory; to publish their ideas on the press without previous censorship;
to use and dispose of your property; to associate for any useful purposes; to freely profess your religion; to
reach and learn. …”.
35 “Article 1: To appoint sea captain Barry Melbourne Hussey as Secretary of Education, Social Action and
Public Health; colonel Manuel Ramón Borrego as Secretary of Public Works; colonel Oscar Rodolfo Chinni
as Secretary of Economy and Finance; commodore Carlos Felipe Bloomer Reeve as Secretary General of
Government; colonel Francisco Eduardo Machinandiarena as Secretary of Communications; and vice-com-
modore Eugenio Javier Miari as Secretary of Justice. Article 2. To appoint lieutenant commander auditor
Leopoldo Sergio Vinelli as Undersecretary of Justice; major Juan Carlos Hidalgo as Undersecretary of Eco-
nomy; and lieutenant commander accountant Rodolfo Valentín Angelo as Undersecretary of Finance.”