Report scathing of junta

Press, 25 August 1983, Page 10

Report scathing of junta

NZPA Buenos Aires ' The ruling three-man , junta that started last year’s ; Falkland Islands war was i incompetent in virtually ; every aspect of the conflict i and should face court mar--1 tial, according to a military I investigative commission report. ’ An abbreviated version of the so-called Rattenbach report was published yesterday by the Buenos Aires daily, “La Voz” (The Voice). . In December, the current ; junta formed a commission of six retired generals and admirals, two each from the i Army, Navy, and Air Force, to determine “political and ; strategic responsibilities” ; for the war. The panel is ; headed-by a retired Army major-general, Benjamin Rattenbach. Argentinian forces invaded and occupied the Falklands on April 2 last year. Britain recaptured the islands 74 days later at a cost of 712 Argentine and

255 British lives. The then junta comprised the President and Army commander, LieutenantGeneral Leopoldo Galtieri, Admiral Jorge Anaya, and Brigadier-General Basilio Lami Dozo. All were removed from their posts after the Argentinian surrender.

“La Voz” said that the abbreviated version of the investigative commission’s report, leaked to the press, had been distributed by the Armed Forces to various civilian political leaders. The regime of the President, Major-General Reynaldo Bignone, has scheduled elections for

October 30 and the transfer of power to civilian authorities on January 30, 1984. Military-civilian contact has increased considerably during the last six months in an effort to smooth the transition.

According to the version published by “La Voz,” the panel concluded that the invasion had been extremely ill-advised. The panel said that the negative image of Argentina prevalent internationally because of reports of widespread human rights abuses had weighed against the country, as did Britain’s status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which was bound to consider the outbreak of hostilities.

The commission also recalled that, as signatory to the United Nations Charter, Argentina was committed to abstain from the use of force in resolving territorial disputes.