Protesters in a remote region of Chile have
triggered controversy by asking Argentina to "adopt" them because they
feel forgotten by Chile's government (Publisher: "I wish my government would forget about me")
Friday, April 27, 2012 – by Staff Report
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Argentina should adopt us, say Chile protesters ...
Demonstrators from remote Aysén region make appeal to neighbouring
country over lack of services from own government ... Police in Santiago
clash with protesters supporting the Aysén region, where demonstrators
have asked Argentina to take up their cause Protesters in a remote
region of Chile have triggered controversy by asking Argentina to
"adopt" them because they feel forgotten by Chile's government ...
Requesting annexation by Argentina appeared an attempt to catch Chilean
state attention rather than a serious proposal for secession but the
idea still provoked derision from its neighbour. Readers of Clarín, a
Buenos Aires daily, scorned the invitation on the grounds Chile
supported Britain during the 1982 Falklands conflict. "Why don't you ask
England to adopt you? They are your best friends and allies!" said one
typical comment. It was the latest sign that the diplomatic row between
London and Buenos Aires over the disputed islands has focused
Argentinian grievances before the conflict's 30th anniversary. Another
reader called Chileans "dirty traitors" for having aided the British
task force which seized the archipelago back from Argentina. Another
defended Chileans, pointing out that it was the dictator Augusto
Pinochet who helped Margaret Thatcher, not the Chilean people. – UK Guardian
Dominant Social Theme: Ancient tensions between Argentina and Chile will not erupt again.
Free-Market Analysis: The southern half of South
America is bracing for an Argentine devaluation. People are readying for
the worst. Last time it happened was more than ten years ago, around
the turn of the century. It wasn't pretty then and it won't be pretty
now. It could cause significant political as well as monetary damage.
According to some Daily Bell sources, top officials are concerned
about Argentina's increasing belligerence on the world stage. This is
epitomized by the ongoing takeover of Spanish YPF oil, which has made
headlines around the globe.
Chile and Argentina almost went to war back in the 1970s, and while
the situation between the two countries is not nearly so grave now,
there is always the possibility of renewed military tension.
