What began as an academic conference at the University of Manchester , UK, is now sparking a significant backlash within the veterans' community and in our country's sovereignty politics. Veteran Alejandro Diego 's presentation at the British forum—where he proposed a "shared sovereignty" scheme and the creation of an "autonomous province" outside of Tierra del Fuego's control—was described by authorities at the Malvinas Veterans Center in Ushuaia as " a roadmap for final surrender."

Ushuaia sets the tone: "The Malvinas will not be dismembered"

The organization representing the War Veterans of Ushuaia broke its silence this Monday, May 18th, with a press release that leaves no room for ambiguity. In response to what they consider a "laboratory experiment" designed to test the resilience of the Argentine people, the veterans reiterated that the Malvina Islands are not an isolated entity, but an integral part of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and the South Atlantic Islands .

The most critical point of the veterans' complaint lies in the attempt to strip the province of its jurisdiction over the archipelago. "Creating an 'autonomous province' is a legal act of sedition that seeks to dismember our province to facilitate the plundering of natural resources," declared the Center, now presided over by War Veteran Juan Carlos Parodi , emphasizing that this maneuver violates Article 13 of the National Constitution.

The trap of "Acquired Rights"

Regarding Alejandro Diego 's proposal to preserve the "acquired rights" of the islanders and transnational corporations, the statement from the Ushuaia Veterans is unequivocal: " What the occupier possesses today are not rights, but acts of piracy." They declare that accepting the management of oil, fishing, and the economy in the hands of the implanted colony, under the guise of shared sovereignty, is to legalize the theft of our resources and renounce the future of coming generations.

A call for massive rejection across the country

The Malvinas capital's center did not limit itself to local rejection. In a politically charged paragraph, it urged all veterans' organizations in the country, city councils, legislatures, and the National Congress to formally repudiate Alejandro Diego 's proposal.

The outrage of the ex-combatants stems from two fundamental ethical points:

1.   The lack of respect for the fallen: The use of an alleged "mystical outburst" or message from "beyond" of a hero buried in Darwin was denounced to justify the enemy flag flying alongside the light blue and white flag.

2.   Secrecy with peers: Diego is criticized for choosing a British Zoom meeting and Infobae to launch his plan, instead of discussing it with his fellow activists and legitimate civil society organizations.

The battle for cultural sovereignty

The staged event in Manchester was intended to generate consensus and shape interpretations. However, the reaction of the direct guardians of sovereignty—the veterans of Tierra del Fuego—has brought this advance to a screeching halt.

For the Ex-Combatants of Ushuaia, there is no "dream" or "disruptive vision" worthwhile if the price is the surrender of the territory.

The full statement from the Ushuaia Veterans Center: