- Title: ARGENTINA: Few tears shed in Argentina over Margaret Thatcher death
- Date: 8th April 2013
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (APRIL 8, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEE, CONSUELO GONZALEZ, SAYING: "That she rests in peace, that's all one can say." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ACCOUNTANT, ELIO ALDERETE, SAYING: "It is satisfying. For the Argentines she was something terrible." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MUSICIAN, JOSE RASCHELIA, SAYING: "Well, I hope that God forgives her if he can because truly what she did to our country is unforgettable. We are never going to forget the damage that she caused. I hope that God can forgive her because I cannot." OBELISK IN CENTRAL BUENOS AIRES
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA751A37LASG6ZKQMA6SPW140Z
- Story Text: Residents in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires expressed little grief on Monday (April 8) over the death of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
Thirty-one years ago, Thatcher was at the helm when Argentina tried to invade the remote British-ruled Falkland Islands.
Argentina has claimed the territory since 1833, saying it inherited it from the Spanish on independence and that Britain expelled an Argentine population from the islands.
The 10-week war, which killed about 650 Argentine and 255 British troops, ended when Argentina surrendered. Tensions over the islands continue to this day.
Heber Roberto Nieto, a Falklands War veteran, said that he felt both sadness and pity for Thatcher.
"I felt sadness and pity at the same time because she was - from what I've seen on television - a conceited, proud and arrogant woman. It's like that - one doesn't feel resentment or anything of the sort, but it's like that," said Nieto.
Businessman Carlos Grillo said that while he didn't feel it was in line with his faith to celebrate Thatcher's death, he would not feel sad.
"I'm not going to say that I'm sad - the opposite, and on the other hand, it contradicts the Catholic faith because we cannot say, good she died and I'm going to celebrate her death, but I'm not going to get sad because she has died," said Grillo.
Another man, Alcides Francesco, remembered Thatcher as a patriot and that if she had been an Argentine leader, the Falklands Islands, or Malvinas as they are known locally, would belong to Argentina.
"Margaret Thatcher never made me feel anything. For me she was an English patriot and if we had had various Margaret Thatchers here the Islands [Falkland Islands] would still be ours," said Francesco.
Thatcher, commonly referred to as the "Iron Lady", transformed Britain and inspired conservatives around the world by radically rolling back the state during her 11 years in power, died on Monday (April 8) following a stroke. She was 87.
Argentine Consuelo Gonzalez said she hoped Thatcher would rest in peace.
"That she rests in peace, that's all one can say," said Gonzalez.
But accountant Elio Alderete had less than kind words for the Iron Lady.
"It is satisfying. For the Argentines she was something terrible," said Alderete.
And, in a similar vein, musician Jose Raschelia said that while he could not forgive Thatcher, he hoped that God would be able to do so.
"Well, I hope that god forgives her if he can because truly what she did to our country is unforgettable. We are never going to forget the damage that she caused. I hope that God can forgive her because I cannot," said Raschelia.
The British government said Thatcher would be given a ceremonial funeral with military honours at London's St Paul's Cathedral, which falls short of a full state funeral, in accordance with the wishes of her family. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
