New Argentina bank note features map of the Falklands and folk hero Antonio …

The 50 peso note will be legal currency in six months and worth £3.75
On one side it features a map of the Falklands
On the other side it features Argentinian folk hero Antonio Rivero
Rivero, known as 'the Gaucho' led a bloody uprising against the British
The uprising was caused by a dispute with the British in 1833
Move may be set to enrage the British, who legally own Falklands

By
Luke Garratt

Published:

10:04 GMT, 3 April 2014

|
Updated:

10:07 GMT, 3 April 2014

Argentina is planning on instituting a new banknote with a map of the Falkland Islands, and a folk hero who led a bloody uprising in the long-disputed territory, in a move that may be set to enrage the British.

Argentinian president Cristina Kirchner announced the move to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Falklands War with Britain, which cost the lives of nearly 1,000 soldiers.

The 50 peso note will be legal currency in the next year, and will be worth around £3.75.

President of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner - who announced the new currency on the 32nd anniversary of the Falklands War with Britain

The note will carry the image of the archipelago on one side, and on the other side there will be an image of controversial figure Antonio Rivero, a cowboy who led an uprising against the British in August 1833.

The vigilante, nicknamed the Gaucho, went unpunished at the time because a court system had not been established.

Eventually, due to never being prosecuted, he was revered as a hero in Argentina.

President Kirchner has previously pledged an 'eternal fight' for the Falklands, and was described as pleased with the creation of the new banknote.

Argentina have long been at odds with the British due to Falkland Islands being part of British territory, and their latest move of having an Argentinian hero and the Falkland Islands on their currency may be a move that enrages the British

A government spokesman described the new banknote's creation as 'an act of historic, social and political re-vindication of our sovereign of our sovereign rights.'

After the speech at Argentina's government house, an Argentinian flag was removed to show giant mock-up of the bank note.

The spokesman afterwards referred to the Falkland Islands by their Spanish name, Islas Malvinas.

FALKLANDS WAR

Argentinian forces invaded the Falklands on April 2 1982.

They were forced to surrender 74 days later to British forces.

The
fighting claimed the lives of 255 British soldiers, three civilian
islanders and 649 Argentinian soldiers.

Many of those who died were conscripts.

They then said: 'This is a homage to our Islas Malvinas and to all those who gave their lives to this cause.

'It
will compel every Argentinian to keep alive on a daily basis the flames
of love for our islands which are and always will be Argentinian.'

Mrs Kirchner went on to describe the Falklands as the 'largest military and nuclear NATO base in the South Atlantic.'

She then urged Britain to dedicate less time to making war and focus more time to its own population.

She said: 'History shows that colonial enclaves are always recovered.'

At a speech last April to mark the 31st anniversary of the war, Mrs Kirchner lambasted Britain's refusal to negotiate over the Falklands, calling them 'incomprehensible'.

A Falklands referendum found that just three of the 1,517 people who voted said they were opposed to remaining a UK overseas territory.