Photo: Edgardo Valera
Los nine Jujuy crew members of the ARA San Juan submarine were honored in that province on the fifth anniversary of the sinking of the ship with a ceremony in the town of Aguas Calientes and a commemorative mural in the Alto Comedero neighborhood of the district capital.
The initiative was accompanied by the relatives of the well-remembered Jujuy divers, who actively participated in the events, an opportunity in which they expressed the need to keep the memory of the victims alive and demanded “a serious investigation so that Justice is done” and that ” condemn those responsible.”
The first activity was carried out in the early hours of the morning at the Rural School No. 453 of Aguas Calientes, 59 kilometers from the capital of Jujuy, an institution that from now on will bear the name “Ara San Juan”, a tribute that allowed to bring together the local educational community and those close to the crew members.
Inauguration of a mural on behalf of Jujuy divers
A mural was also inaugurated on behalf of the divers from the province of Jujuy, an intervention carried out by the artists Gabriela Acosta, Sandra Batallan and Ayme Colque, in a ceremony attended by authorities from the municipality of San Salvador.
“Not only today, but every day we are asking for justice to be done and those directly responsible for the sinking of the ARA San Juan to be convicted,” Noelia Cisneros, sister of First Corporal Leandro Cisneros, told Télam, after being part of the tributes .
Photo: Edgardo Valera
The relative of the diver, who was 27 years old at the time of his disappearance, asked that “the investigation be clarified because there is a lot of documentation that has not been released to get to the truth.”
Noelia remembered her brother as a person “humble, simple who dedicated a lot of time to training because he graduated with honors”.
The next of kin agreed that November 15 should be declared a national holiday, understanding that what happened with the sinking of the ARA San Juan “was, is, and will be a matter that concerns the State.”
Among the 44 crew members of the submarine, Corvette Lieutenant Jorge Luis Mealla, Second Petty Officer Hugo Arnaldo Herrera, Chief Corporal Hugo Dante César Aramayo, and Chief Corporal Daniel Alejandro Polo were honored.
They are joined by Chief Corporal Leandro Fabián Cisneros, Second Corporal Aníbal Tolaba, Chief Corporal Franco Javier Espinoza, Chief Corporal Mario Armando Toconás and First Petty Officer Víctor Hugo Coronel, also born in this province.
“I want to vindicate the struggle of all the families of the crew members, and I ask that the whole country keep them in mind in the collective memory because the divers are a source of pride for this country”, finally expressed Noelia Cisneros.
Photo: Edgardo Valera
For her part, Inés Mendiola, aunt of the submariner Cisneros, valued “the attitude of the schools that pay tributes, because it is where the history of the country is taught and they are really remembered as heroes.”
“We continue to insist on the request for Justice. One of the last requests we transmitted to international human rights organizations and delegates to support our requests,” Mendiola remarked.
