The government of Argentina announced the closure of a museum dedicated to Ernesto "Che" Guevara in San Martín de los Andes, within the Lanín National Park, which was managed by the Association of State Workers (ATE) based on an agreement signed during Cristina Fernández's administration.
Manuel Adorni, government spokesperson, stated that the National Parks Administration revoked the contract it had with the union group since 2008 to manage the La Pastera building, arguing that, "far from fulfilling its objective, which was to reopen this cultural space declared a historical site, ATE turned that property into a museum of Che Guevara."
"Among its most notable activities was the presentation of the book Mundo Che in Havana, and the visit of university students to its facilities," he said.
The official from Milei's administration warned that the contract involved an illegality and the "use of state resources to recreate the life of this terrorist with multimedia material".
"Defending the resources of all Argentinians is an unbreakable principle of the government of President Milei. I say it—or we say it—every time we take this kind of measure, amid such madness," he concluded.
The "Che," a controversial figure, has been extensively manipulated by Cuban state propaganda and by those who idealize communism, in an attempt to adopt him as a representative figure of the Cuban "revolution" and social struggles.
Guevara was an Argentine doctor and guerrilla fighter, an ally of Fidel Castro and one of the key figures in his rise to power in 1959. Within the Cuban regime, he held high positions, such as president of the National Bank and minister of Industry. Later, he attempted to expand guerrilla warfare to other countries, participating in insurgencies in the Congo and Bolivia, where he was captured and executed.
During the first year of the Cuban Revolution, Guevara was present at summary executions carried out at the La Cabaña fortress, where hundreds of people were executed, many without fair trials or armed resistance. For this reason, he was nicknamed by some Cubans as "the butcher of La Cabaña."
In public speeches, such as at the United Nations Assembly in 1964, Guevara justified these executions and stated: "We have executed, we execute, and we will continue to execute as long as necessary", demonstrating a ruthless stance toward his political enemies.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Closure of the Che Guevara Museum in Argentina
Why did the museum dedicated to Che Guevara in Argentina close?
The government of Argentina shut down the museum because it believed it was unlawfully portraying the life of a "terrorist" with state resources. The museum, managed by the Association of State Workers (ATE), had been authorized during Cristina Fernández's administration, but the current government claimed that the contract involved an illegality.
What activities took place at the Che Guevara museum?
The Che Guevara Museum organized activities such as book presentations related to his figure and visits from university students. These activities aimed to promote the image of Che Guevara, although they were viewed by the government as an improper use of public resources to glorify the life of a controversial figure.
What was the Argentine government's reaction to the Che Guevara museum?
The Argentine government, under the administration of Javier Milei, decided to close the museum, considering it an inappropriate use of state resources to glorify a figure deemed a terrorist. The decision to revoke the contract with ATE was part of a broader policy to review previous agreements that do not align with the principles of the new government.
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