Argentina: statue commemorates Che Guevara

A notable statue of Argentinean revolutionary Ernesto Guevara Lynch, known the world as “Che” Guevara, will be erected in his hometown of Rosario, approximately 253 kilometres (157 miles) from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sculpted by Andrés Zerneri, it is being transported from the capital city of Argentina to Rosario 80 years after his birth. It depicts “el Che”, who was killed in 1967 by Bolivian troops assisted by US advisors, wearing his characteristic beret and combat fatigues. Like other depictions of national leaders, he appears to have his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Standing 4 metres in height, the statue consists of some 75,000 pieces of bronze donated by approximately 15,000 people from the world over. On a tour of the country before its installation, it is being accompanied by a motorcycle escort and was exhibited at the obelisk in Buenos Aires. It will be exhibited at other locations before reaching Rosario.

The statue will be taken to the port of Buenos Aires and taken up the River Plate to Rosario on 28 May 2008. Rosario, whose skyline is dominated by grain elevators owned by companies such as Cargill, was over the May 24-25 weekend the scene of multitudinous demonstrations against President Cristina Kirchner and her leftist-progressive government. Rosario will receive the bronze with a public event and festivities. Singer Santiago Feliú of Cuba, and musician Horacio Fontova of Argentina will entertain the gathering.

Sculptor Andrés Zerneri completed work on the statue having received donations of bronze from around the world, principally in the form of keys, padlocks, and candlesticks, until gathering together the required three metric tons of metal. A large statue of Guevara is also found in Santa Clara, Cuba, on the island that was to give the Argentine physician fame for his role in the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.