Argentina tries to lay claim to Falkland Islands - again

Argentina launches naval campaign to isolate Falkland Islands

Argentina has launched a naval campaign to isolate the Falkland Islands that has seen it detain Spanish fishing vessels on suspicion of breaking the country’s “blockade” of the seas around the British territories.

By Fergus MacErlean

05 Dec 2011

Argentine patrol vessels have boarded 12 Spanish boats, operating under fishing licences issued by the Falkland Islands, for operating “illegally” in disputed waters in recent weeks.

Argentine patrol commanders carrying out interceptions near the South American coast told Spanish captains they were in violation of Argentina’s “legal” blockade of sea channels to the Falklands.

The warning has been backed up in a letter to Aetinape, the Spanish fishing vessels association from the Argentine embassy in Madrid warning boats in the area that “Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces are an integral part of the Argentine territory.”...

More here.

In 1982 Argentinia invaded the Falkland Islands. Lucky for the British residents there, Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and President Ronald Reagan was at the helm of America.

From the BBC:

1982: Argentina invades Falklands

Argentina has invaded the British territory of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic.

The islands, off the coast of Argentina, have been a cause of friction between the two countries since Britain claimed them in 1833.

The Argentine flag is now flying over Government House in the Falkland Islands' capital, Port Stanley.

The head of the country's military junta, General Leopoldo Galtieri, has welcomed the "recovery" of "Las Malvinas" - the Argentine name for the Falklands.

General Galtieri said Argentina had been left with no option other than military action.

The invasion followed months of sabre-rattling and a build-up over the past few days of Argentine war ships off the Falkland Islands, home to about 1,800 people.

'Unprepared'

At 0600 on Friday Argentina began "Operation Rosario" when a unit of Argentine troops landed near Port Stanley.

The leader of the Argentine forces, Admiral Jorge Anaya, had contacted the Falklands' governor, Rex Hunt, to appeal for a peaceful surrender.

But the request was rejected and the 80 members of the Royal Marine regiment stationed on the island and 20 locals were mobilised...

The BBC gives this:

In Context

The subsequent war cost the lives of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, many of them sailors who died during attacks on warships.

It ended on 14 June when the commander of the Argentine garrison at Port Stanley surrendered to British troops.

The victory greatly boosted the popularity of Margaret Thatcher's government which went on to win the next election.

General Galtieri was deposed and served three years in prison for military incompetence.

In July 2002 he was arrested on charges relating to the abduction, torture and death in 1980 of opponents of his military regime but died in January 2003 before coming to trial.

In October 1983 Argentina returned to civilian rule but it was 1990 before full diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom were restored.

However, Argentina still maintained its claim to the Falklands....

Of course, my regular readers will know where I stand on this issue (hint: "MY Islands!") but read more from the Beeb here. Read a couple of my previous columns on the Falklands here, here and here.

That last link tells the 2009 story of a placque being laid on the Falklands honouring a Hero who gave all defending the British rights to the Falklands:

Captain John Hamilton: Memorial plaque in Falklands

(graphic courtesy of britains-smallwars.com here)
The memorial plaque for Captain John Hamilton MC in Port Howard, West Falkland, metres away from where he was killed in action during the Falkland Islands campaign [Picture: Cpl David Parnham, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

Soldiers lay plaque for fallen comrade in the Falklands

A History and Honour news article

11 Aug 09

British soldiers who are soon to deploy on operations to Afghanistan have travelled 8,000 miles (12,875km) to the Falkland Islands to honour and remember a regimental comrade killed in the 1982 conflict.

Three members of 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) [2 YORKS] flew to Mount Pleasant Air Base and then by helicopter to the small West Falkland settlement of Port Howard.

On 10 June 1982, at nearby Packes Ridge, Captain John Hamilton MC (Military Cross), formerly of the Green Howards, was killed while carrying out reconnaissance of Argentine positions in Port Howard.

The three soldiers from 2 YORKS took with them an inscribed plaque which they mounted on rocks close to the place where Captain Hamilton died 27 years ago. This was then dedicated in a short ceremony led by an Armed Forces padre, with several Falkland Islanders also in attendance.

One of the three 2 YORKS soldiers, Major Andrew Roe, Officer Commanding C Company 2 YORKS, said:

More here.

Apparently there is an election coming soon in Argentinia so of course, this seems like a perfect time for the wanna-be politicians to be rattling sabres about the Falklands again. Whateverrrrrrrrrr! Not going to happen. It is well documented that the residents of Falkland Islands are indominatably British to the core, and that will NOT change.

The MoD has a great article on the history of the Falkland here.

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Margaret Thatcher: "I never had any doubts." Me neither!!!

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