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The Falkland Islands: One of Great Britain's last colonial possessionsby Fred NanceA brief war was fought in 1982 between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Located in the South Atlantic, the islands have been a possession of Great Britain since British occupation in 1833. Argentina claims the islands as its territory and lately has been making strong diplomatic moves to try to reclaim the property known to Argentinians as "Las Malvinas." However, before the recent attempts to reclaim the islands diplomatically, the first move was by force. The start of the 1980s found the economy of Argentina in shambles, and the military regime in power was accused of political arrests, murders, and disappearances of some 30,000 people. It was against this chaotic backdrop that the government of General Leopoldo Galtieri rallied the country behind it in April 1982 by forcibly occupying the British-held Falkland Islands. The intent was to strike a chord of national pride with its people. After two months of war Great Britain recaptured the islands in June 1982. More than a thousand Argentine lives were lost and the war remains a bitter memory. The issue of Falklands sovereignty has been a source of irritation to the British. But to the Argentines it is a matter of reclaiming lost territory. Since the war, a relationship of goodwill has prevailed between the two countries. As reported in The Economist of October 30, 1998, both parties agreed in 1989 that matters concerning the islands could be handled in a practical manner without affecting either country's claim to sovereignty. Seeking Help The two countries cooperate in international affairs, and both are allies of the United States. Carlos Menem became the first Argentine president to visit Britain since the 1960s this past October. The visit was one of reconciliation for both sides. However, Mr. Menem raised the issue of sovereignty of the islands to deaf ears among the British. The next stop for President Menem was a visit with President Clinton of the United States on January 11, 1999. Before leaving for the U.S. he said, "Of course the subject that we are not going to elude...is the Malvinas." In La Nacion it was reported that President Menem asked President Clinton to intervene. Mr. Clinton responded that he would like to see both countries (Great Britain and Argentina),whom he considers friends, come to a solution, adding, "I am going to call Prime Minister Blair." To complicate matters, a recent BBC revelation was released of Great Britain's "intent" to return sovereignty of the Falklands to Argentina 30 years ago . The Daily Express of London broke the 1969 secret, reporting that Great Britain was acceding to Argentinian claims. However, the islanders themselves obstructed the path of negotiations between the two countries. After elections in 1970 and a change in the British government the negotiations were tabled. The Falklands remained British territory. Bible prophecy reveals that a "company of nations," or a group or commonwealth of nations, was to arise from the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:10,11): "And God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.' So he called his name Israel. Also God said to him: 'I am God almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall proceed from your body.'" A Peaceful Separation? At the greatest extent of its power, Great Britain controlled vast land areas such as India, Canada and Australia. Strategic sea gates and passages (Genesis 22:16-18), like the Suez Canal, the Straits of Gibraltar and Hong Kong, were hers. The last half of the twentieth century has seen a global retreat from her once dominate geographic reach. Interestingly enough, Prince Charles, heir to the throne of Great Britain, will visit Argentina in March of this year. He will head a delegation of British veterans ready to commemorate, with their Argentine comrades, the 17th anniversary of the Falklands war. It will be the first time in more than a half century that an heir to the British throne has visited Argentina. Prince Charles' visit will be the culmination of the political reconciliation initiated by both countries since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990. In Argentine diplomatic circles, an optimistic prediction speaks of a possible visit from Queen Elizabeth sometime after the year 2000. Whether Britain considers releasing the islands from its possession may depend on the desires of the islanders who live there. The constitution of Argentina calls for advancing its claims of sovereignty of the Falkland Islands by peaceful means. The problem is Argentine impatience and an unwillingness to back down on the issue. One hopes that a peaceful resolution, like that achieved with Hong Kong, can be found. WNP Fred Nance is a United Church of God member in Lansing, Michigan. |
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Keywords: Argentina Britain Falkland Islands Malvinas
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