people's claim on the Malvinas as they call the Falklands has been part of their 130-year fight for independence.
They all see the 100-odd islands as part of Argentine territory. Every village has a street named after them.
When the newlyRepublic of Buenos Aires won independence Spanish in 1820, it also secured Spain's rights to the islands, and set up a Britain and Spain both claimed discovery and contested sovereignty until the nev Argentinian republic The had possession since 1774 when they ended a three year occupancy.
But they left behind a flag and a plaque on which their present claim rests.
In 1832 the Argentine appointed governor imfor infringement of fishing SCHILS organised a naval assault and trampled on the Argentinians. A year later re-occupied militarily, expelling all the locals Since then they have maintained the occupation with a settler population composed entirely of people from the British Isles although the British claim has never been recognised internationaly and the United Nations has made repeated attempts to make Britain settle the issue. issue.
The Islanders have been victims of British am. bitions to rule the seas. As a leaalng haang nation control of trade routes allowed Britain to dictate •terms to its rivals and sup pliers. The Malvinas gave them control over the vital South Atlantic passage round Cape Horn at the tip of South America.
Socialist Challenge 8 April 1982 page 3