Argentine President Cristina Kirchner takes a written swipe at Falkland Islands

Probably not her directly, but someone representing President Cristina Kirchner from Argentina made a call to UK newspapers The Guardian and The Independent and bought a full page worth of advertising space for £7,952 (US$12,924)  to be run in today’s paper.

If this wasn’t unusual enough, the ad was to feature an open letter from the President of Argentina to the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron. The subject? The long, long disputed Falkland Islands:

An archipelago located in the South Atlantic Ocean, consisting of about 4,700 square miles (12,173 square kilometres) of land: East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 smaller islands.

The islands, a British Overseas Territory, contain a population of 61% Falkland Islander, 29% British, 2.6% Spanish and 7.4% other nationalities.

The islands are self-governed with the United Kingdom guaranteeing good government and taking responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs.

Controversy exists over the Falklands’ original discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. At various times there have been French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain re-established its rule in 1833, though the islands continue to be claimed by Argentina. In 1982, following Argentina’s invasion of the islands, the two-month-long undeclared Falklands War between both countries resulted in the surrender of all Argentine forces and the return of the islands to British administration.

(Source: Wikipedia)

The full-page spread ad / letter is below:

The letter from Argentine President to David Cameron published in The Guardian | Intentious

As soon as it was published, Twitter erupted with waves of angry Brits claiming that The Guardian is a money-grabbing, unpatriotic, betraying newspaper for allowing another nation’s propaganda to bad-mouth the United Kingdom and re-ignite an issue that might ultimately lead to another war over the islands.

Others said that there was nothing wrong with reporting the letter — after all, it’s been published elsewhere too (most probably in Argentina) and has now gone viral on the ‘net anyway — but for the Guardian to run it as an advert was “simple greed.”

Twitter erupts over #Falklands | Intentious

Personally, I think the Falkland Islands should stay as they are. The people there have gone too long under British rule to suddenly have it’s government, foreign affairs and defence turned on it’s head and replaced with whatever Argentina deems appropriate. All people there of British descent are also in danger of being ostracized and having their lives turned upside down.

Remember, it’s not the Falkland Islanders who want the Falkland Islands to be part of Argentina… it’s Argentina.

Falkland Islands Twitter Account Responds | Intentious

Source and Image Credits: The Huffington Post | http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/03/falklands-advert-sees-guardian-criticised_n_2400328.html

Related articles

• Falklands Row Reopened By President’s Letter (news.sky.com)
• Argentine President writes to David Cameron over Falklands (itv.com)
• Argentina urges Britain to ‘end colonialism’ and hand back Falklands (guardian.co.uk)
• President reignites Falklands row (walesonline.co.uk)
• Falklands row reignites as Argentine president calls on UK to relinquish control (scotsman.com)
• Argentina calls, again, for Falklands handover (radionz.co.nz)
• Argentina accuses UK of ‘colonialism’ by holding on to the Falkland Islands – Daily Mail (dailymail.co.uk)
• Hands off the Falklands: No to Argentine imperialism (thecommentator.com)
• Argentine President Cristina Kirchner publishes full-page advert in The Guardian UK (intentious.com)
• Argentina rebuffed over Falklands (bbc.co.uk)