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Schilder am Strassenrand in Argentinien

Islas Malvinas or Falkland Islands?

The impact of a war over a group of islands off the Argentinean coast on the country

Before moving to Argentina I was not aware what a big impact the war over the Falkland Islands (or the Islas Malvinas as they are called here) have had on this country. Around 650 Argentinean and 255 British soldiers died during the war. It only lasted ten weeks back in 1982 but it left scars in Argentinean society. Both countries claim the islands (which are officially under British rule) and they will not be missed off any Argentinean map.

In Buenos Aires, there are permanent tents of the war veterans on the Plaza de Mayo (the main square in front of the Casa Rosada (the executive mansion and office of the President of Argentina) as well as on the Avenida 9 de Julio, the main avenue of the city and supposedly the widest in the world.

Even though the war has been over for over thirty years now, patriotic feelings are still very strong when it comes to the islands. There are also regions called “Malvinas Argentinas” (for example one in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires).

The topic of the war is also often used by the political parties to unite the people. In 2014 the Argentinean Congress also passed a law saying that public transport needs to bear a sign stating “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falkland Islands are Argentinean). Besides this, you can also see signs all over the country alongside the roads stating the same message.

The war also created a major conflict between Chile and Argentina. This is due to the fact that Chile supported the British during the war by allowing them to use their ports and air bases.

For someone from abroad, especially Europe, it is quite hard to understand how this war could have had such a great impact on the country. However, I realize myself by now that the topic turned into an everyday topic for me and that I, too, see the Malvinas as part of Argentina – even though I know that officially they are not. I am not quite sure why this is though. Maybe it is a mix of everyday “propaganda” and the fact that we are just so far away from Europe that it seems natural that the islands do not belong to a European country but to a South American one.

And of course I would never ever call the Islas Malvinas Falkland Islands...

Comments

09.10.19, 12:08
I understand that you would refer to the islands as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, but in English they are the Falkland Islands and will remain so whatever their political status. We say Spain not Espana, we say Italy not Italia, Argentina says Islas Lennox, Picton and Nueva (Lennox, Picton and Nueva Islands). Islas Malvinas is the Spanish language term, not the English language term and is therefore incorrect when speaking English, whatever the political situation or political views.
Kiwi-ian
09.10.19, 12:08
The controversy is very complex, one reason why neither side has really pushed for a legal resolution (though Britain has made some advances which Argentina rebuffed). In 1964 Argentina put its case to the UN Decolonisation Committee, unfortunately it contained many inaccuracies which have now painted Argentina into a corner, she either has to maintain them or admit that her ambassador knowingly told untruths to the UN. You mention the situation with Chile in the early '80s. At the time, Argentina and Chile were disputing the Beagle Channel. Argentina had refused the findings of an International Tribunal and a Papal Commission (both of which found against her) over sovereignty of the Beagle Channel area. The situation still hadn't been resolved by the time of the Falklands conflict and is a reason given as to why conscripts were sent to the Islands and were beaten by the British rather than trained professional soldiers who would have put up more of a fight - but would have left Argentina defenceless if Chile took the opportunity to invade. Chile and Argentina had a cool war situation already, and Argentina's new enemy was Chile's new friend. All a pity because Argentina and Britain have had quite a warm relationship, indeed I took up Spanish at school because I wanted to go to Argentina.
Kiwi-ian