London 'rewrites history' on Malvinas

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221875.html

London has ironically accused Argentina of “colonialism” in relation to Las Malvinas (the Falklands) while it was Britain that formally colonized the Argentinean-owned South Atlantic islands in 1892.

“What the Argentineans have been saying recently I would argue is actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentineans want them to do something else," British Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs.

This is while Britain occupied the oil-rich archipelago in 1833 and has since kept a tight hold on its some 3,000 islands despite strong protest from Argentina, which also launched a failed military offensive to retake the territory in 1982.

Argentina's case for ownership of the islands is almost clear to even Britain's so-called closest ally, the US, and London is finding itself increasingly isolated on the matter.

At a meeting of the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in June 2010, Washington went out of its way to side with anti-American leaders including Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua to endorse a declaration calling for negotiations on the question of Las Malvinas.

London officials were dealt another blow in December 2011 when the leading South American trade union, Mercosur, imposed a trade ban on all ships from Malvinas flying the British flag.

The move was a clear message to London that Argentina's neighbors support its bid to retake the islands and that Britain cannot provide for an island some 7,700 miles off its shores.

Now as the 30th anniversary of Argentina-Britain 74-day war in 1982 approaches, London is again talking of military muscle to 'protect' the colony.

Cameron coupled his Commons' address and colonialism libel with reassurances that his government will protect the Malvinas militarily.

However, Argentinean officials who have been urging talks on the future of Malvinas, said Cameron's remarks are “totally offensive.”

Argentinean Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, for one, hit back at Cameron saying he wants to rewrite the history adding Britain is “a synonym for colonialism.”

"Evidently at a time when only scraps of colonialism linger, Great Britain ... has decided to rewrite history," Timerman told the state news agency.

Britain has been clinging to a single excuse to continue its illegal rule over the archipelago that is local residents want it to remain part of Britain.

That claim was seriously undermined when a local resident James Peck gave up his British citizenship to receive an Argentine birth certificate from the hands of the Argentinean president a few months ago.

The move by James Peck gave rise to speculations that more islanders could be unhappy about the British rule despite London's claims that they are proud of being British citizens.