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UK out of the Falklands

The decision of the British-ruled Falkland Islands to grant British oil companies the right to start drilling for oil off the South Atlantic colony has sparked fresh calls across South America for Britain to get out. Richard Brenner reports

The decision of the British-ruled Falkland Islands to grant British oil companies the right to start drilling for oil off the South Atlantic colony has sparked fresh calls across South America for Britain to get out.

Workers Power has always been clear on this issue. Britain has no right to the Falkland Islands, which it seized by force in 1833 as part of its colonial expansion all over the world. We opposed Thatcher’s bloody 1982 war. We will oppose any new military action by Britain and we say the islands should go to Argentina immediately.

A look at a map makes it obvious. Britain has as much right to these islands as Argentina has to the Isle of Wight. The few hundred Falkland islanders are the descendants of British colonists and cannot be allowed to obstruct the fact that by rights the territory and its oil and natural resources belong to Argentina.

The Argentines are now asking the United Nations to look again at the issue. As we go to press, even Britain’s allies the US are refusing to back Britain’s claim outright. Marches and protests of workers and youth across Latin America support Argentina’s claim. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said: “Queen of England, I’m talking to you… The time for empires is over, haven’t you noticed? Return the Malvinas to the Argentine people.”

He warned that if there is another war, this time Argentina would not stand alone. Brown has insisted that Britain will hold on to the islands – so that British bosses get the oil.

Working class people in Britain have no interest in support our “own” bosses’ claim to exploit the wealth of territory thousands of miles away. We have every interest in uniting with workers around the world who are fighting against colonialism. Our enemy is not overseas but at home – the billionaires and bankers who want to plunge us into even deeper poverty to pay for their economic crisis.

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1982: how Thatcher went to war

Margaret Thatcher was the most unpopular prime minister for decades when in 1982 she went to war over the Falklands. By stirring up nationalism she made herself popular, and the Labour Party played into her hands by backing her bloody war. Thatcher personally gave the order to sink the Argentine ship Belgrano, even though it was sailing back to port, killing hundreds of young sailors. At home millions fell for it and cheered her war victory. But it soon became clear that Thatcher’s victory was the workers’ defeat. She won the 1983 elections and started pushing three million onto the dole.

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