MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Banned “Falklands Play” broadcast.

A controversial radio and television drama about the Falklands War has at last been broadcast by the BBC, reversing a ban which caused its cancellation 15 years ago on the fifth anniversary.

"The Falklands Play" was written by Ian Curteis, who accused the BBC of banning the play -- which it originally commissioned -- because he refused to tell lies criticising the the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in her conduct of the war. He argued that his meticulously researched version was accurate and that the BBC imposed its ban because he resisted its mandatory changes.

He was asked to remove scenes depicting Margaret Thatcher in a sympathetic light, for example showing her writing in her own hand to families of men who had been killed in action, or exhibiting emotion or distress on news of the deaths of British servicemen.

He also refused to insert scenes showing Mrs Thatcher in the War Cabinet cynically tailoring military decisions to the object of winning the next general election. Ian Curteis says he checked again with the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Lord Lewin, who confirmed that no such consideration ever played any part in the conduct of the war. And BBC Executives could not produce any evidence to support their instruction. They said the play was "postponed" because of the next election, which had not even been announced.

The row resulted in his play being replaced by another called "The Queens Arms" , wrongly depicting the British during the Falklands War as drunken , nostalgic, flag-waving, bloodthirsty warmongers.

Play honours men who died

Ian Curteis says his play celebrates values and principles to be proud of freedom under the law, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, the right of self-determination, and our duties as free citizens.

The script dramatically portrays the main events and issues of the conflict, including the War Cabinet's discussion, the mediation attempts, the crucial decision to sink the cruiser Belgrano, and the reaction to the loss of British ships and men.

"The Falklands Play" is dedicated to the 255 British servicemen who lost their lives. Mr Curteis declares: "For 20 years, the families and orphans of those killed have had to put up with television programmes and plays that say the war was pointless and should not have happened -- in other words, their loved ones died needlessly and in vain. Now they have one which honours them -- the