MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Jeremy Corbyn and the Falkland Islands
Patrick Watts was broadcasting at the time of the Argentine Invasion in April 1982. 
“Corbyn had the audacity to describe the dispatch of the Task Force as: 'A Tory plot to keep their money-making friends in business'”. 'Following the controversial election of Jeremy Corbyn as the new leader of the British Labour Party, the Daily Mail published, on Monday 15th September, the following letter which was written by Patrick Watts who was Head of Falklands Radio 1977-1999 and who was broadcasting at the time of the Argentine Invasion in April 1982.'
Given his long-standing reputation for fraternizing with the 'enemy' I'm not too surprised that Jeremy Corbyn did not have the courage: 'to answer when pressed by SKY News interviewer Adam Boulton whether he would have taken Britain into the Falklands War' (Daily Mail 04th Sept.)
He has been a long-standing and outspoken opponent of the British Government's recovery of the Islands from illegal Argentine invasion and occupation in 1982, despite the then Labor Leader Michael Foot supporting the mission.
He had the audacity to describe the dispatch of the Task Force as: 'A Tory plot to keep their money-making friends in business'.
Corbyn has frequently, and against the wishes of the inhabitants, called upon the British Government to negotiate with Argentina over the sovereignty of the Islands.
As recently as March 2013 when an Internationally recognized Referendum was held in the Falklands, Corbyn was the only British M.P. to attend a so-called Pro-dialogue Conference in London, which was no more than a propaganda exercise organized by the Argentine Embassy in an attempt to deflect the impact of an overwhelming vote of 99.8% by the Islanders to retain their British sovereignty.
At a Latin America Conference in London in 2013, Corbyn reportedly hugged and kissed his friend, the Argentine Ambassador Alicia Castro, as she delivered her usual tirade of incorrect historical facts (there was NO Argentine population expelled in 1833) and aggressive rhetoric against the British Government's commitment of non-negotiation over the Islands.
It is strange that this man, who purports to be a strong supporter of Human Rights, appears to steadfastly ignore the desire and rights of the Falkland Islands population who wish to remain British.
Patrick J. Watts MBE
Head of Falklands Radio 1977-99
Stanley.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsHow many observers do you think you need for 2900 people.
Sep 15th, 2015 - 10:58 am +1Apart from Argentina (who will hardly have a neutral stance on the issue), who else is complaining about the way it was conducted? Certainly not the UNGA
@8
Sep 15th, 2015 - 11:21 am +1Seems to me you are the one crying over spilt milk.
What you should be crying over is the deaths of hundreds of British and Argentine soldiers, not to mention all the wounded and those who suffered from PTSD all because of the arrogance of the whole Argentine nation. Please don't pretend it was only the Junta, we've all seen the films of the crowds of jubilant Argentines, though strangely they weren't so jubilant after 14th June although the astounding arrogance remains for all to see
@8. You're funny. What does the referendum have to do with you? It was an INTERNAL matter. The Falkland Islands have NEVER been part of argieland. NEVER will be. The observers were invited by the Falkland Islands Government, not the UK. It was made up of 8 independent, international election observers from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Uruguay and the United States of America. Members included elected officials, civil society leaders, political party representatives and technical election experts. Somewhat more acceptable than the Crimean status so-called referendum. Where the Russian government invited individuals belonging to European far-right, anti-semitic and neo-Nazi parties to serve as observers. Strange how OSCE observers were turned away no less than four times. Equally strange how there are now screeches from some scotch that their referendum was “rigged”.
Sep 15th, 2015 - 03:12 pm +1But let's stick with the Falklands. Do you have the honesty and intelligence to figure out how many Islanders would have voted, had there been no observers, to join with argieland? So how did the observers change anything? Have you noticed the screams of indignation from Islanders because they, and all their friends and neighbours, actually voted to join with argieland? Nope.
Perhaps they aren't impressed by the years spent telling them that they aren't people, that they're illegitimate and that they're squatters.
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