Expansionism of Argentina and British occupation ot Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Danilo Anton
In 1833 when Britain occupied the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Argentina did not exist  (it was only formally established in 1853 and effectively after the battle of Pavón in 1861). The Spanish Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata (from where allegedly Spain exercised its sovereignty over the islands) had been dismantled. The Governorates of Paraguay and Montevideo had become independent countries. The remaining provinces had become a poorly consolidated confederation called "United Provinces of the Río de la Plata". The territory of this confederation stretche3d a few kilometers South of the Sierra de Tandil due to the campaign of Juan Manuel de Rosas. The valleys of the Colorado and Black rivers were territory of the Mapuche people who were politically organized in the Confederation of Salinas Grandes whose leader was Kalfukura.  Further South Patagonia was populated by several native nations: Tehuelches, Onas, Alakaluf and Yagan.

The invasion of the Mapuche country around 1880 was coordinated by the governments of Argentina and Chile. The result of the war (misnamed war desert) was the occupation of the lands of the Confederation, through death, imprisonment or displacement of the native population. The result of the campaign was more than a thousand mapuche dead, ten thousand prisoners and the expulsion of mapuches to peripheral lands. At that time (1885) when Patagonia was occupied by Argentina the United Kingdom controlled the Falkland Islands more than 50 years earlier. The proximity of the Patagonian coast is used as an argument to justify Argentinean sovereignty over the islands.

The expansion of Argentina towards the Chaco occurred later. Toba, Mocoví, Pilagás and Wichí resisted the invarion forcing Argentina to militarily occupy the Chaco territory. In the war between the Argentinean government and the Chaco indigenous peoples several hundred native people died, and many more were taken prisoner or displaced. The Chaco War lasted until the 1910s.
Paraguay War allowed Argentina to expand northwards to occupy the present province of Formosa (territories between the Bermejo and Pilcomayo rivers) in 1871.

In conclusion the history of Argentina has been a succession of military conquests, either seizing indigenous land or taking advantage of a military victory (against Paraguay).
Argentine arguments to justify its rights over the Malvinas are based solely on their political, economic or military power. Because the current occupying power (the UK) is presently more powerful than Argentina changes are not foresseable in the near future.
All this does not mean that the UK has rights over the islands. It does not have it. Their possession is also based on their political and military force. However for the Falklanders the situation is very different. They have lived in   their island country for several generations. Their fate will be similar to many other micro-nations not having enough population to attain effective independence. However, because they have the principal rights it's absolutely necessary to consider their views before defining their future destiny.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Falklanders are not a commodity  

Mike Summers
Chair of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands

"We are not a commodity to be traded between two nations; we are a people, we have a home, and we have the universally-recognised human right to determine our own political future. Any decision about the sovereignty of the Islands absolutely must include Falkland Islanders. Anything else smacks of a return to colonialism. The 2013 Referendum made it very clear that the people of the Falkland Islands value their relationship with the UK, and wish to retain it for the foreseeable future.

The United Nations Charter enshrines the right for all peoples to choose their future and their allegiance, so instead of looking at the Islands through the prism of Argentina vs England, and colonialism vs modernity, it is time to recognise the so-called ‘Falklands Question’ for what it truly is – a question of basic human rights.   A question of allowing the people who have lived and worked in these Islands for nine generations to choose their futures. A question of listening to the people whose voices surely must resonate loudest. If these press reports are accurate, thirty-five years on Argentina has run out of fresh ideas and, rather than focussing on the core issue at the heart of the question, it is going over old ground, just hoping for change. As Benjamin Franklin purportedly said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome.”

(*) The Honourable Mike Summers, OBE
Chair of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands
9th February 2016