BRITAIN’S man in the Falklands launched an outspoken attack on Argentina last
night as the Islanders prepare to decide their fate.
Governor Nigel Haywood accused Buenos Aires of “making stuff up” in its
relentless verbal assault on the UK and the Islands.
And with a referendum on whether the Falklanders want to remain British just
seven days away, he vowed to keep “pushing back” against the “extraordinary”
sabre-rattling.
Speaking to The Sun in his official Stanley harbour residence, Mr Haywood
pledged the UK would stand by the Falklands for as long they wished to
remain an overseas territory.
And after months of nonsense claims from Argie president Cristina Kirchner and
her deluded cabinet, he blasted: “Argentina just makes stuff up like, ‘It’s
a disputed territory and the UN has already said that the Islanders don’t
have a right to decide’. Where? They haven’t said that all.
“It’s extraordinary. You have to admire the sort of chutzpah by which they
make stuff up.
“This business of saying Britain’s got submarines with nuclear weapons in the
South Atlantic. It’s making it up.”
Aiming his words directly at Buenos Aires, Mr Haywood went on: “Britain
admitted having nuclear weapons in the South Atlantic in 1982.
“That’s because you invaded and the ships had nuclear weapons on when the
task force moved down.
“They got rid of them as quick as possible but if you hadn’t invaded, the
issue wouldn’t have arisen. They make these things up, and we have to push
back.”
The diplomat admitted Britain had been reluctant to challenge Argentina’s
claims but said Islanders “felt a lot better” when the UK kicked back.
Teslyn Barkman, 25, a journalist on the Islands, made her message to the
Argies clear.
After wrapping herself in a Sun Union Jack stating “Hands off our Falklands”,
she declared: “The referendum is the Falklands’ opportunity to have a
unified voice at recognising nearly 200 years of history that has been
ignored.
“We’ve turned this rock into a place that deserves every human right
granted to everyone else in the world.”
Mr Haywood welcomed The Sun’s backing.
He added: “It’s good to have that uncompromising support.
"The Sun is not afraid to call people out when they’re making things up.”
craig.woodhouse@ the-sun.co.uk
'British to the core' islanders set to vote
FRUSTRATED Falklanders have issued a clear message to Argentina, pleading: Let
us live our lives in peace.
Seven days before a referendum on the islands’ future, The Sun found unanimous
support for staying under Britain’s wing.
The 1,672 eligible voters hope their wishes will be heard around the world —
and particularly by the Buenos Aires bully-boys who ridiculously claim the
Falklands as their own.
The plebiscite was called after Argentine president Cristina Kirchner began a
new campaign of sabre-rattling to go alongside the economic blockade which
hampers daily life.
On the streets and in bars in the capital Stanley, feelings run high.
Union Jacks fly next to Falklands flags and posters adorn windows in homes,
shops and cars. One of the most popular declares the Falklands “British to
the core” — and it is a feeling echoed by virtually everyone.
Seventh-generation Falklander Ailie Biggs, 30, runs a chain of shops and was
part of a delegation that confronted Kirchner at the UN.
She said: “People are just fed up. It’s incredibly frustrating that we can’t
just live our lives without being bullied.”
And a 51-year-old builder added: “Kirchner is stark raving mad.”
Many suspect newly-discovered oil is the reason for Argentina’s renewed claim
on what it calls the Islas Malvinas.
But others see it as a smokescreen for Kirchner to distract from crippling
economic problems.
Legislative assembly member Dick Sawle said: “The situation in Argentina is
absolutely dire. Why on earth would anyone in their right minds in the
Falklands want to be part of that country?”
A tiny minority of Falklanders are threatening to vote ‘No’ as they would
prefer independence.
On a farm in the countryside, conflict veteran Carol Phillips warns against
that, saying: “Let’s learn to crawl before we can walk.”
On islands where the shops stock Waitrose and Tesco products, Land Rovers are
driven on the left and everyone speaks English, many find it hard to imagine
anything other than a resounding ‘Yes’ to staying British.