Staying British? - 2013 referendum over Falklands Islands
Thirty years after the war which claimed the lives of some 900 people, the war of words over the Falkland Islands might be coming to an end. The islands' government has announced it'll hold a referendum over who they want to have sovereignty over the island.
In 1982, our TV news was full of dramatic pictures of British troops and frigates coming under fire from missiles in the 10 week-long conflict over the disputed territory that Argentina calls Las Malvinas. They invaded the islands on April the 2<sup>nd believing it to be rightfully theirs, overthrowing the British administration. The Brits had owned the land since 1833.
And even after the war, those tensions never really ebbed away. Some 3,000 islanders - who staunchly believe themselves to be British – are preparing to mark that 30<sup>th anniversary with this exhibition in Stanley. Despite rhetoric from the Argentinian leader who's implied that people living on the island have no strong views on the matter of sovereignty. News of the referendum has been welcomed by British government with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying both he and the Prime Minister 'support this initiative to demonstrate - without doubt - the definitive view of the Falkland Islands people…' saying their voice should be heard and that he very much hoped that '… Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say."
Gavin Short, chairman of Falklands' legislature says that he wants the referendum "not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how certain we are about it." The vote will be held in the first half of next year.
Written and Presented by Marverine Cole.