Merchants cause deadly scrap in South Atlantic

ARGENTINIAN scrap merchants intent on dismantling a disused whaling station were the unlikely source of the tension in 1982 that led to the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina.

The conflict began on Friday April 2, when Argentina invaded and occupied the islands, and ended 74 days later, on June 14. The short, but costly war claimed the lives of 649 Argentinians, 255 British and three islanders – and cost both sides umpteen warships and planes. It led to the collapse of the military junta in Buenos Aires, and, though it won Margaret Thatcher an election and praise from conservatives, many believed her bellicosity was self-serving and anachronistic, and caused unnecessary human suffering.

The war was part of a 150- year- old dispute between the two countries over what Britain insisted on calling the Falklands, and the Argentinians, the Malvinas islands.

Only days before hostilities began, the following hinted at things to come.

London – Forty-two Royal Marine Commandos are on their way to the Falkland Islands amid growing friction between Britain and the Argentine.

Their arrival will double British military strength in an area where tensions have increased because of an Argentine “invasion” of South Georgia, an island dependency.

From Buenos Aires it is reported that at least three ships of the Argentine navy have arrived at South Georgia, where the British patrol vessel, Endurance, was sent last week to remove a group of Argentine citizens.

Unconfirmed reports also suggest that two Argentinian destroyers and an unidentified submarine are on their way to the area.

Britain was angered 10 days ago when a group of Argentine scrap merchants landed “illegally” on South Georgia to dismantle a disused whaling station.

The Endurance, carrying 12 armed Marines, was sent to South Georgia and Argentina responded by sending its patrol vessel, Bahia Paraiso, to protect the scrap merchants.

The present row is part of a 150-year-old dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, 1 200km further east. Argentina claims the islands, which were occupied by Britain in 1833.

A weekend meeting between the British ambassador in the Argentine and that country’s foreign minister failed to break the deadlock. The Royal Marine Commandos will be stationed in the Falklands capital of Port Stanley – base for the past year for 40 Royal Marines.