Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Las Malvinas
Morrissey weighs in on Falklands debate
The former Smiths frontman told Argentinian fans that the islands “belong” to them.
MORRISSEY IS THE latest celebrity to wade in on the ongoing row between British and Argentian administrations over the Falkland Islands.
Speaking to a crowd at a concert in the Argentinian city of Córdoba on Thursday, the British singer said, “we know, of course, the Malvinas islands…they belong to Argentina”.
Please do not blame the British people, we know the islands belong to you.
His comments echo those of Hollywood actor Sean Penn and Pink Floyd’s bass player Roger Waters.
Old tensions have been revived by both Britain and Argentina as the 30th anniversary of the ten-week war over the tiny islands in the South Atlantic Ocean approaches.
The islands, which are inhabited by about 3,000 people, are officially classed as a British Overseas Territory. Despite Argentina’s claim to the land, the islanders themselves have shown that they predominately wish to maintain their current status.
The renewed dispute broke out earlier this year after British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Cristina Fernandez’s government of having a “colonialist” attitude over its claim to the islands. As the war-of-words emerged, Fernandez hit back saying that Cameron’s accusation was “nonsense”.
On Monday, two British cruise ships were prevented from docking at an Argentinian port, according to the Guardian.
Related: Sean Penn wades in on Falklands row and accuses Britain of ‘intimidation’>
Explainer: What’s going on in the Falkland Islands?>
