Falkland Islands War censorship
Falkland Islands War censorship refers to the control of information surrounding the conflict between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands in 1982. Following a period of political unrest and economic turmoil in Argentina, the military junta sought to distract the public by claiming the islands, leading to a rapid escalation into war. The junta employed strict censorship measures to manage news coverage, suppressing information about military preparations, negotiations, and battlefield setbacks to maintain public support and conceal their failures. In contrast, British media faced its own limitations, including restricted access to the islands and poor communication channels, which hampered timely reporting on the war's developments. As the conflict progressed and the truth emerged, public sentiment in Argentina shifted dramatically, resulting in the junta's ousting after their defeat. The aftermath of the war highlighted the complexities of wartime information control and its impact on public perception and political power. Overall, the censorship during the Falklands War played a crucial role in shaping the narratives and outcomes for both nations involved.
Falkland Islands War censorship
Date: April 2, 1982-June 14, 1982
Place: Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean
Significance: During this war between Argentina and Great Britain, Argentina’s military junta heavily censored the press and gave it false information; the British government provided limited opportunities for press coverage
When Argentina became independent in 1816, it assumed Spain’s claim to the Falkland (Malvina) Islands about three hundred miles off the coast of southern Argentina in the South Atlantic. It occupied the islands in 1829, fifty-four years after the British had voluntarily withdrawn from them. In 1833 Great Britain reoccupied the islands. Argentina continued to claim the islands but made no attempt to enforce the claim until after World War II. In 1947 Argentina began political and military initiatives to regain the islands. World opinion forced Great Britain in 1966 to begin negotiations with Argentina. Argentina claimed sovereignty and wanted the islands returned. Great Britain was not anxious to retain them but hesitated to withdraw because the inhabitants, called Kelpers, wanted to remain British. Consistently citing the principle of self-determination in the negotiations, Great Britain insisted on safeguards for the Kelpers. Negotiations continued until the war broke out.
By 1980 the military junta in Argentina had become unpopular because of the brutal suppression of any opposition, the large number of disappeared, and the disastrous economic policies that increased inflation and decreased purchasing power for the masses and the middle class.
To divert public attention from the political and economic problems, the junta decided to seize the Falklands. The junta was convinced that Great Britain would not fight for the islands, that the United States would support Argentina, that world public opinion would favor Argentina, and that Argentines would rally behind the government in a burst of patriotic fervor. The junta was wrong in the first three points and only partially correct on the fourth. Most Argentines did rally behind the government at first but turned against the government before the war was over.
Press censorship already existed; so the junta was able to censor news coverage of negotiations with England, secret preparations for war, and the war. The junta released false information to the press to hide the reverses that demonstrated the total incompetence of the military and the ineptness or cowardice of the military leadership. When the war was lost and the truth could no longer be hidden, Argentines reacted so violently that the military government was forced out. Civilians assumed control in July, 1982.
In England press coverage of peace negotiations was restricted, and war news was limited because of the isolated location of the Falkland Islands and poor communications with the islands. One of the greatest problems for the British navy was the very poor and limited communications on the islands and between the islands and England. Few correspondents were included in the British task force, and those present had little means of communicating with England while aboard the ships or on the islands. Even the war cabinet in England, which was directing the war, had little current information on the conduct of the war. It did, however, release more information to the press than the naval commanders in charge of the military effort wanted known. When Great Britain won the war, the British public quickly forgot about any inadequacies in the press coverage.