In all the publicity about the war one voice has been left unheard - that of the Argentinian opposition who have been suffering at the hands of the dictatorship. Socialist Runco, an Argentinian political refugee In Britain, to explain the reactions of the British media to the Argentinian opposition's point of view.
'Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in 1979 Margaret Thatcher closed down the Latin American refugee programme, preventing anyone not already on the entry lists from getting in the country. Since then Thatcher has been busily selling arms to the junta but giving no material aid whatsoever to the Argentinians who want to come to this country.
'Since the war began Argentinian oppositionists have not had their point of view heard. First, it has not been pointed out that the Argentinian people support the government's stand on the questions. oppositionists have come to this country to explain their views, like the Argentinian CGT.
'And the Nobel Peace Prize 1980, Adolfo Perez Esquivel told the Times: am a trouble maker in the eyes of the Argentinian military government. I am also seen as a trouble maker by which has refused me a visa to travel to London, apparently upset by my statements that as an Argentinian i share my people's claim to the islands."
"Third, who have bean interviewed by the press have faced many problems. For example I was invited to be gramme "The Falklends were British islanders, relatives of British servicemen, and 8813333 and linked •up Argentinian along with British people.
Frost asked people how many in the audience had originelly supported sending the task force but now had changed their minds. There was a big majority of hands up. But this was totally missed out of the recording of the programme shown on TV!
Also the programme almost totally on discussing with reactionary Argentinian politicians in the likes of David Steel, James Callaghan in this country. Then they said they were sorry but there was no time left to talk to the islanders or the Argentinian oppositionists supposed to be about.
I was interviewed on LBC radio. It was broadcast at 8.45am but my whole explanation of the feelings of the Argentinian people about the islands was played the part where I said we were for a peaceful solution.
'And ITN interviewed me twice. The first was never broadcest at all. The second time there was a very long interview where | explained the Argentinian point of view. They only played the part where I said that I personally had been well treated by the Home Office. Taken out of context the quote was a complete distortion of my views.
The Argentinians are very disappointed with the establishment media here in Britain and the way they have presented the conflict. We would like to have explained the real feel. ings of the Argentinians about the war. We have always supported a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
Galtieri, who is not suddenly seen as patriotic, but if the British imperialist aggression continues everyone will fight for national independence even if this alongside the dictetorship.
But we will not forget that once this conflict is over we will continue our struggle against the Argentinien armed forces. Next week: a longer interview with Rafael Runco about the state of the apposition in Argentind.
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winner for "1 those oppositionists like myself the David Frost TV Special": There Argentinian politifrom Montevideo, oppositionists in the audlence the concentrated Montevideo and David Owen and - the very people the war is Oll left out. They only We have put no confidence in means fighting