Alejandro Betts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alejandro Betts
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Alejandro Betts at the meeting of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization in 2011
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| Born |
Alexander Jacob Betts
28 October 1947 |
| Died | 13 March 2020 (aged 72) Ushuaia, Argentina
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| Nationality | Argentine |
| Known for | Campaigning for Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands |
Alejandro Jacobo Betts (born Alexander Jacob Betts, 28 October 1947 – 13 March 2020) was an islander from the Falkland Islands. He became an Argentine air-traffic controller and an activist. He worked with the Argentine government as an advisor on the "Malvinas Question." This refers to Argentina's claim that the Falkland Islands (which Argentina calls the Malvinas) belong to them.
Betts strongly supported Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands. Because of this, he was a debated figure in the Falklands. Interestingly, his older brother, Terry Betts, was a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council. Terry also helped British forces during the Falklands War. His younger brother, Peter, served with the British Navy during the war.
Early Life and Family
Alejandro Betts was a fourth-generation Falkland Islander. His family had lived on the islands for a long time. His great-great-grandparents arrived in the Falklands in the 1840s and 1850s.
He had two younger brothers who were involved in the Falklands War. Peter was a merchant seaman who worked with the British forces. Terry volunteered to help the British forces. After the war, Terry was even elected to the Falkland Islands Government.
When he was 14, Betts trained to be a sheep shearer. Later, he worked as an air-traffic controller at Port Stanley Airport. An air-traffic controller helps guide airplanes safely. Betts had children from his marriages. His son, Paul, later moved to Argentina and changed his name to Pablo.
Betts said his views on the Falklands changed in the 1970s. He claimed he studied the history of the Falkland Islands. After two years, he believed Argentina had a right to the islands. However, some people disagree with his claim that he supported Argentina so early. In 1978, he wrote a letter to the Falkland Islands Times. In the letter, he protested against the British government's weak response to Argentina building a base on Thule Island.
The Falklands War
In 1982, the Argentine military government invaded the Falkland Islands. They occupied the islands for 74 days. This led to the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
Betts left the Falklands a few days after Argentina surrendered. His wife and children stayed on the islands. The reasons for his departure are debated. Betts claimed that British forces made him leave. He said this happened because he supported Argentina during the war. However, others point out that some islanders who helped the Argentine military were not forced to leave. They continued to live on the islands.
Life in Argentina
After leaving the Falklands, Betts moved to Córdoba Province in Argentina. He continued to campaign for Argentina's claim over the Falklands. He often spoke at meetings of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization. He was part of Argentina's group at these meetings.
In 1987, his brother Terry Betts also spoke to the committee. Terry was representing the Falkland Islands Government. The brothers sat together but did not speak. Terry later said Alejandro had "lost touch" with what was happening on the islands since the war.
In 2013, Betts became a technical advisor for the Tierra del Fuego Malvinas Observatory. This group studies the Malvinas Question.
In 2015, an Argentine newspaper, Clarín, reported something controversial. They said Betts was receiving a war veteran's pension from the Argentine government. This was debated because he had never been a member of the Argentine military. Also, he was not an Argentine citizen at the time of the war. Betts responded by saying he had "never denied being an Argentine Malvinas war veteran." He also said that to get the pension, you just needed to have been in the Falklands during the war.
In 2018, the Argentine government, led by President Macri, removed Betts from their UN delegation. This was partly due to debates about his family. Also, some felt he was "too aggressive" for the British delegation.
In early 2020, Alejandro Betts was diagnosed with spinal cancer. He passed away on March 13, 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Alejandro Betts para niños
