A Panamanian view of the Falkland Islands
Yasmina Reyes is the Editor of the International Section of the La Prensa newspaper in Panama City and was one of the journalists from Central America that recently traveled to the Falkland Islands. She has written the guest post below about her experience.
Bruce Callow - When my director told me I was going to travel to the Falkland Islands I thought I was hearing wrong. The Falklands? Wow! That is at the end of the world. All I knew of them was purely theoretical: claims, disputes, an invasion (or war, according to the source). Now I was going to know them personally.
It’s a bit like having a pen pal and finally getting to meet him in person. How tall will he be? How is his tone of voice? Is he really like he is in photos? This was going to be a journey of discovery.
And yes, this pen pal was very different from the image I had formed of him. It was a bit like Rip Van Winkle. The people I met in the Falklands were totally different than what I had had in my mind. I expected to find a little Latin flavor or at least South American (for the Argentine claim), but no. It was as if I had arrived in England with the red telephone booths and red mail boxes with monograms of Queen Elizabeth II. Besides that she greets you at every public office.
On the way to Stanley from the airport located in the Mount Pleasant military base 40 miles away, I got in touch with local realities. I thought the crazy driver approaching us was going to kill us until I realized that the British drive on the left and when our driver waved to the other driver it was not to retake the right lane but to say hello. After all, everyone in the Falkland Islands knows each other.
That was just a first clue. Reaching the capital of the Falkland Islands, as its residents proudly call them, there is no doubt that this is a British community. With some pain, an Argentine veteran who traveled to the Islands to honor his fallen comrades from the 1982 war and lay at rest in the Argentine Cemetery, felt it too. With great emotion he told our group of journalists that it hurt to see that there was nothing of his homeland.
Throughout our stay we were often offered tea and biscuits. And for those of us who learned our rudimentary English from American nuns, it was necessary to change a little switch to adapt to the nuances of the British accent, and “shall” instead of “will”.
These people have no doubt about their identity. They are Falkland Islanders and have strong ties with the United Kingdom. This will certainly be reflected in the referendum next March. All of the Falkland Islanders I spoke with are anxious to have the opportunity to express to the world that they have the right to decide their own future.
Don’t miss my special report in La Prensa of Panama in the 3 November edition where I will expand on my experiences in the Falkland Islands. http://www.prensa.com/







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It serves the Argie claim far too well to try and convince people that the locals are somehow of Hispanic descent, a few might be but the majority are not at all and even those of hispanic descent STILL want nothing to do with Argentina.
This does nothing to change the minds of the Malvinistas anyway, because they believe the islands should be made Argie and the will of Argentina be forced upon the people or that the people should leave if they don't like it. Democracy in action, indeed.
It's an example to the world!
Congratulations!
The Falkland Islanders come from many nations. Argentina spreads the lie that they are an 'implanted' people and all British as a result and that consequently they always vote in favour of their mother country. But this is yet another distortion and lie told to further illegitimate claims.
There were no native inhabitants of the Falkland Islands. No indigenous peoples at all. People came to the Islands from all over the world. Whilst the administration of the Islands was British and the climate suited those from Britain, the immigrants to the Islands were from many European nations and from the Americas too.
Yes there are Chileans on the Falklands and they know the truth about the Argentine lies. They live happily with the Falkland Islanders and some of their children are born in the islands and entitled to call themselves Islanders of Chilean descent with Chilean nationality. The point is that they live in peace with the Islanders and work with them in the community. They do not wish to see this community disturbed by outsiders (Argentines) with false claims to ownership of their land.
I'm pleased that this journalist has had her eyes opened to the fact that this is a peaceful community of Islanders who wish to be British and live in a British way of life. She'll tell more Americans that the lies told by Argentine politicians that this is a country under occupation are just that - LIES.
The Falkland Islanders have the right to decide their own destiny and woe betide any person or nation who tries to impose any foreign way of life or nationality on them.
Good post.
I am looking forwards to reading her whole piece that is due to be published tomorrow.
The Argentine 'Malvinista's' are getting really desperate now. People from all over Central and South America are seeing the Falkland Islands as they truly are, and realise that Argentina's claims are just a bunch of lies.
The information age means that everyone from all over the world can access and see the truth.
Argentina's erroneous claims are as dead as the dodo.
Maybe they should start trying to set their own country right and forget about their colonial ambitions.
CFK's lunacy has pushed the Falkland Islanders into fighting back with openness and reality. Perhaps some of the idiots on here should come for a look too - though there is only one flight a week because CFK will not permit any more overflights.
So called Latin American unity repidly fades with doses of truth. Human rights values resonate more strongly than nationalistic lies.
Was he not going to the Argentine War Cemetery? Was he not planning a tour of the remaining minefields? Have argies not read of the surprise (or even shock) of their troops when they were greeted not as liberators but as what they were. Unwelcome foreign invaders. Some things have changed in the last 30 years. There are more Islanders. They are wealthier. Argieland is probably viewed with more suspicion. It says a great deal for the maturity of the Islanders that they are prepared to see their enemies visiting.
A lie Yasmina seems to have fallen for then!
Argentine conscripts in 1982 were shocked to find that Stanley wasn't a city full of opressed hispanics. Were they all stupid too?
Her observation is a contrast to the propaganda that Argentina spreads throughout the world.
” I expected to find a little Latin flavor or at least South American (for the Argentine claim). There is no doubt that this is a British community
Maybe if she had read about the expulsion of argentine population and the discriminatory British demographic controls, whe wouldn´t have been suprised.
All of the Falkland Islanders I spoke with are anxious to have the opportunity to express to the world that they have the right to decide their own future.
Yes, specialy because its up to them to decide whether the self-determination principle is appliable to them or not. They are the masters of their future”. ¬¬
Isn't Argentina implanted? Did your ancestors own the land your living on or was it another people you slaughtered and murdered?
I even forget most of you trace your Argentine ancestry back two, maybe three generations to the 1960's and the former Nazi's and Italian Fascists leaving Europe after the devastation they caused. And before them it was Spanish from both sides of the civil war. I don't see many native American's when I visit Buenos Arias just implanted people. It's a horrible sight, when I think of all the native peoples who've had their land stolen and got no compensation for it just racism and genocide and a demand to speak Spanish and adapt European cultures and region, and send their children to the Catholic schools for the final nail in the coffin!
Not any more. As has pointed out, the information age means that anyone with a computer can look on YouTube and see what the Islands look like for themselves.
Even more amusing are the films made by Argentine tourists who are surprised at the British way of life and actually enjoy it. So different from their own, but with none of the drawbacks of Argentina. None of the crime and corruption. A community where everyone knows everyone else, waves at them as friends, says hello in the street and cares about each other.
By contrast in Argentina, it is difficult to trust anyone outside your family. Everyone appears to be on the take, willing to take advantage of their neighbour if the opportunity presents itself. Argentines cannot trust each other because they have been (and are being) subjected to brutal dictatorships where if you voice the wrong opinion, it could even be fatal. They have none of this in the Falkland Islands.
What they do have & want is to be left alone to determine their own future. They do not like other nations dictating to them or carrying out a trade war. They do not like people interfering with their way of life, or (as happened in 1982) sticking guns in their back with the threat to kill them or their children.
Modern civilised countries do not see invasion as a way of expanding territory. The United Nations was founded to end wars of aggression & allow nations to speak peacefully to each other. If Argentina maintains its confrontational stance to the Falkland Islanders, then Argentina will suffer as a result. They will lose out on trade and they will lose out when their lies are uncovered.
You cannot lie to the world and get away with it indefinitely. People will use the internet to learn the truth and truth is a powerful weapon.
Argentina rubbishes the referendum, but it will show the world that the Falkland Islanders have rights to their own destiny and that they have spoken.
The world will listen even if Argentina ignores it.
In much the same way that Argentinians” are Spanish ($euro) descendants and not south american indians. then?
Never forget your own history, others wont let you anyway.
Yes there are vestiges of gaucho dwellings on the Falkland Islands, but there are even more ancient dwellings of a British settlement there. A settlement that was made long before any 'Argentine Gaucho' arrived.
You see, as much as Argentina tries to claim that the islands were invaded in 1833 and stolen from the inhabitants, the truth is that the inhabitants were living on British soil and the garrison were trespassers, having no right to be there.
Argentina claims that the inhabitants were evicted, but that is simply not true. The garrison was told to leave, but they were not 'inhabitants'. They came to the Islands only a few weeks before they were told to leave. They were not part of Vernet's colony and only Vernet had permission from the British to be on the Islands.
When the garrison left, they went with only 4 of Vernet's inhabitants (& neither of these couples were Argentine). 22 of Vernet's inhabitants remained on the Islands. 12 of these were Argentine. They were encouraged to stay by the British.
Later on, 5 of the inhabitants who worked for Vernet were murdered by Antonio Rivero & some of the gauchos in a dispute over pay. Not as a action against the British as suggested by Argentina, but because they were not being paid the true value for their work. The murdered men all worked for Vernet & comprised an Irishman, a Scot, a German, a Frenchman and an Argentine. Because Rivero murdered Vernet's settlement management, Vernet's business eventually failed.
Vernet was furious at this, but he did not blame the British. He blamed the Argentines that did it. He went to the British for compensation for the equipment & gaucho buildings left behind & was paid a settlement.
Vernet (upon whom Argentina bases their claim for territorial ownership) always insisted that he believed the Falklands belonged to Britain, because the British arrived 74 years before the French did.
So yes there are ancient gaucho dwellings, but even more ancient British ones too.
Ah yes the standard balls about the expelled Argentine population. For one they weren't expelled they were invited to stay which most of them did. For another it wasn't an Argentine population, Vernet's venture was with the permission of Britian and was compromised of a variety of nationalities with Mathew Brisbane as his 2IC.
A large portion of the settlers were taken BA by the Lexington after making the mistake of capturing several American ships.
Could you please explain the discriminatory British demographic controls. I assume you are talking about immigration. People from anywhere in the world can apply for a work permit and if they have a job lined up that cannot be filled by an equally qualified and competent Falkland Islander (yes we do have positive discrimination towards Falkland Islanders/Falkland Island status holders regardless of their ethnic background) and, subject to background (criminal record) checks there is a good chance that it will be granted regardless of nationality.
I think the point that is being made is that Argentina is an 'implanted' peoples.
It is highly hypocritical for Argentina to claim that the Falkland Islands is comprised of 'implanted' British people, when not only 98% of the Argentine population is implanted, but that the 2% native people are treated as second class citizens because they are 'black' and because their ancestors were murdered by the 'implanted' people that colonised Argentina.
Most of South America is populated by 'implanted' people, be they from Portugal, Spain, Italy or other nations. The main difference though is that the other South American nations did not engage in systematic genocide to steal the land belonging to the natives.
Many of the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands have been on the Islands far longer than the majority of the population of Argentina. They can trace their ancestors back as many as 8 generations or more. Not all of them trace back to Britain either. There are many surnames which trace the ancestors back to Scandinavian names. There are 12 entries for Berntsen in the phone directory, 5 for Hansen, 2 for Larsen, 4 for Rowlands, 2 for Pettersson and 11 for Anderson. There are Germans and Russians too. Not to mention the Australians & New Zealanders or the many Uruguayans & Chileans.
So you see, any claim that the Falkland Islands contain 'implanted' peoples brings up the point that Argentina is also 'implanted', but the Falkland Islanders have been there longer and come from many nations, not just Britain.
If you're looking for a competent poker player to fill a skills gap then I'll apply for residency. There must be hundreds of wet behind the ears squaddies with more money than sense to fleece.
Goverment officials have said that if they don´t carefully control inmigration, Argentines could move in and vote to reclaim the territory.
( www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/13/falklands-population-stagnant-aging-census-finds/#ixzz2B4uRwOiH)
Among those 2.563 Falkland Islanders, how many are born in the FI? 45%?
1153 people born in the Falkland Islands pretend to use self-determination?
So you expelled argentines from the islands, populate them with British subjects preventing argentines from returning and then pretend to let that population determine whether the islands are Argentine or British.
And if Argentina does not recognize the referendum and respect the wishes of the islanders, then Argentina does not respect democracy.
You are a joke.
You´re a decreasing and aging population. You should better worry about your bith rates instead of wasting time and money on meaningless referendums or soon there will be no population to have a future self-determined.
@24 No, my enjoyment of poker is greater than my skill at playing it so you'll probably fleece me as well :)
Then you know full well (from your own family history) that the people of Argentina are from many nations. They may speak Spanish, but they are not predominantly from Spain.
Likewise, the Falkland Islands may speak English, but the people are not predominantly from England. So it is very wrong for Argentina to claim that these people are 'implanted' or that they were 'implanted' from Britain, when there are descendants of all nationalities on the Islands.
To deny these people a voice to determine their own destiny by wrongly claiming they are 'implanted' is to also deny any non-native Argentine the right to determine their own destiny.
To demand that the Falkland Islands must be returned to their original owners, brings up 2 interesting points.
1. The British were the original owners! Since they were the first to land in 1690.
2. That all of Argentina should be handed back to the Amerindians, the original native inhabitants of Argentina and that the 'implanted' peoples of other nations should go back to them.
We live in a world which places the highest important on basic human rights. One of these rights is the right to determine your own destiny. The Falkland Islanders want to live in peace. They want to live their lives as they choose and not to be forced to live under the control of a foreign and aggressive neighbour.
What utter ribbish. You say:
You´re a decreasing and aging population. You should better worry about your bith rates instead of wasting time and money on meaningless referendums or soon there will be no population to have a future self-determined.
The Falkland Islands is a growing vibrant community. They contain many nationalities and more are coming all the time. Especially now that there are extensive resources to be exploited.
The population of the Islands will increase dramatically over the coming decades. As the oil revenues fills the coffers of the Falkland Islands Government, then even more people will apply to come to the islands and participate in their development.
This will be a controlled development too. There won't be any of the environmental mistakes made by other countries. The Falkland Islanders are proud of their islands. They are extremely privileged to live in a vast wonder of nature. The natural beauty of the Islands is breathtaking and the Islanders want to preserve it. Not just as heritage for their children, but for the world in general.
When you suggest that the population of the Islands is declining, you are lying to the readers on these pages. You're deceiving them of the true picture. You are demonstrating the sort of corrupt Argentine propaganda we have come to expect from Buenos Aires, which is increasingly disbelieved by the rest of the world, as more journalists visit the Falkland Islands.
As far as I know this is an opinion at the moment not offical government policy but it is a fair point from our point of view, no one wants to become a minority in their own country. I'm sure you wouldn't to impressed if 60 million Chinese moved to Argentina and voted that Argentina become a state of China.
I don't know why Argies keep banging on about what a waste of time and money the referendum is, its our time, it's our money. If you truly belive no one will pay any attention to it why even bother to bring it up, if no one takes any notice of it then it is completly irrelevant to you.
And again, no we didn't expell an argentine population.
Sorry, but are you really quoting Fox News as the source of FIG policy? Really?
You are the joke, pal. In fact, you're a complete liar.
The rules for Argentine immigrants are exactly the same as for anyone else. It's illegal to discriminate against someone on ethnic grounds.
There are many people here with Argentine ancestry. I live next door to someone descended from an Argentine who stayed in 1833. Another neighbour is very proud of her gaucho ancestry and traces her forbears back to the 1860s.
Your entire argument is based on a myth and a lie.
Why don't you apply for a job and come and live here?
The Falkland Islands is a growing vibrant community. When you suggest that the population of the Islands is declining, you are lying to the readers on these pages. You are demonstrating the sort of corrupt Argentine propaganda.
For more information about Argentine propaganda on argentine media:
Hufftington Post: Falklands Census: no growth, population aging
www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120912/lt-falkland-islands-census/
Fox N ews: Falklands population stagnant, aging, census finds
www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/13/falklands-population-stagnant-aging-census-finds/
RGs, stop lying with your argentine propaganda! Stop it!
There won't be any of the environmental mistakes made by other countries.
Do you mean like British Petroleum?
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bp-oil-spill
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell
They should travel to Argentina for some equal time, I suggets.
I would agree with that because the typical Argentine approach to the islands is totally irrational. Very few can cobble together even a vaguely cohesive argument about it - though they don't seem to notice.
Two quislings from a population of 1153 ?
Wow, the Falkland Islands has an aging population (if you ignore all military personel and civilial contractors). Shocking that, considering it's an issue affecting many a developed nation (incl. the UK where the average family rears 1.8 children). Of course it's more of a concern if your a nation that numbers in the 1000s (rather than the 10,000,000s), but then the Falklands have every chance to turn that around now don't they (plenty of civilian contractors coming in over the coming decades; oppertunities for immigration?).
“There won't be any of the environmental mistakes made by other countries.”
Do you mean like British Petroleum?
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bp-oil-spill
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell;
You do realise that BP hasn't been called BRITISH PETROLEUM for a fair few years now, not since they merged with a rather large AMERICAN company (Amoco). They briefly toyed around with BP standing for Beyond Petroleum, and they may well still use that tag line (I'm not sure about that), but todays BP is frankly about as British as Mitt Romney. Of course, it suited US authorities to highlight the contrary (forgetting that today's BP is as American as it is British), and of course it suits you to pratle on likewise…
…Hang on! Has BP EVEN shown interest in the Falkland Islands, much less been awarded a contract?
All this bullshit about demographic controls makes me LMAO!!!!!
We had plenty of time to migrate to the Falkland Islands, from 1833 to March 1982 we could have migrated with no, repeat NO, problem. For most of that time we could have gone without even a job contract like we need today!
The truth of the matter is that we did not do it, for all our nationalistic jingoism, we didn't have the balls to throw up our safe, confortable life on the mainland and go and try our luck in the Islands.
And if we had, imagine the situation, three or four thousand Argentines settle in the Falkland Islands, working at different jobs, or running their own businesses. Getting paid in hard currency (Falkland Island Pounds) living with about 2% inflation, no crime, able to send our children to school without the teachers being on strike, and then send them off to the UK for university, free,gratis and for nothing. Then the FIG has an internationally observed referendum to see whether we Argentines want to go on living under the status quo or if we want to be governed by CFK, with 30% inflation, a currency that is worth nothing, no access to international credit and a reputation for not complying with treaties, contracts or agreements!!!!
Call it viveza criolla, call it common sense, call it what you like, but I'm pretty sure that all those Argentine immigrants would vote for the status quo!!!!!!!
Are those future newcommers also gonna enjoy their right to self-determination on their islands?
Oil companies going unpunished for thousands of North Sea spills
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/25/oil-companies-north-sea-spills
The brits needs to stop placing comments about argentina.
Mind your own country the UK
lol
On November the 8th apparently there will be a big cacerolazo againts CFK´s administration at the national level. Given your great dissatisfaction with this administration you might considered joining in. It would be interesting to see insular Argentina joining and showing some solidarity with your fellow countryman.
www.lanacion.com.ar/1522931-quienes-son-los-referentes-opositores-que-apoyan-el-cacerolazo-del-8n
What do they want the Islands for anyway ? They've made a complete f*ck up of the mainland , so why not try to fix that , rather than impose themselves on people who do not want them .
LOL. You got that right, THEIR ISLANDS. Not YOUR ISLANDS, ah!!! such a shame.
Nov 02nd, 2012 - 05:55 pm
Thanks for the invitation, I will certainly be taking part in the cacerolazo. Last time there were nearly 800 of us out of a total population of aprox. 10.000!!!!!!
We don´t like cold. That´s why he have the workd´s oldest permanent station in Antarctica.
@48 reality unchecked
What a pitty!
@49 Total population of 10.000? Are you counting penguins?
Pity, not the word I would use. Fact, that's more like it. Not yours, never have been, never will be. Ah, such a shame!!!
Tell me what does it feel like? wanting something so much and knowing you can never have it?
In 1982 , when Argentina lost the Falklands war , all the argies did was complain about the cold .Oh , and the fact that their officers refused to feed them .
The only kindness the conscripts ever got was from the British who captured them , who fed them , gave them warm clothing and medical care .
Maybe we ought to manage your weather station , because if it's anything like your Falklands garrison 30 years ago , the poor sods will be starving .
keep your comments in your ass!
Thank you Argentina.
Again, common sense!!! It must be an awesome responsiblity to be the only level headed, sensible thinker in Argentina.
Oh I have tried, and I have tried to point PH, TTT, BK and Think in your direction. Telling them that should listen to what you've got to say. But alas, it would seem that no one has time for common sense anymore.
Aha... opportunity of immigration. Good for you.
Are those future newcommers also gonna enjoy “their” right to “self-determination” on “their” islands?
If they granted residency/citizenship, yes, I suspect that they would. Oh and those Island belong to the Falkland Islanders for the simple fact that THEY have tamed them, THEY have endured through centuries on those remote Islands. Which than we can say for you Argentines, who've barely set foot on them in 200 years, even when you had the chance. But of course, they ARE close to you, and just as England is the rightful property of France, so are the Falklands the rightful property of… Pwahahahaha! No, I can't bring myself to say it, even sarcastically!
“Oil companies going unpunished for thousands of North Sea spills”
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/25/oil-companies-north-sea-spills;
Yes, terrible stuff. Your point?
The North Sea is a veritable hot zone for the extraction industry? Do you honestly think Argentina would not suffer from similar regulatory failures where it's legislators/governers savy enough to have actually exploited any of its resources?
How any of that reflect on the Falkland Islanders (many of whom self-describe as Falkland Islanders before they do British) I don't know. You're just doing what you usually do, posting irrelevant crap in an effort to side track and obfuscate. In Britain, we call that a STRAW MAN. Weak, very weak!
Bla blab la .
Most interesting is that whilst their own country is falling apart,
Being ripped off, has the world laughing at it,
The indocronoughts are so so worried about the British Falklands,
One tends to get the sneakiest impression, that they are jealous and envious of the islanders, and wished they to had a great country to live in,
Where people can live in freedom and choose who they associate with,
Still,
As this is unlikely to happen, we will just have to put up with their silly jealous sniping at us.
.
There is no doubt that this is a British community, and do you want to be, gauchas? Somebody tell she, that this is precisely the point, that were stolen and not because the usurpers have erased all traces Argentine gives not a hint of legitimacy.
They are of the Malvinas Islands and have strong links with the UK. You also have to make round numbers, 1000 types are of the Malvinas as they were born there and araound 2000, of course they have strong ties especially economic...
No f#*king idea what that's all about. It's not even a full moon but the deadbeats are really going for it tonight.
Try again José Malvinero!
no speaky lingo
try unganden.lol.
Another part of your colonialism of the south Atlantic, iam sure that breaches the Antarctic treaty, but hey the Rgs don't abide by any rules if it doesn't suit them.
The european settlers , that is , your forefathers then killed them all and stole the land .
Any argentine of european descent is an OKUPA .
Now , get back to collecting cardboard , setting fire to trains , robbing people or football hooliganism , because you are not a very good scholar .
i thought the falklanders were being brutally held captive by blood thirsty colonialist pirates in wooden ships looting their homes and forcing their will on the islands peaceful people in a forceful occupation? wait...... didnt that happen in 1982?
@73 - Huh? Is it open day at the asylum?
Nov 02nd, 2012 - 06:08 pm
@49 Total population of 10.000? Are you counting penguins?
No there are no penguins in the Cordillera!!!!!!!
the UK is brokeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
At least we don’t have a navy ship confiscated by another country,
Especially when it is considered 3 times weaker than Argentina.
Broke, indeed.
Yes argentina is BROKE lol.
.
Can anyone recommend a better online translator than google? It thoroughly mangles what she's saying.
don't let Isolde place your comments...you are worthless!
we feel sad for your off spring,
after all, look at pirate man in canada.
lol.
all the OKUPAS are happy
That includes you as you European implants butchered the native indians (ie Argentina not just Spain commited genocide).
If the Falkland Islanders have to return to Europe so do you. Spanish is not the original Argentine language, it is implanted like yor ancestors from Europe.
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