MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islanders still exposed to dangers of Argentine unexploded ordnance
The Falkland Islands Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, detachment recently moved headquarters from Lookout Camp in the capital Stanley to the British military base at Mount Pleasant. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesA job opportunity for Marcos, NicoDim, Martin F, the man know as I and Jihad Jorge (whatever happened to him?). Line them up and get them to run in different directions across the Argie mine fields. That should get rid of five mines. It would also remove the weak links in the Argentine knowledge economy. Everybody wins!!!
May 14th, 2011 - 07:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0That would be the best contribution to the human ace that these individuals could make.
I beat you to it... ;-)
May 14th, 2011 - 07:59 am - Link - Report abuse 012 Martin_Fierro
“you cant even be bothered to help with the LAND MINES you disgustingly put into the ground”
“Disgustingly? What are you talking about?? I thought we did a GREAT job!!
Thirty-one years later and they're still active, ready for some greasy Brit to step on them and blow itself to pieces... you guys should form a line and go for a walk singing 'God save the queen'.
Clowns”
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/02/01/uk-is-world-leader-in-offshore-wind-energy-production-and-research
@2 greasy Brit
May 14th, 2011 - 08:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0Its Greasy Dago ,get your own insult,typical argie always taking things that dont belong to them
You know sticky... if you can't do any better than that I'll just move on to a different article...
May 14th, 2011 - 08:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0It's the weekend though, to be fair... ;-)
Argentine property should be returned to the Argentines .... so let's get those mines out of the ground, check in full working order, and dropped on BA ..... they'll be pleased, they keep saying that they want what is theirs :-)
May 14th, 2011 - 10:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0l think thats an excellent idea, Beef.
May 14th, 2011 - 10:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0RedHoyt, that means you'll stop stealing? well its a start, if you follow that idea you are in favor to give back malvinas
May 14th, 2011 - 02:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nope ... I'm in favour of giving you back your mines ... as you never owned the islands, it would not be appropriate to give you those :-)
May 14th, 2011 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Land mines are an abomination no matter who is responsible for putting them there. The victims are invariably children and other innocent victims. They should be outlawed.
May 14th, 2011 - 03:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Let's get serious MercoStanley, the British elite in Malvinas do not want to remove these 30 years old mines. They consider these areas the main tourist attraction. I believe they were offered by the Argentinean Government in the past to remove all these mines, but If they do that their “Disneyland” is over and MercoStanley will have nothing to write about this same issue every 30 days or so. This propaganda is more important to them than a person blow up in pieces.
May 14th, 2011 - 05:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@9 I totally agree with your statement.
Actually, this would be the perfect opportunity for Argentina to step to the plate and offer assistance in the removal of their mines. Might make for better relations and show the world they really give a shit about something, besides greed.
May 14th, 2011 - 05:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What sort of animal cracks a joke at the fact that land mines are still active on the islands? I'm disgusted! I've read enough from these obnoxious 5 clowns. They're either winding everyone up and taking the piss or they're actually serious and believe their posts in which case: I'm actually scared. Reading the commentaries on these Malv/Falk related articles is such an eye opener. Sadly, I'm very unsure now if discovering MercoPress a week ago is still the best thing or in fact the worst thing I ever did. Why hasn't the UN ever forced Argentina to pay for the compensation and/or the clearing of the minefields herself? Have they ever?
May 14th, 2011 - 05:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0PS: I sympathise with the standard traditional view that the Falk. Isl are not under Arg sovereignty. That much must be clear. I think I've tried my best at pointing out that the argentine minority are the ones that scream and insult from the mainland towards the islands. I therefore have to say this; I feel a bit uncomfortable by the constant use of the term “Dago” especially when the Arg. side is already making enough fools of us on these boards. Your response to the rants is always witty, cheeky and polite and I think sums up the character of the islanders. I just wish I wouldn't read it so often. Had to get it off my chest. Best Regards to all.
#10/ Marcy
May 14th, 2011 - 05:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0....“” ,the British elite in Malvinas do not want to remove these .....“”
very funny !! there are merely 3000 soldiers & families the rest are penguens...
@12 I too am a newbie and was put off by some of the infantile behaviour from some contributors. One would expect that kind of nonsense on a teen fanboard but had hoped for some robust and intelligent debate on a news board. Hang in there because there are some very interesting contributors ready to express their own, and respect the opinions of others.
May 14th, 2011 - 06:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is best to ignore the temper tantrum posts and not give them the attention they must lack in real life. JMO. I hope you stay and post.
#10
May 14th, 2011 - 06:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0....“ I believe they were offered by the Argentinean Government in the past to remove all these mines,”.... Though a joint study (Argentina/UK) was done and concluded in 2006, there seems to be no evidence that argentines are assisting in removal of mines.
13 yul :-))))))
May 14th, 2011 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@12
The word conceited is an adjective that refers to someone having an excessive or above average opinion of oneself. One of the most common insinuations leveled at a conceited person is that they are conceited fools. A conceited person displays certain traits including a sense of false pride, a degree of arrogance, a casual disregard of others which is very egotistical etc.
Swollen-headed, egotistic, swollen and vain are some of the synonyms of conceited. A conceited person may also be considered rude or even in extreme cases a bigot. They generally are individuals who look down upon their contemporaries. Their attitude is also interpreted as being snobbish.
Some info for scandalized newbies:
May 14th, 2011 - 07:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina has offered several times, during the last 29 years to send demining teams and remove every single mine.
The United Kingdom (and the Islands hardliners) have refused the offer every time.
The minefields are still there in contravention of the Ottawa Treaty that UK has signed.
Not because they are difficult to remove, but because they are a magnificent propaganda tool to get emotional Anglos to react as expected, without Thinking.
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/04/22/chilean-army-clearing-antitank-and-antipersonnel-mine-fields-in-tierra-del-fuego (44 Think)
I quote MercoPress:
”While Britain welcomed a commitment from the previous Menem Government to pay for the clearance of the mines, it rejects any suggestion that this involves any compromise on the sovereignty claim. The De La Rua Government's official responsible for Falkland’s affairs, Susana Ruiz Cerruiti, is quoted as saying: “Argentina will pay whatever it costs to remove the mines planted by Argentine troops. Removal of British mines will be at British expense”.
en.mercopress.com/2000/10/27/falklands-mine-clearance-talks-in-argentina
I quote a Kelper:
”There is a very good reason why Argentina is not permitted to pay for the removal of mines in the Falkland Islands. The Ottawa Treaty requires states to remove the mines from their own territory. The Falkland Islands are not Argentine territory. I understand that Argentina was involved in the early stages of planning the demining, but their input was not required in the end”
en.mercopress.com/2011/02/12/falklands-minefield-clearance-next-phase-moves-to-the-capital-stanley-common (11 Monty69)
I would also like to draw your attention to the following book:
books.google.dk/books?id=V5ZpiuCLoOQC&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=demining+the+falklands+argentina+offer&source=bl&ots=MR1IhnclDm&sig=9mThf1y5tZnz4hLuzYcjGOD9n6c&hl=da&ei=WOZWTbSUJYWYOsWV5eoE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
@12 & 14
May 14th, 2011 - 07:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This is an extract from Wikipedia:
“As a result of the continuing sovereignty dispute, the use of many Spanish names is considered offensive in the Falkland Islands, particularly those associated with the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands. General Sir Jeremy Moore would not allow the use of Islas Malvinas in the surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term.”
So, you see, every time some Argentine, or other South American, refers to the Islas Malvinas they are being deliberately offensive. We Brits aren't too keen about people who are deliberately offensive about one of our Overseas Territories. Especially as those same people lie and rewrite history to try to back up their laughable claims. As well, so I'm told, as brainwashing children into the same beliefs. And then there's CFK. She's either a calculating politician. Or, more dangerous, is stupid enough to believe the Argentine claims to the Falkland Islands. It is, after all, in the Argentine constitution.
Anyway, be in no doubt, Britain arrived at the Falkland Islands in 1690, landed and started naming places. There is at least one antique map showing that the places were called the Falkland Islands http://www.asiapacificms.com/articles/argentine_sovereignty/
So, the Islands are British until such time as the Islanders want to be independent. There are all sorts of other things that could be said but that is the bottom line. Apart from anything else, Britain and Argentina fought a war over them. Britain won. Irrespective of anything that went before, that settles it. International law says so. The Islands are British. We have no doubts of our sovereignty and Britain will defend the Islands and their people until the end of time.
@17. I have no doubt the issue has been used for political purposes. That doesn't surprise me. What is scandalous is that a group of 'adult' men cannot engage in debate without name-calling and insults. Opinions are so much more valid if presented rationally.
May 14th, 2011 - 07:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not because they are difficult to remove
May 14th, 2011 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0it's think the sapper now
According to International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) leading producers and exporters of antipersonnel mines
in the past 25 years include China, Italy, the former Soviet Union, and the United States. More than 50 countries have
manufactured as many as 200 million antipersonnel landmines in the last 25 years and more than 350 different types of
antipersonnel mines exist. Even if no more mines are ever laid, they will continue to maim and kill for years to come. In
fact, they kill or injure more than 2000 people a month and with the current mine removal technology it may take about
1000 years to remove all mines if no new mines are buried in the war zones.
How mad to accuse the Falklanders and British of using the mines as a political tool, when those same Falklanders permitted, and donated land, for the Argentine Graves in Darwin.
May 14th, 2011 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Surely if the presence of the mines were being used in this way, the Islanders would also have insisted that all the Argentine dead were buried at sea outside the Falklands EEZ.
Some people seem to bend facts to fit their perspective without any thought to how stupid they look when they tell any reasonable person about it.
@12 and 19. You may have noticed that whenever the Falklands gets a mention the loonies come out of the woodwork and as mentioned in another thread the debate then goes thus...
May 14th, 2011 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'The Falklands are Argentinean'
' No they're not '
'Yes they are'
'No they're not'
'Yes they are... link to irrelevant Youtube clip or Guardian article'
......
'Foxtrot Oscar... ( the use of the dago word is quite recent )'
That is the bad news... the good news is that out of 38 million or so Argentinians
this site has thus far only attracted a handful of raving RG nutters.. and quite a few quite rational and pleasant ones....
Like I have said many times, the difference between the British educated civilised gentlemen and ladies, and the down trodden ungrateful deluded badly uncivilised argentine minority who are dead bent on destroying everything British, thus not only humiliating themselves and decent fellow countrymen, but also Argentina, of course their government does not help, when all they do is brain wash some of their own people, the standard of brutishness, always shows through as the standard of all decent peoples, that is why we are admired all over the civilised world, and hated by a few degenerate brain dead fools that hate, they give the impression that they love death, but are to cowardly to commit suicide and give as a break, yes we all know why they admire us, standing against all flags, alone , the thin red line, but good looking troops swarve sophisticated clever
May 14th, 2011 - 08:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And the testerone and charismas just runs of the union jack, for other to admire,
If only the minority argentine bloggers could grow up and respect others,
Instead of being so childish, and spoilt, ah to be British.
Just a thought from a gentleman mmm
..
just to round up 17,
May 14th, 2011 - 08:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0having read your last post, and reading the header of this story here: Is this news agency being biased at how they're spinning the story? - just asking- look: the title reads: “Falkland Islanders still exposed to dangers of Argentine unexploded ordnance”. The first reaction is “islanders exposed to dangers left behind from argies 29 years ago” and the story doesn't tell me much other than that they're still there and they're showing school kids a foot stump and something else no doubt traumatic.. Forgive me if I'm being devils advocate, but I'm seeing a parallel (albeit a faint one) with something similar happening across the waters. Am i wrong in thinking that maybe this article is actually aimed at those hardline Falklanders and the UK for refusing to budge on clearing out the fields ages ago? I'm just asking... mainly because I want to learn more about this and you guys are the horses mouth. I get the “symbolic” keep 'em where they are motive... (i dont agree but i get it)... but somehow this story “now” rings a little different.
These mines should be out and the land should be free to be developed- this is my honest opinion. but in either case it's none of my business...
21) if you think that's the maddest suggestion here, you have no idea what the opposition suggested earlier. By the way: Allowing that grave site to be there was a nobel and gracious thing to do. We thank you. Now, call me old fashioned but those traits are what made British culture what it is. civilised and out to do “the decent” thing no matter what. I dread to think how it would have gone if the shoe was on the other foot, and I mean that.
... I have to admit after reading your bit I have some restored faith in Arg foreign policy if they in fact asked several times to allow them to clear the fields over the last 29 years.
To be truthful, if that is or was the truth, then it would not harm but help, if Argentina went to the worlds press and demanded to help, demand the British let them take full responsibility , and help and or pay for the removal, go to the UN, Human right brigade, television ect ect, if one was truly sorry, would not they want the world to know it,
May 14th, 2011 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0at least this way , they may harm the British intention,,,, to be seen, is to be heard, to show the world that Argentina takes its responsibility seriously, just a thought
@17
May 14th, 2011 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, Argentina has talked about it since 2001, when a joint study was done, but nothing has been done. ( http://en.mercopress.com/2007/03/22/falklands-mines-removal-meeting-next-week-in-london) I have not read anywhere about “demining teams” being offered, only people doing the original joint survey. Indeed the Ottawa Convention states that the UK bears the responsibility of removal since the Falklands belong to them. The treaty also says : “The treaty also calls on States Parties to provide assistance to mine-affected persons in their own country and to provide assistance to other countries in meeting their Mine Ban Treaty obligations.” ( http://en.mercopress.com/2007/03/22/falklands-mines-removal-meeting-next-week-in-london) Argentina signed this. Where are they?
Pity they dont clean up after themselves,
May 14th, 2011 - 09:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina has always relied on its military with respect to demining. At the same time, the government has continually taken an active role in promoting the use of military mine clearance throughout the international community. For instance, in 1993, three officers and one non-commissioned officer (NCO) were sent as a team, supervised by the Organization of American States (OAS), to Nicaragua. There they took the role of training the Nicaraguan army in different mine clearance techniques.
A few years later in June 1997, a senior officer was appointed United Nations Program Manager of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) Support Program for Mine Action in Angola. In coordination with the White Helmets,1 eight officers and three NCOs were later appointed to various Angolan provincial demining brigades until 1998. In January 1999, in coordination with the White Helmets, two senior officers along with one junior officer and one NCO were appointed to be part of a demining team in Central America. Later in July, three officers and one NCO relieved them. At the completion of the year, all team members returned to Argentina.
Just a few observations;
May 14th, 2011 - 11:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Falkland Islanders generally were not keen for the mines to be removed, but not ''because they are a magnificent propaganda tool ''. That is a truly disgusting suggestion.
The reason we weren't keen is because the minefields here are very well marked, relatively small and don't pose a danger to anyone. Furthermore many minefields are in deep peat or sensitive coastal environments and are very hard to clear, espacially as many are not properly mapped. Lots of people in the meetings that I went to thought that the money should be donated to mine clearing efforts in parts of the world where it would do most good.
What I wrote originally still stands. Argentina is not required to remove the mines from the Falklands. The British government is. Unfortunately, it's expensive and difficult.
There isn't anything political about this; the FCO chaps said it was about setting a good example to others and taking its obligations seriously.
I must say though that if Argentina did honestly offer to send military demining teams here, then that would have to be classed as a political move. They must know that there would be no circumstances under which many Falkland Islanders could tolerate an Argentine military presence on the islands.
Well said Monty !
May 15th, 2011 - 12:52 am - Link - Report abuse 028 Monty69. Who do we send instead then to remove the mines? Plumbers or bakers?
May 15th, 2011 - 03:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0Please Monty, I know the war of 1982 was a wrong move by our drunk dictator 29 years ago, however if you read the history of your country it will make look Argentina one like Mother Teresa.
Like I wrote @10 your Government is not interested to remove all the mines
Maybe we should ask Peru to come help. According to Wikipedia they're our biggest supporters. If we ask politely...
May 15th, 2011 - 03:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0(24) Rodrigo Ferrer
May 15th, 2011 - 05:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0”Rounding up” about spinning stories, bias and lies………
You may be interested in reading my previous commments from (65) to (105) at following MercoPress article:
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/04/11/falklands-names-islander-new-mineral-resources-director-beginning-2012
A ”Very, very, very interesting development” is that the link that started that debate; the General Purposes Committee Report Falkland Islands from the 20.12.2007 has been, subsequently, erased!
Check it out!!!!
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/04/11/falklands-names-islander-new-mineral-resources-director-beginning-2012
And…….. just for the record.
Last couple of years MercoPress articles about Malvinas Mines:
en.mercopress.com/2011/04/19/falklands-explosives-disposal-team-has-dealt-with-2.8-million-ordnance-items-in-29-years
en.mercopress.com/2011/03/08/over-15.600-mines-in-83-fields-remain-in-the-falkland-islands-says-uk-defence
en.mercopress.com/2011/02/12/falklands-minefield-clearance-next-phase-moves-to-the-capital-stanley-common
en.mercopress.com/2011/01/13/second-de-mining-phase-for-falklands
en.mercopress.com/2010/06/03/falkland-islands-de-mining-pilot-project-completion-of-phase-1
en.mercopress.com/2010/06/01/bactec-says-goodbye-to-the-falkland-islands
en.mercopress.com/2010/03/25/first-minefield-cleared-in-falkland-islands-thanks-to-zimbabweans
en.mercopress.com/2010/03/12/deminers-recover-over-a-thousand-mines-in-falklands
en.mercopress.com/2010/02/07/falkland-islands-de-mining-pilot-project-and-the-challenge-of-full-clearance
en.mercopress.com/2010/01/31/falkland-islands-bactec-set-to-fly-in-another-15-deminers
en.mercopress.com/2009/10/13/falkland-islands-de-mining-contract-signed
en.mercopress.com/2009/09/30/falkland-islands-de-mining-another-step-closer
An average of one mine article every 50 days…………………………..
Brainwash anybody?
Oh dear, Think has found a fellow countryman with not only an independent mind, but an unacceptable point of view.
May 15th, 2011 - 06:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mercopress is of course a baby when it comes to brainwashing techniques, not least compared to a State education system that promotes a distorted view of both history and international law merely to provide a 'cause' which can be manipulated for political purposes.
Still not thinking, Think ??
:-)
I changed my screen name. I'm Rodrigo F.
May 15th, 2011 - 07:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0@32, Am I right in thinking that all those articles are supposed spins from mercopress on the whole de-mining debacle?
I'm not sure I'm up for reading all that TBH.
So the Argentines have offered to remove THEIR mines from OUR land.
May 15th, 2011 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good, but what's the catch? Do we have to say that the Falklands are theirs in order to get them to remove the mines? lf so then the mines can stay. Who knows, if they ever come rampaging through here again, with a bit of luck they'll step on their own mines.
(28) Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 09:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Just an observation:
You say:
”Falkland Islanders generally were not keen for the mines to be removed, but not ''because they are a magnificent propaganda tool ''. That is a truly disgusting suggestion.”
I say:
”Falkland’s children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure that…...................................................…”
..........To ensure that the kids go home and ask:
Mum?.......
Who put those mean things there?.....
A magnificent Propaganda Tool indeed!
Brainwash anybody?
[] Monsieur Beef
May 15th, 2011 - 09:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0You did^t interpret which was about the my proposing Falkland Area Oil investment consulting for you . not important
I propose different and new consulting for you at “” Taib Holding “”?!
you can be informed from [ Asia Sentinel ] ' s web site prime article :
here is :::::
http://www.asiasentinel.com/
full salary + bonus ?
Think my proposal please after your Turkey trip !!
36 Think
May 15th, 2011 - 12:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Falkland’s children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure that…''
......when they kick their football into a minefield they don't run in there after it.
The minefields now have signs around them depicting a man with his foot shot off. Brainwash? No, an internationally recognised symbol.
So you think children shouldn't be told where the mines came from?
@36
May 15th, 2011 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You're a great one for making up stuff that you cannot prove or even know about think. Have you ever witnessed one of the EOD minefield briefings, of course not. I've seen many of these and at no point do they start moralising about Argentinian perfidy, FYI these briefings are about one thing..SAFETY.., they do use graphic methods to hammer the message home. The message is not any political 'look how evil the Argies are' claptrap, it is....this is not a joke, mines and unexploded ordnance are DANGEROUS...that is the message.
As far as kids asking parents why the mines are there and who put them there....what of it, children have curiosity and they will ask, what are we supposed to do? lie to them so as to avoid hurting your delicate sensibilites think? you really do need to get out more and start exercising that dormant organ between your ears. I don't really expect you to do this of course, after all this is all an academic, political exercise for scum like you.
(38) Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I quote from your previous statement on this thread:
”28 Monty69 May 14th
Falkland Islanders generally were not keen for the mines to be removed…………..................................................................................
The reason we weren't keen is because the minefields here are very well marked, relatively small and don't pose a danger to anyone…….............”
But very quickly, you changed your mind:
”38 Monty69 May 15th
Falkland’s children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure that…......when they kick their football into a minefield they don't run in there after it.”
Pull yourself together Woman!
Do those mines pose a danger to anyone or don't they?
Fact is that those minefields are a magnificent propaganda tool for You…................... and You are using and abusing it to the very limit!
Brainwash anybody?
Calm down, Think.
May 15th, 2011 - 12:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They pose a danger to people who climb the fences and run into them.
If you educate children about the dangers and tell them what the signs mean, then they stay away from them. We've been doing this for years, and haven't lost anyone yet, so no need for you to worry about it.
Sadly, there are many countries in the world where the minefields are not fenced, and people get injured and killed by mines every day.
I don't believe it is a propaganda tool at all, but if it were, you're getting plenty of use out of it yourself. And you seem to be forgetting who gave it to us.
40, no, I don't see that at all! Those are two separate comments on 2 different days, and while still in their context, they were expressing something different. That's not what brainwashing is.
May 15th, 2011 - 12:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I say:
May 15th, 2011 - 01:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Falkland’s children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure that…...................................................…”
..........To ensure that the kids go home and ask:
Mum?.......
Who put those mean things there?.....
A magnificent Propaganda Tool indeed
Maybe they should lie to them like the Argies do to their children concerning the History of the Islands,they were laid by the Mine Fairies
Visual props are very effective when explaining dangers to children. I am sure that is the idea behind it.
May 15th, 2011 - 01:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 02:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are, of course entitled to your opinion……………..............
I just happen to agree with Kelper James Peck assessment when he argues that:
”The land-mines might provide a curious source of reassurance to some Islanders because they offer a constant and at times daily reminder of the Falklands campaign and the pain inflicted by the Argentine occupation. By removing the land-mines, Peck argued that the local community might have to ”Think” of Argentina as a neighbour rather than a perpetual enemy……….”
http://books.google.dk/books?id=V5ZpiuCLoOQC&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=demining+the+falklands+argentina+offer&source=bl&ots=MR1IhnclDm&sig=9mThf1y5tZnz4hLuzYcjGOD9n6c&hl=da&ei=WOZWTbSUJYWYOsWV5eoE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Fact is that the UK committed itself, through the Ottawa Agreement to remove all mines from the Islands before the year 2010…….
Fact is that such a small task should bee quite easy to fulfill for one of the world’s great economical and military powers……..
Fact is that they haven’t done it......... and that MercoPress publishes a Land-Mine article every month or so……….
A magnificent Propaganda Tool indeed…………………
Peck argued that the local community might have to ”Think” of Argentina as a neighbour rather than a perpetual enemy
May 15th, 2011 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Argies trying to strangle their economy helps
Fact is ... Think isn't thinking ....
May 15th, 2011 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But then an Argentine would know everything about a 'propoganda tool' ....
..... but little, it would appear, about children's safety !
Selective which islander's you agree with too ... :-)
Jamie's entitled to his opinion, and you're entitled to yours.
May 15th, 2011 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Until you change your constitution and drop your claim to the islands, you are a perpetual enemy. The mines are neither here nor there.
That's more like it; Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Until you change your mind and drop your allegiance with Great Britain, you are a perpetual enemy. The mines are in the vortex of it.
“Mr ... ........ from Mercopress would have his visit planned and funded by FIG.”
May 15th, 2011 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I remember that article very well Think.
MercoP is the FIG “special shovel” that digs the same thirty old mines every month.
Like I wrote @10, this propaganda is more important to them than a person blow up in pieces.
You bunch of twisted saddos.
May 15th, 2011 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You lot put the mines there, and you still, somehow, make yourselves believe that the fact they are there is our fault.
I couldn't give a stuff what you wrote @10, Marcos; it was b$**$% then and it still is. When was a person last 'blow up in pieces.' in the Falkland Islands? That's right, never.
The minefields are an abomination. You put them there, on our territory, and when we remove them is no concern of yours.
And if the fact they are still here makes you look bad, then you should have thought of that before you put them there.
Calm down Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The fact the mines are still there is not your fault………………… it’s your merit.
So you can use them as a magnificent propaganda tool.
magnificent propaganda tool
May 15th, 2011 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well if that is true, they are not making that good a use of it,I think you Argies could show the way what with your well practised use of victimhood,all the world and its auntie would be aware of the mines if they were on your soil
52 Think
May 15th, 2011 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yawn....didn't you say that already? Three times?
(54) Monty96
May 15th, 2011 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As a matter of fact, five times ............
But.......... such a magnificent propaganda tool deserves the spotlight!
Think.
May 15th, 2011 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The well marked and fenced minefields here do not pose a thgreat to us because people here have been well taught over the years-and todays kids continue to be well taught- to keep OUT of minefields.
Also some could only be cleared and a tremendous probably irreparable damage to the environment(let alone the financial costs) and thus are likley to be hear to stay regardless of what penpushers in Ottowa Conventions may say.
Because of this the geat majority of Islanders are simply not fussed about their removal - if its possible with no serious environmental upheavals, and whoever is paying is keen to pay all the £millions - then fine - clear them! Otherwise we are not that fussed and would regard the clearance of mines in Africa/Asia etc where innocent kids ARE getting maimed and killed as far more worthy of money spent.
Meanwhile they do have their uses as I have said before- ideal for wildlife and native plants, and handy to show tourists what a bad lot the Argies were.
They are a danger to some tourists who cannot grasp what they are and have to be restrained from climbing over to get a closer photo of bird at times!
“propaganda tool”
May 15th, 2011 - 09:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Lmao.
@55
May 15th, 2011 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0All right think, even it's a cretinous idea lets run with your 'magnificent propaganda tool' concept for a moment, exactly what propaganda do you think that this 'magnificent tool' being used to disseminate?....well?....astonish us with your paranoia and incompetent assumptions.
“What does help the clearance teams is knowing where the mines lie, thanks to careful plans left behind by the Argentines”
May 15th, 2011 - 09:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He scrolls through pages of numerical records, entitled Armada Argentina (Argentine navy) with tables of numbers corresponding to exact positions where mines were laid.
To date, he says, the records have been accurate.
“It does show us where the mines are, in what rows and in what configuration,” he says.“
”But it is not just Argentine weapons they are looking for.
On Sapper Hill, next to the minefield, is a strip of land where the BRITISH dropped cluster munitions, a more random dispersal.“
”As a result (and because the Falklands has relatively few mines compared to the millions laid in countries such as Angola and Cambodia) the Falklands government says it would prefer to see money spent on clearance projects in places where people are still being injured or killed”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8564061.stm
Thanks Marcos, for once you've posted something useful and sensible.
May 15th, 2011 - 09:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The minefields cleared so far were well mapped, the teams were looking for munitions of all kinds, and we would prefer to see the money spent elsewhere (which I think I said already).
Why is it, all you hear from the argies is
May 15th, 2011 - 09:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0mine mine mine,,then when a real one is found, its,
yours yours yours .??
60 Monty69, You're welcome, now let me ask you something: if they know where they are why then after 30 years are still there??
May 15th, 2011 - 09:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Firstly, not all the minefields are well mapped, some are not mapped at all.
May 15th, 2011 - 10:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Secondly, getting them out is not always easy, particularly in deep peat or shifting sand dunes. The last minefield cleared took a lot longer than it should have because of just a couple of missing mines. There is an argument that the environmental destruction caused by getting them out makes it better to leave them where they are.
Thirdly, it's expensive to bring de-mining teams here, it's logistically difficult and the season when it can be done is short.
As most mines are different, in its make-up.
May 15th, 2011 - 10:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Has Argentina informed the British, as the make-up of the mines they used, ect, so a possible better mine detection may be found in the future.
62 Marcos:
May 15th, 2011 - 11:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mining an area can be done in days with little expense. Demining is a long, slow and expensive task.
Even if they do have the maps the deminers can't trust them 100% if one mine should not be in the right place it can mean someone getting his face blown off.
Marcos, as others have said, the fields recentley cleared were the best of the few that actually have maps and the RAF clusterbomb fall area was not that hard to clear as they stay on the surface or only very lightly covered even after 30 years- and are metal.
May 16th, 2011 - 02:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0Some Arg Engineers who laid mines kept good maps and even volunteered to stay on for a week or so after the surrender to help identify them - Islanders appreciate that. But many were laid by conscripts under orders from officers who did not know or certainly did not care how it was done - hence there were cases of Arg soldiers being blown up on their own mines liid the night before by their neighbouring mates who did not tell them what they had done and where!
Those laid on sand beaches 29years ago - well - where today will you find beach level of 1982 - sometimes maybe 40 feet or more below a sandune created by wind and wave action since 1982! You see the problem!
Unless you can castiron guarantee that every single mine has been found and cleared - then best not to bother at all as nobody in their right mind will go in there afterwards anyway.
In a marked and mapped field like some laid by the Arg Engineers that can be done- and has been done - you know how many to find, and once you find the first few, you speed up a bit as you have the key to the pattern- assuming the guy has not lied of course, and there is so far no evidence of that.
63 Monty69 “Thirdly, it's expensive to bring de-mining teams here, it's logistically difficult and the season when it can be done is short”
May 16th, 2011 - 02:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0Specially when the “Big heads” in Malvinas bring teams from Lebanon to do the work instead of free of charge demining teams from Argentina.
There is not a good reason for having all these mines 29 years years after the end of a two months conflict, other than the reasons that I explained earlier.
Don't ya just love it ... Argies moaning about the islanders using propoganda lol :-)
May 16th, 2011 - 02:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0And they think we're stupid enough to allow their military back on the islands ... too funny.
Marcos- as its not us who pay, we do not decide who does the job, and actually most of the deminers came from Zimbabwe - they know about mines there!
May 16th, 2011 - 03:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0Think about it realistically - would we allow in a group of Arg engineers given the current level of hostility coming from your Country? And even if we did - on a personal level I would not want to be one of those guys getting a hard time 24hrs a day here from us lot!”
There is nothing to stop you from offerring to pay for say the environmental restoration work afterwards though?
Feb 16th 2006
May 16th, 2011 - 04:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0MercoPress
“Councillor Summers added that he understands the British Governments obligations under the Ottawa Treaty to remove and destroy all anti-personnel mines from their territories, but says that he wouldn't want the Falklands to be criticised for wasting money.”
Suuure.
“Mr........ from Mercopress would have his visit planned and funded by FIG.”
That's not a problem.
What about the ‘super heads’ salaries of your small colony and their early retirement?
No problem.
Nothing wrong with early retirement MoreCrap .... provided you can afford it. I take it you can't see that happening :-)
May 16th, 2011 - 09:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0@70
May 16th, 2011 - 09:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0You're getting confused by the difference between HMG and FIG, Mike was talking about HMG expenditure on mine clearance. Of course I don't expect YOU to be able to publicly acknowledge that difference...
;-)
Explaing the dangers of the minefields to the children by showing them a mockup of a foot in a boot sounds no different to the safety films we were shown at school about the dangers of playing on building sites,farms and railway lines etc
May 16th, 2011 - 11:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0@45Think, there wouldn't be any propaganda tool if your country hadn't laid any mines in my country.
May 17th, 2011 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0@49, we will have an allegiance to whoever we like, señor Think. lt is nothing to do with you or your country.
A bit out of topic but……….
May 17th, 2011 - 04:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I must call your attention to these historical low prices…….
Fill your boots guys……………..
Buy Brits, buy, buy, buy!!!
ARGHHHOS RESOURCES: Down 6.96% to 26.75p
BORDERS & SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT: Down 1.63% to 60.50 p
DESPAIR PETROLEUM: Down 7.41% to 12.50p
FALKLANDS OIL AND GAAAAS LTD.: Unchanged; 0.00% to 63.00p
ROCKFLOPPER EXPLORATION: Down 1.74% to 211.25p
But remember........
Be carefull out there....
The “Market” can be a Mine-Field....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK092DFzNYE
May 17th, 2011 - 06:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0:-)))
@76
May 17th, 2011 - 08:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for the link Marcos,the Falklands sure do look fantastic,oil or no oil,no wonder you Argies would like them:-))))
I appreciate your kind comment Stick...I know, Argentina is a beautiful country.
May 17th, 2011 - 08:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I appreciate your kind comment Stick...I know, Argentina is a beautiful country.
May 17th, 2011 - 09:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ugly people mind
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13420668
Look this is what should be done about the mines. Invite old frosty knickers to the islands along with the rest of the Argybargy Government and take them for a walk about to show them what a nice place it is, and steer them in the general direction of the minefields, but first take down the signs. Boom, boom , boom,boom, boom, no more frosty knickers job done . Now everyone can get on with there lives. And the best bit is the islanders can also invite Marcos, and the rest of the reprobates to show their glorified leader around. Boom Boom.
May 17th, 2011 - 09:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Britishbulldog, Thank you for the invitation but I don't need one to visit my own country.
May 17th, 2011 - 10:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0....to visit the Falklands on the other hand.....
May 18th, 2011 - 12:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0;-)
(not that YOU are likely to get an invite of course)
Why? Are you getting married?
May 18th, 2011 - 02:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0No thanks, I hate weddings.
No thanks, I hate weddings
May 18th, 2011 - 06:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0Always the bridesmaid never the bride? still you can have civil partnerships if you and you nicotine want to get hitched
good thing the Argentine army left the mines in the ground, imagine they had droped bombs from airplanes on top of homes and hospitals as NATO does in Libya.
May 18th, 2011 - 06:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0I: Landmines are different from bombs.
May 18th, 2011 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0” ..... The British Government has no doubt about Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. With the exception of the 2 months of illegal occupation in 1982, the Falklands have been continuously, peacefully and effectively inhabited and administered by Britain since 1833. Argentina's claim to the Falklands is based on the grounds that, at the time of British repossession of the Islands in 1833, Argentina had sovereignty over them through her inheritance, upon independence, of Spain's possessory title (uti possedetis), through her attempts to settle the Islands between 1826 and 1833, and through the concept of territorial contiguity. However, uti possedetis is not accepted as a general principle of international law. Moreover Spain's title to the Islands was disputed and in 1811 the Spanish settlement was evacuated, leaving the Islands without inhabitants or any form of government. Argentina's subsequent attempts at settlement were sporadic and ineffectual. As for territorial contiguity, this has never been a determinant for title to islands (otherwise the Canary Islands, for example, might be Moroccan) and should not be used to overrule the right of self-determination. The Argentine Government has argued that the Falkland Islanders do not enjoy the right of self-determination, on the (false) basis that they replaced an indigenous Argentine population expelled by force. However there was no indigenous or settled population on the Islands until British settlement....”
May 21st, 2011 - 05:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0From a British Government briefing paper of 2010 ......... says it all !
Argentina has malvians in 1820 since the british invasion, which means that islands doesnt belong to UK
May 22nd, 2011 - 11:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina did not have the Falkland islands in the 1820's.
May 22nd, 2011 - 11:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Vernett's attempt at settlement was there with British permission !
Which means that he knew of our claim and knew who to get permission from.
The islands have never belonged to Argentina !
@89Redhoyt,
May 23rd, 2011 - 07:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0You could also add “and NEVER will belong to Argentina”.
“Three years later, the British did formally leave the islands and they passed into the Spanish Empire for the next forty years. This arrangement was formally recognised by the British in the 1790 Nootka Sound Convention by which Britain formally rejected any colonial ambitions in 'South America and the islands adjacent'. It also reflected a weakening of British power in the Western Hemisphere coming shortly after the embarrassing loss of the 13 colonies partly thanks to French and Spanish intervention.
May 23rd, 2011 - 08:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Spanish claim on the islands would falter with the South American Wars for Independence at the start of the nineteenth century. The Spanish removed their formal representative and settlers from the island from 1810 and completed it by 1811. The islands were left to their own fate for the next decade as sealing and whaling ships might call in from time to time to take advantage of the harbour and fresh water. It was not to be until 1820 that the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata would send a frigate to the islands in order to assert their control as part of the legacy of post-colonial Spanish claims to authority there. Buenos Aires would appoint their first governor in 1823”
From a British history website ......... says it all !
MoreCrap - still quoting the history web site that proclaims its own faults. It says on the site that the author has got things wrong ... way to go MoreCrap, don't let facts get in the way !!
May 23rd, 2011 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0lol :-)
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