MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chilean village heartfelt thanks for Falklands support
The Chilean village of Lolol in the Colchagua region has sent its heartfelt thanks, in the form of a plaque, to the people of the Falklands and the Chilean Community in the Islands for their very generous support following the devastation of buildings in the area as a result of the earthquake in 2010. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesThey do need “ cash money ” not heartfelt thanks.
Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Its amazing what a little friendliness can achieve. The cynical side me thinks that the current Chilean regime is harming the Falklands in denying their right to exist yet is happy to receive charitable donations from them. Double standards but perhaps thats the only way to truly survive in South America.
Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No its a great story. Just shows that if there is goodwill between nations anything can be achieved.The money isnt that important though it helps
Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@3
Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There was absolutely no 'goodwill' coming from Chile towards the Falklands at the UN decolonization committee last month, they were very hostile towards them infact.
@4 THATSJUST POLITICAL HOT AIR. Chile is also a colonisar Easter Island where independence demos were suppresed last month
Jul 17th, 2012 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That's when good neighbours become good friends.
Jul 17th, 2012 - 09:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@2 Brit,
Jul 17th, 2012 - 10:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The “current Chilean regime” has nothing to do with this charitable donation.
Do you really think the mayor of a small town has to get clearance from the president to receive a charitable donation?!? Some of you Brits are as tedious as the Malvinistas with your one issue obsession.
Well done the Falkland islands for helping out Lolol!
Well done Jon Benjamin (British Ambassador in Chile) for setting up a foundation to rebuild the only school on Juan Fernandez after the tsunami!
Well done Margaret Thatcher for selling weapons and “crowd control” equipment to Pinochet, despite that being a contradiction of British policy not to sell weapons to pariah states...oh wait a minute, that can’t be right, that would be a double standard.
@7 Condorito You go too far mate. Its nothing to do with Pinochet or Thatcher or governments.Its a gesture of humanity and 26,000 quid isnt all that much these days- Falklanders I salute you
Jul 17th, 2012 - 11:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@8 redpoll
Jul 18th, 2012 - 12:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0I agree. It is a good news story about a kind gesture and has nothing to do with the C24, politics or governments. That is the point I was making.
As a Chilean who have friendly links with a lot of Falklands people and Chilean residents there just want to send you my personal gratitude for your generosity to join that ammount of money to be used funding the reconstruction of a small rural village which have suffered big damages as consecuence of the 27/2 hearthquake....This kind action show us that good people live in that small country.....You, as well as the others who have helped us to reborn from the ashes in that devastated areas, will be within our heart for ever...
Jul 18th, 2012 - 12:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0May be that's the reason we have that close links between Magallanes Region and the Falklands.....good people no matter what...!!!
And to my friend Celia from our Uni times just a.....WELL DONE, CHILEAN.....!!!
Well done Falklanders, this really shows what solidarity can do.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 01:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting that Lolol has about double the population of the FI.
Yep Simon . Its just under nine quid per inhabitant spent on something that matters. Hats off to you , keelpers!
Jul 18th, 2012 - 03:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0Chilean president plaque :
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0“The position of the Chilean government is clear and firm: we back and support the right of Argentina, on legal and historic reasons, over the Malvinas and other adjoining islands”
Oh yes just like the Chilean territory of Easter Island.Perhaps you should claim New Zealand also as an an “adjoining island”
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0Calm down everyone. We are grateful to the Falklanders for their support and I hope that they understand the “official” position Chile has held since 1962 with regards to the Falklands. Argentina is a very complicated neighbor and we have chosen not to have a conflict with them but rather behave like good neighbors. Chileans would NEVER support the Argentinean claim if it meant an invasion of the peaceful Falklands Islands. Our support is only political and rather vague at that.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 08:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0I was wondering who would try to put a negative spin on such a nice story...
Jul 18th, 2012 - 08:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0@13 Marcos Did nobody tell the Chilean president that the Argentine government enthusiastically supports Bolivian claims on Chilean territory? Or that “Operación Soberanía” the invasion of Chile was only aborted at the last minute because Argentina thought the Falkland Islands were the soft option. Chile would certainly have been invaded next if Britain hadn't kicked the heroic Argentine invaders sorry arses off the Falklands. Very forgiving people these Chileans, some would say 'naive'.
@14 redpoll Malvinistas often site the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas to support their ludicrous claims on the Falkland Islands. This treaty divided up the Southern Hemisphere between Portugal and Spain. They believe they have the 'right' to claim ownership of foreign territory by virtue of 'inheritance' from Spain. Never mind the fact Spain didn't cede anything to Argentina, and didn't even recognise Argentina until the 1860s nor the fact that Britain was not a signatory to this treaty and did not accept Papal authority. By malvinista logic they would also have 'legitimate' claim to Australia, New Zealand and everything in between. They also claim Antarctica. In the extremely unlikely event the Argentine empire occupied Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand would be their next claim. It all sounds preposterous, but our job is to nip this Argentine aspiring colonialism and empire-building idiocy in the bud.
http://territories.indigenousknowledge.org/exhibit-10/2
#7 “Well done Margaret Thatcher for selling weapons and “crowd control” equipment to Pinochet”
Jul 18th, 2012 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Are you serious?!
@15 The Chilean perspective “Argentina is a very complicated neighbor and we have chosen not to have a conflict with them”. We're very aware (now) how 'complicated' Argentina is. We also chose not to have a conflict with them. We still choose that, but unfortunately they seem to have set their little hearts on conflict with us. As far back as 1850 we signed a treaty, “Convention of Perfect Friendship” with the Province of Buenos Aires. This lasted until 1941, when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. It was at this moment, sensing weakness, the treacherous Argentine government tore up that agreement and claimed the Falkland Islands. In 1982, as I'm sure you're very well aware, with no provocation, they launched a massive armed invasion and occupied the practically undefended and peaceful Falkland Islands. At this time they were also planning for “Operación Soberanía”, the invasion of Chile: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operación_Soberan%C3%ADa Even today they support Boliva's claim on Chilean territory. With friends like those...
Jul 18th, 2012 - 10:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think that I understand The Chilean dilemma. With 'friends' like Argentina you have to play a very complicated political game. I am sure Chile are relieved that the Argentine Armed Forces are a shadow of what they once were and yes, in some respect the war of 1982 was responsible for some of it. But Argentina can still hurt Chile. Even if Chile won, and I am sure that they would, a war would still hurt. War is bad news and we avoid like the plague that it is. Argentina has not yet learned this so Chile has no choice but to continue playing 'the game'.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0Give them a break. Well done FI. A wonderful gesture that I am sure will be well remembered.
If I were in South America, I would be quite glad the UK was down there as the focal point for Argentine aggression.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0@20 HN
Jul 18th, 2012 - 11:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0That's exactly it. When argentine leaders find it tough going they focus on the Falklands, it's their 'Get out of jail free' card.
Well done to the Falklanders for their efforts. Top marks!
#7
Jul 18th, 2012 - 11:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0The amount from the Falklands amounted to £9 per person.
I gather that this was non-governmental aid.
How much did the Argentine public donate - (not the government ).
By extrapolation this would need to be £36,000,000 to equal the per capita donations of the Islanders. Do you have this figure ?
22 Clyde15 (#)
Jul 18th, 2012 - 12:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina's first response was 3 field hospitals, 1800 tons of food and over half a million liters of water.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_response_to_the_2010_Chile_earthquake
I don't know what monetary aid we sent, but obviously it wasn't £36 million!!!
So the Argentinians consider South Georgia an 'adjoining island' to the Falklands. Just in case they hadn't realised, the Falklands are over 1,500 kilometres from South Georgia. To me, that really isn't adjoining, or even close. That is literally the distance from London to Sardinia. Would anyone consider Sardinia an 'adjoining island' to the UK? No, I didn't think so.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 01:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 016 Alexei
Jul 18th, 2012 - 02:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have explained the Chilean position before and CP explains it above. Chile is all too aware of Argentina’s support for Bolivia. But, neither Bolivia nor Argentina have a solid legal argument or the military strength to back up their claims, so the status quo will not change, Chile remains on good terms with Argentina and continues its very close relationship with the UK. That is not naive, that is astute and pragmatic.
The UK understands Chile’s position and continues to maintain close diplomatic, military and economic ties with Chile.
17 BK
No I am not serious. I am neither condemning nor condoning Thatcher. The point I was trying, unsuccessfully, to make is that countries (yes even the UK) do what they need to do in national interest and are seldom guided by higher principles. The UK and Chile sought each other in 82 because it was in both their interests. The UK signs up to some very one-sided deals with the US and the EU in order to get along, despite UK public opinion being against much of what they are signed up to. The same is true of Chile’s “support” for Argentina’s claim.
19 War Monkey
Thank you for understanding.
20 Hans
Yes. I agree.
22 Clyde
I don’t have a figure of cash donated and I doubt there was a significant amount, but, as Simon has answered already, Argentina responded immediately with an important humanitarian effort.
It is so nice to see a happy story, pity Argentina's people were not involved in a similar fashion to those on the Falklands (there are STILL no Malvinas).
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#25
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I misread the post about the average per capita donation from the Falklanders and took this as sarcasm.
My reply was to show how much the Argentine public would have had to donate to equal the per capita amount. I specifically excluded government aid because donations from the public are spontaneous.
I in no way denigrate the aid supplied by the Argentine govt.
27 Clyde15 (#)
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think that Argentine (private) solidarity has shrunk from being extremely large about 3-4 years ago to being at present more or less at familly level.
I will help my children if there's any money left over at the end of the month sort of thing.
It used to be that one would be happily donating to cancer research, and the church, fire brigade, police benevolent fund, etc. now no way!!!
Simon Outlook lookd pretty blue doesnt it?
Jul 18th, 2012 - 04:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@15 Just a thought for you. Have you tried developing some guts?
Jul 18th, 2012 - 06:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@19 Chile doesn't have a dilemma. It has choices. It can have courage or cowardice. It can have honesty or cowardice. It can have integrity or cowardice. It can have principles or cowardice. Where's the dilemma? A Brit would choose courage, honesty, integrity and principles.
@25 Condorito Thank you for the clarification.
Jul 18th, 2012 - 07:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@30 Conqueror
Jul 18th, 2012 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Homeless Chilean couple hand in £6,500 approx money found in a rubbish bag.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/9388070/Homeless-couple-hand-in-6500-found-in-rubbish-bag.html
'My mother taught me never to steal' (said) the man who makes less than £5 per day recycling rubbish. AND YES, I know it is Brasil but it shows how a lot of people live in this end of the world.
I feel far safer in my area of Uruguay than I sometimes did in the UK. War Monkey was simply putting the reasonable view that to avoid war with Argentia is sensible, if possible. In the UK it's called Diplomacy, but we are not very good at it when we get involved with the Bully Boy that we think we have a 'special relationship' with.
25
Jul 18th, 2012 - 08:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0good post.
great story!
@Conqueror
Jul 18th, 2012 - 08:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I would remind you the UK acts in its national interest too, “courage, honesty, integrity and principles” are often far from influencing the decisions made. I am not saying that Brits don’t possess those qualities, but governments don’t operate like that.
The UK seldom stands up to US pressure and you know it.
The UK get shafted by the US and takes it in the name of the, very one sided “special relationship”.
Are you happy with the extradition treaty the UK is signed up to with the US?
Are you happy with Spanish fishing fleets plundering your territorial waters?
Are you happy that EU legislation can override British court decisions?
Of course not, but these are all deals your government has signed you up to, not because they are courageous, but because all countries have to give on some deals to take on others. All countries cut deals in their own interest, integrity and principles come second.
I would love to see more courage, honesty, integrity and principles applied by all countries. To Tony Blair’s credit, I think one of the few principled acts by a country in recent times, was his decision to intervene in Sierra Leon. More of that would be good.
You tell Cameron to go and get Mugabe, I will tell Piñera to change his stance on the Falklands.
@Alexi: No problem.
@scarfo: Thanks
#34
Jul 18th, 2012 - 08:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I could not agree with you more. Every country eventually has to eat crow and act pragmatically.
As a brit living in Argentina and who has spent a lot of time in Chile on buisness the idea that the Argentina and Chilean people are firm friends could not be further fromt he truth. There is open mistrust between the two peoples. Argentina is highly influenced by European practicies and Chile is more influenced and funded by North America (mainly due to its pro mining governments, which has seen large scale foreign investment in Chile). Chile still remembers that Arentina provided weapons to Boliva and Peru in the lasr border war. There have also been countless terroroty disputes between the two nations in the past (Beagle Channel, Trelew (Patagonia) many of which where settled by the then Pope in favour of Chile and has left a bad taste in Argentines mouth. From my observations and discussions with Chileans, I believe they on the whole support the islanders right to self determination but have to play it cautiosuly because of a neighbour they feel is aggresive.
Jul 19th, 2012 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In light of the economic problems in Argentine, Chile is also starting to make it much harder for Argentine citizens to get work permits as it fears a mass imigration of Argentine citizens attempting to find secure work and escape inflation.
@34 I think you have summed up things very well.
I have nothing but the deepest respect for Chileans and the dilema that comes from having Argentina as a neighbour. This story is testament to how interntational diplomacy should work. The Falkland islanders have engaged in friendship to enhance there cause which is in stark contrast to the bullying tactics adopted by the Argentine government.
” countless terroroty disputes between the two nations in the past (...) many of which where settled by the then Pope in favour of Chile and has left a bad taste in Argentines mouth“
Jul 19th, 2012 - 12:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I guess your sources are... ”As a brit living in Argentina“ and what they have told you.
Honestly said, I am not aware of ANY dispute, where Chile has gained something. Not even the Beagle Channel dispute was in favour of Chile, even in Argentina they ”sell” it as such one.
I've been to Chile a few times and talked to a lot of people a lot of people and I think with only one exception, everyone that has brought up the political situation (I never bring it up myself) has been embarrased and a bit ashamed of their country's standpoint. I always say I understand and I'm pretty sure sure that their support would never be more than verbal. I'm not going to be upset at someone that doesn't want to flick matches at the powder keg next door.
Jul 19th, 2012 - 01:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@37
Jul 19th, 2012 - 01:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am also a reader of history of the southern horn of America. The beagle channel was disputed by both parties and it was found in favour of Chile.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_conflict
I understand it is wikepedia but the information is broadly correct.
This was also a similar issue witht he straits of Magellan.
I at no point argueed that Chile did not have a right to these Islands as neither an Argentine or Chilean I stay out of these sorts of issues but my statement that a number od disputes were found in favout of Chile is wholy accurate.
Id be intrested to know what position you are taking on the issue so i can better udnerstand your comment.
Please support this page - Falkland Islands Desire The Right - dedicated to Falkland Islands current affairs, keeping the islands free and poking fun at the lunacy of the Argentine government and their various claims and winding up their Internet trolls -
Jul 20th, 2012 - 05:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.facebook.com/Britain1592
EnginnerAbroad, maybe we have a distinct understanding with the definition of “in favour of ”. I am fully aware that Chile did not lose any territorial SOIL in the Beagle Channel dispute, but it lost sea territory in that dispute against the status quo of 1881 agreed with Argentina.
Jul 21st, 2012 - 08:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The point is, and you can see it in your own sources (Wikipedia), that Argentina since then, has steadily expanded their VIRTUAL pretention (I say virtual, as they never gained physical control over it) bit by bit as you can see it on that map:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Resume.arg.cart.en.png
They have played this game so permanently, that a “setting back” of this pretentions by, lets say by fictive 90%, is already generally perceived as a Chilean victory. I say fictive, as I would not now how to define weight of martime territory vs soil. Nevertheless they gained those extra 10% over what was originally agreed and perceived by Argentina herself (!) in 1881.
Also do not forget there has been 2 arbitrations, one done by the Queen end of the 70ies and one in the 80ies by the Pope. If you study this case more in depth, you will see that the Pope's proposal is way in favour to Argentina vs the original arbitration defined by the Queen.
Not to forget... against all the facts I have mentioned above, the Beagle Channel is perceived by Argentina as the “biggest win” for Chile in demarcatory arbitrations. You then can imagine the situation in the other cases...I would ask you to mention the “other” arbitrations in favour of Chile they have told you, I am quite curious about them.
Btw, the strait of Magellan was physically occupied and fortified by Chile (during Bulnes presidency) in 1843, 30 years before Argentina even started their “conquest of the desert” thousands of kilometers way north arround Buenos Aires.
Checkout the facts:
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquista_del_Desierto
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