MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands’ referendum will be done under scrutiny of “international observers”
The referendum to decide the political future of the Falkland Islands will be done under the scrutiny of a “whole series of international observers” come early 2013, Legislative Assembly member Dr Barry Elsby has said. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesHow about “Do you wish to remain a self-governing territory?” You are a self-governing territory now. But the kooks in argieland already say you are part of one of their provinces. Can you be part of a province of foreigners, itself ruled from elsewhere, and self-governing?
Oct 04th, 2012 - 11:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0I heard the Rg's are sending their mighty sailing frigate to witness the vote. Hope they have scraped together the cash to bail it out of trouble by then jajajaja
Oct 04th, 2012 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0“...That is because we want the referendum to be seen as totally fair, totally above board and not in any way biased.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 12:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“We are not looking for independence at this time. That's an option but I don't think there is any move at the moment to be independent. We are very certain as to who we are now which is a self-governing British Overseas territory,” he said.
And he is taking so long to set a question which will be fair and open.Within the parameters set for a fair and open response.I'm still laughing at such a contradictory stance.
The question should be simple “do you want to be a colony of Argentina and, most likely, lose your home and rights over the next few years or would you rather see CFK's head on a spike in Port Stanley Harbour?”
Oct 04th, 2012 - 12:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think they should snick her head off, so that if the Kraken attacks again they can turn it to stone by holding the snake headed harridans head towards the beast.
We will show the World where we want to be and when the shows over look out Argentina because we might just take your Country from you and give it back to the indigenous people. Now there's a thought.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The status of the self-governed British overseas territory has occupied centre-stage”
Oct 04th, 2012 - 02:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Maybe it occupies the centre-stage in British Fairy Tails... but when it comes to the International Community, you´re a Non-self governing colony.
http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgovterritories.shtml
“We want the referendum to be seen as totally fair”.
Well, given the fact that the demographic controls preventing argentines from settling... that “fairness” is at least doubtful.
@6
Oct 04th, 2012 - 03:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So your idea of fair is to flood the Falklands with Argentine nationals and let them vote on the islands' future?
@7 That was tried in 1982 wasn't it?
Oct 04th, 2012 - 03:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 06 Islas Malvinas
Oct 04th, 2012 - 03:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There isn't anything stopping Argentines from settling. What 'demographic controls'?
The demographic controls are called wind, rain and cold. While they want to wave their flag about they don't actually want to live there.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 03:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6 Who'd want a bunch of anal, cheating, corrupt, depraved, dishonest, ignorant, mendacious, necrophiliac, putrid, xenophobic genocides to “settle”?
Oct 04th, 2012 - 04:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But let the argies arrive. Lots of ocean in which to dump the bodies!
'Fires on the Falkland Islands'
Oct 04th, 2012 - 04:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/world/20121004-falklands.html
I have the questionssssssssssss
Oct 04th, 2012 - 04:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 01.000.000 dollars without IVA
very difficult the questionsssss
'Falklands: a problem we would dearly love to have'
Oct 04th, 2012 - 04:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/Falklands--a-problem-we-would-dearly-love-to-have_12675816
@6
Oct 04th, 2012 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Non-self governing colony. ”
No, if that was the case the laws would not be made on the Islands, and the fishing/oil licenses/civil aviation (etc etc etc) would be issued from London.
As FIG make these decisions, plus they run a different education system from the UK they are clearly self-governed.
And now they are starting to run their foreign policy.
That leaves reliance on the UK on only one factor , defence, to deter CFK's Imperialist Pirates from invading.
Keep the islands in your ARSE... no money no class...
Oct 04th, 2012 - 05:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0.....no place to find a decent apartment building.... or a 5 star hotel...yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak
12 Steve-32-uk
Oct 04th, 2012 - 05:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for that. What a cool picture. The commentary has jumped to entirely the wrong conclusions. They are not 'wildfires'; they are fires deliberately started to burn off the tops of the whitegrass to encourage the growth of new shoots. It only happens at this time of year; it will be too dry in a week or two.
#16
Oct 04th, 2012 - 05:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“No Class”.
Coming from you ?
@16 or a place to find the best (cheap) argentine ladies shoes..... hehehe Sussie
Oct 04th, 2012 - 06:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#16
Oct 04th, 2012 - 06:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0seems you are a little jealous of what we actually have on the Islands. No amount of Money or super hotels or even high rise buildings will beat this peacfull way of life. You on the other hand are unable to relax anywhere because someone is likely to steal your patch or your property.
Only people who right such rubbish is likely the ones who do not have what they want. The Falkland Islanders have all that they want. 300 miles of Atlantic ocean between them and Argentina. And all that lovely oil to the North and South of us. Does it not make you feel kinda annoyed to know that #16
Dr Elsby clearly comes from the “say it often enough and say it loudly” school of politics.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 06:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“We are absolutely not a colony; we are absolutely self-governing,” he emphasised further.
It's what the voters will want to hear when campaigning starts for his re-election. True or not.
21 Doveoverdover
Oct 04th, 2012 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are a weapons grade idiot!!
“Dr Elsby clearly comes from the “say it often enough and say it loudly” school of politics.”
Then he can join the long, LONG line of Argentine politicians who do the exact same thing, oh and all of those whinny a**ed Malvinasists who think that just because they cry “Those are ours” that it must be true.
to a man, may they all roast in hell.............
Islas Malvinas - kindly tell us what “Fairy Tails” are.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 07:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 021 Doveoverdover
Oct 04th, 2012 - 07:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I never yet saw a politician campaign for re-election by telling the voters what they don't want to hear. Your politicians are exactly the same. So are the Americans.
Mitt Romney isn't saying that 47% of Americans are dead beats because he believes it. He's saying because he thinks he can get 53% of the voters to believe it.
I don't know why you would think we were incapable of understanding what Barry's saying and deciding whether we agree with it or not. Doh, I forgot, you think we're all stupid ignorant benighted Bens. Silly me.
@23 Gordo1
Oct 04th, 2012 - 07:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Fairy Tails are those made up stories such as “there were no argentines expelled”, “we are not a colony but a self governing territory”, “argentines are wellcome to settle”, etc. etc. etc.
25 Islas Malvinas
Oct 04th, 2012 - 08:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I didn't say 'Argentines are welcome to settle'. I said there are no demographic controls in place. They are not the same thing.
To settle here you would have to apply for a job that no Falkland Islander could do, and be appointed. Appointment boards are not allowed to discriminate against anyone on account of their country of origin. That is the legal position. Whether you would be made 'welcome' or not is another question, and you can't legislate for it.
There are Argentines living and working here. That is not a fairy tale.
@16 2012 You are an idiot. Hitler should've gassed all the brainwashed retards like you, and rid the world of you. Would've made a good film.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 08:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@25
Oct 04th, 2012 - 08:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Let's not forget the biggest fairy story of all : “Malvinas Argentinas”
Is.Malv- if you insist we are a Colony - then please answer me this:
Oct 04th, 2012 - 09:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0When your Govt has enquired to London about things like Aerolineas Flights, War Cemetery affairs, etc etc-
Why does London alway say to ARG- ”Those are all affairs under the control of the Falkland Islands Govt - not the brtish Govt- you need to ask the Islands?
Do please answer this.
If we were still an old fashioned Colony - then those questions would all be decided and answered by London!
On your historical rubbish of 1833 - only 4 civilians left of their own free will- all the others not associated with the Buenos Aires Militia stayed on here. Many of them were named and referred to by Charles Darwin when he visited in the 1840s. At least one married a British settler and had children whose bloodline is still here - so you have descendents with S American blood in their veins who do NOT want you to take them over!
The last of those original settlers died in the late 1860s - and her grave is here in Stanley Cenmetery.
Now tell me - do you still believe the crap CFK and Twitmas preach to you?
Argentines do come and settle in the Islands - I know of 2 families who have arrived and settled in the last 18months. They are treated EXACTLY the same as people from Britain - you get a job- a workpermit -a medical check - and that is it.
Malen - what are you on about and what is IVA - sounds like some form of artificial birth control!
@27
Oct 04th, 2012 - 09:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the 3,000 folkloosers are the retards....living in such Malditas islands...
Mother Nature....hurry up...rock those islands away!
@26 Monty
Oct 04th, 2012 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I get the difference. It´s a pitty you don´t welcome argentines.
Malvinenses are more than welcome in mainland.
@29 Islander
London is who is answering. This “self governing” fantasy is the card London is playing not to negotiate.
@30 You must be some sort of comedy act at your local bar if you come up with shit like that lol. You make us all laugh. Anyway, go play with some old man balls.
Oct 04th, 2012 - 09:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@31
Oct 04th, 2012 - 11:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0London doesn't negotiate because there is nothing to negotiate.
@31 that's very big of you considering we are trying to steal your country, hang on that doesn't sound right.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Welcome or not Argentines are allowed to and have moved to the Falklands.
“”the 3,000 folkloosers are the retards....living in such Malditas islands...
Oct 05th, 2012 - 11:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mother Nature....hurry up...rock those islands away!“””
Help translating this...?
@31
Oct 05th, 2012 - 11:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Your problem is that self governence is not a fantasy.
Falkland Laws are made by FIG, not parliament in London.
Fishing and oil licences around the Falkland Islands are not issued by London, but by Stanley.
Go figure.
@35 It's what happens when they allow mental patients access to the asylum computer.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 01:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@36 Self governance fantasy...
Oct 05th, 2012 - 01:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA0MLDznlSc
@37 Hahahaha That was a funny one.
@38: nothing more than the raw rejection of self-determination on behalf of Argentina and her school yard friends.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 03:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0On Rejecting the Self Governing “Fantasy” this is pure projection in behalf of Argentina. I suspect this view truly represent the management structure that **Argentina** would rather impose in the “Malvinas” should they regain the same control over the islands that they briefly had in 1982, it's governance and resources ruled from and for the benefit of Buenos Aires and Ushuaia rather than Port Stanley.
@36 Your problem is that that there are no absolutes when it comes to self governance. Let's take a topical example from the FIG website,as available today, by way of illustration.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 03:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The UK Environment Protection (Overseas Territories) Order 1988 was applied to the Falkland Islands by the Environment Protection (Overseas Territories)(Amendment) Order 1997. Although this order is largely similar to the Falkland Islands Marine Environment (Protection) Ordinance 1995 above, under the UK Colonial Laws Validity Act of 1865 if there is any contradiction between the two the UK legislation shall have precedence. For further guidance please contact the Department.
Devolved powers from Westminster give the Falkland Islands Executive the right to issue licenses and dispose of revenues. Those powers could be taken back at any time - it says so in the 2008 Constitution that the Islanders got the FCO to write down for them.
“Go figure” doesn't really carry much weight in the face of the authoritative written word.
Still all smoke.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I guess Australia is still really run by the UK also huh?
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chuckle chuckle
Power from Westminster has been devolved to Scotland and Wales. Which means that we can still be British which is what we want and it means we have control over local issues, which is what we also want. In other words, a perfect solution.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 043 reality check
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not perfect for everyone it seems.
If you have control what taxes do you raise,what standing army do you have,what laws can you have,and who is your head of state.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh yes,all as you wish.
Just like Gibraltar,and Libya and Australia and Nigeria and USA.
If 2012 is the standard of Argies,
Oct 05th, 2012 - 05:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Then you have little to worry about, other that wagering tongues.
You are entitled to live in freedom without threat or hindrances.
For these uneducated indocronoughts that still believe you are being held hostage,
Just goes to show, the kind of lives they them selves live.
They are envious and jealous of you,
Keep up the good work,
You know it gets up their goat...
.
45 Yuleno
Oct 05th, 2012 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We raise our own taxes and spend them as we choose. We make our own laws, which are sometimes the same as those in the UK and sometimes not. We have our own Defence Force which receives very generous funding from FIG. We have no need for a 'standing army'. Our head of state is the Queen (yes, just like Australia).
Does that cover everything?
Do you have a point?
He is just envious and jealous of the islanders.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Otherwise he would have no interest..
.
The funny thing is, most of the worlds countries, well at least those that matter, are democracies.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 07:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What we will see here is democracy in action and what, those democracies are going to ignore the result? call me optomistic, okay, I am optomistic. Some how I do not see them ignoring it.
A political masterstroke on the part of the FIG.
Agree, disagree?
You have no standing army,Monty,because you are occupied by the UK.You are not independant because you can't defend yourselves.You can't defend yourself and therefore another state has the power of veto over anything they want.Argentina is prompting the occupying state to give you more sense of responsibility in what you are allowed to do.A simbiotic relationship is it.But remember in the referendum you will not be allowed to vote for independance or to revert to argentine sovreignity.You will say you don't need those options but you won't have them anyway.Can you change that or is it beyond your control.And what is the point of the referendum if your choices are restricted.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 050 Yuleno
Oct 05th, 2012 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We are not 'occupied by the UK' What a crazy statement. Prior to 1982 there were 56 Marines here. The UK military are here to defend us from you.
There are plenty of independent countries in the world with no standing army. They don't have to defend themselves because they don't have neighbours that want to invade them. Do you think Monaco has an army to defend itself from the French? Or the Vatican from Italy? And who has the 'power of veto over them? Nobody. Argentina is belligerant and irresponsible and it is threatening us.That is the difference. Oh and that we are a British Overseas Territory by choice. We like it and it suits us. We aren't 'occupied'. You are living in the past.
We will be allowed to vote for whatever we like. We are going to set the question ourselves. At the moment the momentum seems to be in favour of keeping it simple to avoid confusion. Personally I think it should have independence as an option. I don't think many people would choose it, but I think it should be there.
Our elected members will try to represent the electorate as they see fit.
Referenda always have restricted choices. A simple yes/no choice is preferred for the sake of clarity. I think that if this is the case, the question should be 'do you want Argentine sovereignty?'. And don't tell me what I think. You clearly have no idea.
you are all being held against you will.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and the mighty queen CFK your rightfull leader, will come to your rescue,
and turf out the dredded brits, and you will all then be welcome back into the bossem of your mother country.
still,
as long as they put chocolate ice cream on top..??
@51 Do you mean your “elected members” (many UK born) that by the FI Constitution (written in London) should “please the Queen”. Do you mean that one?
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@46 briton Jack the Ripper
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are wrong...
....there is no “standard” classification for argentine and USA citizens...I think differently from others argentinians and others USA citizens.
But, the rubbish bloody english people are all the same....rubbish bloody!... All around the WORLD...the british are known as the most rubbish people!
prove it,
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0there is always gold in them there muck.
cuando la mentira tiene patas cortas, tenés que ser muy cuidadoso y tomarte mucho tiempo con cada palabrita que usés-
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and against missiles show of UK in a peaceful region
www.lmcordoba.com.ar/nota.php?ni=107195 or google
What ? who ? why ? when ?
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 053 Islas Malvinas
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We don't care where our elected representatives were born as long as they do a decent job. I do wish someone from Chile or St Helena would stand for election.
I don't think the Queen takes a personal interest in what our government does, and pleasing her isn't high on our list of priorities. What are you quoting anyway? Where does it say ''please the queen'' in the constitution.
The beauty of it all is that your opinion of the way we run our affairs is not required. It has nothing at all to do with you. As long as we are happy with it, you can just move along. I don't presume to tell you how to run your affairs, so you can just butt out and mind your own business. I don't think it is appropriate for you to lecture us about good governance and democracy.
56 malen
This was a peaceful region until you invaded a defenceless country in 1982. This is your fault. Get over it.
She is not there to be pleased,
Oct 05th, 2012 - 08:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0alas, something the viking queen CFK demands..
Against the missiles free show for nothing but to show hey hey loook what we do, how powerful we are, how we dominate, and all such kind of arrogancy, that begin 8 of october, free day in Arg, repudio general.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And we the countries of the region build peace and agreements for peace.
Well Monty.I would never have thought you would be so easily confused and that in the case of max 2000 ballot papers yes or no is all that can't be handled.Have as many choices as you want and send the ballot papers to BA for counting if its too much for the UK to handle.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Incidentally Monty,when did I tell you what too think or do or say,isn't it Dr Elsby that is denying you those activities?
61 Yuleno
Oct 05th, 2012 - 09:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dr Elsby is there to represent the people. That's how democracies work. I'm not surprised you're finding that a bit hard to understand.
60 malen
You can't expect the British Army to keep track of all your public holidays.
The missile practice is just to make sure they still work. It's been going on for 30 years and you start complaining now?
We have offered to talk to your government about peace. We are still waiting for a reply.
We have always complainned.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 10:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We are still waiting for UK to sit for dialogue according to UN resolutions. But they dont dialogue, no talks.
I watched this Elsby clown on the Spanish CNN interview with the other import. They lied their their way through from beginning to end. You could see from Carmen Aristeguis', the host, gaze that she knew that she was being lied to. Not much she could do, she is being told who to interview or you're off the air, like Televisa did to her for not following he party line. More proof that CNN ought to be shown the door in Latin Amrica.
Oct 05th, 2012 - 10:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@45 @ 50 Yuleno
Oct 05th, 2012 - 10:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You could not be more wrong, they most certainly do have a standing Army and an Airforce and a Navy, who do you think liberated them? What, you think that because they live at the bottom of the world, their fellow islanders (Reference there to the British Isles) will not defend them! Their standing army is called the British Army and after twelve years of combat fighting, it's an awesome army.
So you see your statement is that they can not defend themselfs is silly, must be, or you would have invaded again.
Let me put it like this, the duty of the Armed Forces of Britian is to defend the British, the Falkland Islanders are Britsh. Ergo, they have a standing. Navy, Army and Airforce. I hpoe that clears up your misconceptions of the Falklands Defence Forces.
They are our people. leave them alone!
65 reality check (#)
Oct 05th, 2012 - 11:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“it's an awesome army.”
...and bullets can still go through them.
”
...and remember who has the legal claim. The friendly neighbors to the West.
@63 The two countries have exchanged Ambassadors and each have a permanent embassy in the others Capital to facilitate direct dialogue. Either side can raise any issue with the other at any time. This is one of the reasons why the GA doesn't keep resolving annually as it once did.
Oct 06th, 2012 - 06:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0As you raise the issue of the UN, have you thought about lobbying your Government to put pressure on the Secretariats of the C24 and 4th Committee to propose how the SG remit to provide “good offices” might be taken forward?
@58 Monty “What are you quoting anyway?”
Oct 06th, 2012 - 01:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0FIC - Chapter V: The Executive: The chapter states that executive authority in the Falkland Islands is vested in the Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor (Colonial Viceroy).
If you read further you`ll notice your Colonial Viceroy should please the Queen in the Metropolis.
I`m not lecturing you about governace. All I`m saying is that your Government is “self-determining” anything. And I`m not giving my “opinion” about how you run your afairs. (Appart from the fact that you`re doing it in Argentine soil). I`m only describing it.
The UK invaded Argentina: 1806 - 1807 - 1833 - 1845
You got your own way only in the 1833 one.
UK invaded no one,
Oct 06th, 2012 - 10:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0you are the agressers.
@islas malvinas
Oct 07th, 2012 - 08:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0So what. The ones that count here is the failure in 1982 and the eviction of the squatting garrison in 1833.
We have no interest in re-running any kind of aggression against your country, those days are over.
Yours is still at it trying to steal the Falklanders homeland and either force them out or to live under foreign occupation.
UK to compensate 3 kenyans(but there are plenty more cases really) for torture,false imprisonment,castration ( you get the idea) after so many years of cover-up and lying, from their empire days.Now they just cover-up and lie about their colonial times.
Oct 07th, 2012 - 10:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0@71 To be a little more accurate, the UK High Court has ruled that there are grounds for a civil case to be brought to test the allegations you list. This despite the department of state (the FCO) arguments to the contrary. That says something positive about the independence of the UK judiciary at least.
Oct 07th, 2012 - 01:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Says a bit about the empire and how it felt able to do as they like in a country that is many miles from Britain.
Oct 07th, 2012 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A bit like argentina then
Oct 07th, 2012 - 05:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0we are surprised argie troops aint claiming torture of british troops.
its all crap,
still,
the innocent men womes children babies, that the mao mao killed will just be fogotten, will it not..
@71
Oct 10th, 2012 - 03:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”( you get the idea) after so many years of cover-up and lying, from their empire days.Now they just cover-up and lie about their colonial times.”
And Argentina was a good colonialist by buthchering thousands of native Amerindians?
Or perhaps we in UK can feel good that even our worst excesses pale into comparison with Argentinas's dirty war of the 1970s which included acid baths, priests having their eyes gouged out,and left by the road to die and people being thrown out of aircraft into the South Atlantic.
You too have a guilty past, which only dates back 30 years.
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