MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands’ referendum observation mission has representatives from seven countries
An impartial group of independent international observers, Referendum International Observation Mission (RIOM) will monitor the referendum on the political future of the Falkland Islands on Sunday and Monday, according to a release. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesBet the they are regretting their decision not to sent any argentine observers now.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 08:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0It just makes them look even more ignorant. (if that's possible?)
Who appointed this “Observation Mission”? The UN? The OAS? Mercosur? Unasur? CELAC? The EU? What a vain exercise!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0(2) Marcelo Cohen
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0I agree....
But those wests look damn authoritative and comfy at the same time....;-)
Respetuosos saludos
El Think
Chubut, Argentina
Democracy in action mate, get used to it and trying to marginalise the international mission is not going to do you any good, why? because you were invited to participate, have your own member and you refused!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0@3;
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0Body-warmers, and yes they do look comfy, and authourative.
(2) Mr. Kohen
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry for my mispelling of your surname at (3)
I'm from the “castellanizacion” era....
(5) Escoses Doido
“Authourative.”?
Is that Gælic or just Doido?
Unlike the participants in a recent London conference, none of them seem to be Brits passing themselves off as representatives of another country.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0@2 Marcelo Kohen.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0What an egocentric person you are Marcelo Kohen.
They are a group of impartial observers !
How does Arg feel about their neighbours people having active participation in observing and writing up on an event Arg claims is irrelavant and illegal?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0Juan Manuel Henao is a consultant based in Mexico City and former Mexico Country Director for the International Republican Institute (IRI), a Washington DC-based not-for-profit democracy promotion organization. Brad Smith has worked for them too.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.iri.org/learn-more-about-iri-0
@10
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0And your point is?
(10) Mr. Mc.Dod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Do you think Mr. Juan Manuel Henao the “Mexican” observer the article above mentions?
A quick “googeing” places him as an American born citizen (ex USA Army sargent) of Colombian extraction.....
Anyhow, Mr. Kohen's (and my) question was....:
Who appointed them?
Do you know?
Ah, Mr Bond,
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0IRI works in countries important to U.S. interests, where we can make a difference.
Draw your own conclusion about the motivation of these individuals.
@6;
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Neither, it's what's called a typo.
@13 DOD
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0So what you are really saying is that this group of observers are not capable of monitoring the referendum.
@12;
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0“googeing” How do you pronounce that?
Or is that just a typo like mine?
(13) Mr. McDod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0As far as Google goes....., it seems that Ex US Sgt. Juan Manuel Henao and Mr.Brad Smith Chief of Staff (and registered partner) to Ex U.S. Congressman David Dreier, both sewered their direct involvment with the IRI more than a year ago.....
Soooo.....
It wasn't the IRI....
@12 Ah, Sr Think,
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0I believe we can be confident it is he. As for appointing the Mission, I suppose the straight forward answer is the FIG must have done via the good offices of the Chief Returning Officer. But who is paying their “expenses”? Not FIG, as we know from a previous revelation. I wonder if this is a Republican Institute Observer Mission?
Good point by Han Nieslund.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0The propaganda put out was that organisations from 18 European countries, which supported Argentina's demand for “negotiations” who were attending the conference. In fact the only people to attend this closed conference were the usual Argentine rent-a-crowd, repeating the same tired, old lies: Kohen, Gott, etc. Just Argentines posing as “organisations from 18 European countries”. They couldn't even get 18 interviews with the participants.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MRECICARG
@17 Think
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0This would be the same US that has signaled its neutrality in the Falklands conflict, to much Malvinista acclaim?
Why all this concern over who is monitoring a so called illegal and irrelevant referendum? One which they claim not to recognise the result anyway?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0Kophen and Think - I guess your problem is that you are not used to the- I agree - very “un-agentine” system of NOT having a group of pre-picked already biased and on-side supporters!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0@17
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0One might also add that “Ex US Sgt Juan Manuel Henao” holds a doctorate in international law, and a BA in international affairs.
http://mx.linkedin.com/pub/juan-manuel-henao/20/135/7b5
Oh dear, shades of the Euro 18.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Duplicity, dupilicity all is duplicity.
@20 HansNiesund
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0Well according to our duet, Think and DOD, it is all a conspiracy to hide a rigged referendum !
@25 Not so. According to me it marks an abject failure to get a credible internationally recognised Electoral Observation body to observe this mishandled public relations exercise. I can't speak for Think.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0@25 Not so. According to me it marks an abject failure to get a credible internationally recognised Electoral Observation body to observe this mishandled public relations exercise. I can't speak for Doveoverdover.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0It seems to me that the natives (trolls) are getting restless as they are about to see real democracy in action. It's like when a fresh water fish hit's brackish water, it's not comfortable.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Cue Pantomime horse comment
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Where is your evidence that they are not internationally recognised, or as usual are you indulging in the arrogant practice of commenting for the rest of the International Community?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0I am told the Canadian government is footing the bill of the Observers.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0What a pair of drips. It is a highly credible Observer Mission. Your problem is you are anti-democratic and object to our country expressing its view to the world. Pity for you you missed the Stalin era, you would have flourished.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0I will say it again, of what relevance to an alleged illegal and unrecognised referndum are the body that monitor it? Seems lightly absurd, to call into question, the credentials of a monitoring body, of a called non event.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0We see a lot on here about the identity of this or that person especially if it may be they have any possible connection with Britain or the Falklands. Might be a good time to remind those Argentines who are largely responsible for such mention that can anyone of them claim that they and they alone are indigenous to Argentina because it sure looks like that no matter where in the world one lives that decided to emigrate from their birth place is open to these same issues. Before anyone mouths of about connection just remember where your ancestors came from. Might surprise you who you actually descended from.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0@27
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0Since when were any of OAS, Mercosur, Unasur, and CELAC, a “credible internationally recognised Electoral Observation body?” Could they be considered netural? Could the EU, given that it recognises the Falklands as a BOT?
And it is hardly surprising that there are no UN observers, since that would be contrary to the UN policy of not taking a position on the rights and wrongs of the conflict.
these malovs all seem rather desperate to try to reduce the impact of a referendum that they all say is irrelevant and a PR stunt.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0odd that.
so desperate they've even bought out the DoveroVerDover fake-account - which is always a sure sign of desperation (or that Think wants to have a conversation with herself in another attempt to confer legitimacy on her comments)
@29
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Indeed, sometimes it's a bit hard to figure out who's Long John Silver and who's the parrot in your mutual support operation, but it all comes out the same in the end anyway.
I still like those cute wests......
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Anybody interested in swapping against a Chubut Lawn Crocket Association Merino Cardigan, Harlequin pattern in British Racing Green, Mauve and Queen Victoria Beige after the match?
We do not recognise the right of the Falklanders to hold a referendum.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0We are not happy about the credentials or the impartiality of the body assembled to monitor that referendum.
Ergo, you do in fact, you do recognise the right to hold the referendum, or you would not be concerned about how it was monitored!
I for one am very pleased to see a group of independent parties to the referendum being present. This shows that the FIG are in no way trying to weight the argument or predetermine the results.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps CFK and fans in Arginine should take note. After all it was widely reported that their recent stunt in London involved they pulled together leading nobody’s from many European counties with vested interests in Argentina to take part in a CLOSED discussion and sign a pre scripted document in favour of the Arginine claim. And even at that most of them refused to put their actual name to the document. I am very confident that the free thinking observers the FIG have openly invited to observe will be able to draw their own conclusions and will happy add their name to the full process.
Interestingly on a slight side topic having these international neutral observers on the Falklands during the referendum also handily serve an indirect second purpose. Namely if CFK and her crew do try some sort of stunt to discredit or interfere with this democratic event then they will also be able to observe this and report back to the world… So win win all round for the Falklands.
I love the fact that the Malvinistas are questioning the impartiality of the observers, from their loyal neighbours of Uruguay and Paraguay and Mexico. It is not the Falklands that are being investigated by the World Bank and the IMF for being filthy liars, cooking the books and corruption, it is YOU, the Argentines that are viewed internationally as untrustworthy!!!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0This referendum is a game changer, and you are running scared.
You'll have to forgive our Argentine friends, they do not know much about democracy, they much prefer dictatorship under the guises of 'Peronism'
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0They also dislike the general population being listened too and told the truth, if this was in Argentina a hired bunch of thugs would guard the polling stations and only let people in sympathetic to the dictator in power and if they were fooled in anyway then the vote would be rigged.
INDEC is another good example of Argentine honesty and integrity.
There woud also be mini buses picking the voters up and a dodgy looking bloke handing out 50 peso notes as they arrived at the poling stations.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Observers hail from Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, the USA and New Zealand. (PN).-
Mar 08th, 2013 - 12:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What a total embarrassment for CFK and Argentina,
We see the fantastic solidarity from other South American countries, who are fully and unequivocally supporting CFK in her [ignoring the whole event]
Boy what a coop for democracy,
But hang on chaps,
Have some sympathy for poor poor CFK ,
She has missed the funeral of her greatest ally, she will miss being at the greatest referendum to hit south America for decades,
Her make up reveals all the face lifts,
[Would you want to be in her shoes]
Naaaa,
Were British, and will remain so,
Still,
She, like her loyal bloggers can watch it on TV ..lol.
.
Good Luck in your referendum. Rub the MBOA 's face in it
Mar 08th, 2013 - 12:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 02 Marcelo Kohen
Mar 08th, 2013 - 01:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You picked the right alias, like the original you have based your self on. You both have a penchant for ignorance, incompetence, and deliberate misstating international law.
27 Think
You assume there wasn't.
33 reality check
Some may allege an illegal and unrecognised referendum. But, in point of fact UK sovereignty is recognized in international law, by the former President of the ICJ. Therefor, under the rule of the ICJ the Islanders are entitled to self-determination. Moreover, Argentina by her failure to try prevent the referendum with a legal challenge, is giving a tacit admission of acquiescence.
You know that and I know it, hence the use of the words, alleged and so called.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Think would have a problem if The Pope, Ban Ki Moon & Mother Theresa resurrected were the poll watchers.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 01:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Pick Pick Pick
Desperate much Thinky?
BTW you are up pretty late posting I'm guessing you are on the other side of the Atlantic still...always. Last time in Arg was in the 70s right?
@43. Silly RC, that's Chicago.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0TWIMC
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Could anybody give an old, helpless man a hand?
I'm having troubles finding anything on the Internet about them...: “Referendum International Observation Mission” (RIOM)......
Almost as elusive as the “Chubut Lawn Croquet Association”...
A very well hidden “Impartial Organization of Independent International Observers”...... indeed.
Chuckle chuckle©
@Dear Argentines Just trying to picture your dear lady leader The botox Queen fresh back from her Ass licking exercise to Venezuela having a tantrum that anyone at all is going to The Islands (4 from South America) and taking notice of TRUE democrecy in action don't any of you remember she tried to persuade people not to go??? seems it backfired-never mind the best is yet to come.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0MARCELO KOHEN ,So Argentine I can not bare to live in my homeland but instead chose to live in Europe like most of the Argentines on here.
Lets hope LIFE GETS BETTER for you all so one day you can return home-don't hold your breath though.
@50 It's a “special and particular” IOIIO.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@50
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps the following might help your evident confusion in this matter :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_monitoring#Organizations
“Organizations
International organizations such as the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Council of Europe and the African Union regularly deploy monitoring teams. The United Nations no longer provides monitoring services, instead it focuses on electoral assistance. Individual governments also participate in monitoring efforts, generally under the umbrella of an international organization. These national efforts are normally managed by the local electoral commission. A wide array of NGOs also participate in monitoring efforts. The Carter Center, for example, played a key role — with the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division and the National Democratic Institute — in building consensus on a common set of international principles for election observation.[3]”
I am sure you'll have noticed in particular that “The United Nations no longer provides monitoring services”. And I'm sure a gentleman of your undoubted imagination will be able to figure why the other bodies mentioned are not suitable in this instance, either because of partiality towards one or the other side, or because of their geographical focus.
(52) Mr. McDod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Special and Particular” IOIIO, indeed.....
Nothing about it...... Not even in the Deep Web....
@Think When you returning home to Argentina to pay taxes and support your dear lady President????
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@54 Sr Think.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@53 explains to us why only a special and particular Mission will do.
@31 points us in the direction of Her Majesty's Canadian Government as paymasters and
the US NGO International Republican Institute (an NGO just slightly to the right of The Carter Centre but still ready to admit that “America’s democratic institutions differ from those of our mother country, the United Kingdom”) has quite possibly sourced the leadership.
You couldn't make this up.
Observers from Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile So you will be calling them trators will you?????
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The writing's on the wall argentina, regardless of this referendum, there is no way on earth the Islands will ever be ruled by argentina.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Debate this until you are blue in the face. Only time will tell..........
But be prepared to watch those Islands prosper with impunity.
(56) Mr. McDod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Before you take Nelson and Nigger to their deserved afternoon walk to the Bleriot Memorial............ could you please tell me.
When did it go so wrong for Britain......?
As you surely have noticed....., we Argies have a couple of Turnip comentators in here....
But you Brits........... have legions.
Kirchner,Kohen,Timerman what is it with these Argentines with family names from far and wide ,Please explain
Mar 08th, 2013 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@59:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Is..................your...................full stop................button ............stuck?
@58 Welcome to the club of those who recognise the Referendum as being unnecessary. Would you like to upgrade to the club of those who assess it to be counter productive?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@59 It went wrong sometime between 1982 and the death of Diana. The country lost its stiff upper lip, its sense of deference and its conviction that God speaks English out of choice (having given everything Latin to the Devil).
Best you don't mention the Legion again or you'll bring Anbar out of the woodwork to join his Turnip mates.
(62) Mr McDod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You say..:
“God speaks English out of choice”
I say...:
Wasn't it German?
http://anythinganywhere.com/currentlist/ger-wwi-buckle-4.jpg
@2, 3 “Appointment” is not required. As a lawyer, you should know that.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@12, 17 I do hope you've never acted in a “public” capacity. Wouldn't it be unfortunate to find that you used to “work” at ESMA?
@13 “IRI works in countries important to U.S. interests, where we can make a difference.” And YOUR nationality is?
@26,27 Not so. According to me it demonstrates an abject failure by argieland to get any of its supporters or dupes appointed to the mission. A distinct positive for honesty and probity.
@50 YES!! Cyanide is very effective. Would you like more suggestions? Strychnine?
@54 The answer is DEEP in the South Atlantic. Can you swim? Can you hold your breath? If you can obtain permission, swim to the South Sandwich Trench. You can find the answer in the Meteor Deep. Only 27,650 feet down. Off you go.
@62:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Where in my post did I say I was of the opinion the referendum is unnescesary?
Counter productive? Of course not.
It's a 'nice to have' - But not essensial to the Islands remaning forever out of argentina's control.
@Think ,Doveoverdover poor ofsure Argentines not able to go home in fear of a poorer life style ,both lots of family's like rats deserting a sinking ship perhaps one day things might get better for you both.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Democracy triumphs over aggression and intimidation.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 03:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Suck it up Arg turnips.
Think/Dame Dover
Mar 08th, 2013 - 04:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Amusing how you mention the landmarks of Dover - did your tour bus stop at the Bleriot monument ?
“Think” persona - you revel in mentioning the names of the “Dame” persona's dogs, “Nelson & Nigger”.
I don't ever recall a post where he conversationally passed on that information to “you”.
Do you write emails back and forth to share information, or do you live very close to one another????
Oh, my “????” is sticking.
@63 Sr Think. In my search for background on the Penguin badged observers I found this. Would you believe it, Tony Blair’s son Euan went to work as an intern for the House committee chaired by Brad Smith's partner.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 04:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://sbsentinel.com/2012/03/representative-david-dreier-to-retire-after-32-years-in-congress/
One good turn deserves another in the modern FCO.
Dirty Bendover but a good part of these people are coming from South America
Mar 08th, 2013 - 04:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Observers from Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile So you will be calling them trators will you?????
@68 For you edification:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 021 Doveoverdover (#) Jun 02nd, 2012 - 09:51 am Report abuse
@19 Nelson and Gibson say they can't get enough walks so no more haughtiness from me for the time being.
22 Think (#) Jun 02nd, 2012 - 09:53 am Report abuse
(21)
It's Nelson and Nigger............... ;-)
@69 Dove
Mar 08th, 2013 - 05:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, Heavens to Betsy! Your assiduous pursuit of coincidentally pro-Argentine positions has certainly turned up something there. But where does Kevin Bacon fit into it?
@25 agent999: 'Well according to our duet, Think and DOD, it is all a conspiracy to hide a rigged referendum !'
Mar 08th, 2013 - 05:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You need 2 for a duet.
Meanwhile, those well-known Argentine supporters the Rest of The World speak out :
Mar 08th, 2013 - 05:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“As a country seeking to restore its sovereignty through peaceful, democratic means, Catalonia cannot but admire this exercise of the right to self-determination, recognized by the UN Charter and myriad other international treaties. ”
And so on.
http://www.helpcatalonia.cat/2013/03/the-falklands-show-way-winds-of-freedom.html
Having observers from Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay will really please the Malvinistas. So much for solidarity.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 05:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For those interested, have a look at Argentina's online Clarin newspaper website which has sent a journalist to the islands. Clarin is quite a decent publication and annoys CFK and her government with its willingness to act in an independent manner and criticise the government on its poor performance. The Argentine lady journalist visited The Falklands last year and was quite fair and professional in her coverage of the Falklanders views regards their sovereignty and other issues. On this visit she has interestingly interviews two Chileans living there to guage their opinion on the referendum and they are very supportive of it. Her other interviews have included one with Mike Summer, one of the Legislative Council members..
Argentina has made a huge mistake in not sending any representatives to try and persuade the islanders not to vote for staying a BOT, but considering their motives are colonial (seeking land regardless of the native population is a colonial act), and they realise they have nothing to offer the islanders that they do not have already; even they realise their claim based on distorted history is slipping away, along with the chances of making any money from the islands(that's even more stupid).
Mar 08th, 2013 - 05:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I see the poor old deadbeats are still whining about the internationally supervised and recognised referendum with the appropriate question.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chuckle chuckle.
A small selection of today's FI related news articles...
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'Falkland Islands referendum: Your views'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
'Barack Obama should watch this video on the Falklands before knifing Britain in the back (again)'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
“The allegations of militarization of the South Atlantic are a complete invention”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
'Interview with Nigel Haywood, Governor of the Falkland Islands.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
'Pérez Esquivel rejects Malvinas Referendum'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
'Falklanders hope referendum sends message'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
'Falklands residents expected to give resounding 'yes' to staying British'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21692560
@71:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0617 Squadron?
@79
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No, 2 Labradors.
SOS
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/falklands-rights-and-referendum-on-sovereignty-88584-html
@80:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Labs eh? Good natured dogs.
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0LOL there are places where you would have your face removed calling a dog Nigger JAJAJA
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0where the “visitors” are going to stay?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0in the old poor “malvina house”
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuujajaja
Kirchner,Timerman,Kohen Seriously besides my surname I am Argentine
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@86:
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A comedian eh? Well, I give up, I'm no match for that rapist wit. :(
@Think and Doveoverdover, is this new relationship sexual?? doggy style perhaps.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(91)
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What are the slashes for?
Amateur!
@Think, When you returning back to Argentina????
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@83 Dog duly petted.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@86
Mar 08th, 2013 - 07:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0THE FALKLANDERS have said anyone wishing accommodation they will gladly offer them a bed in their house, thats what you call being friendly ( the BRITISH WAY )
despite all the argie retoric,
Mar 08th, 2013 - 08:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0it is, and will remain british.
@golfcronie, Your right but 25% of Argentines living on $7 per day do not have the luxury of beds they still sleep on straw thats why THINK lives in Europe lifes far to good here for him to ever THINK of going back there.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 08:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Best of luck to the Islanders from the North East of England. Hopefully you will send a message all the way to BA that will be heard around the world.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 08:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Democracy will always win in the end.
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@78 - interesting to see the comments on the clarin links Steve. Quite a few of the usual rabid suspects denouncing clarin for being traitors, the journalists for being traitors etc, basically they are seeing overwhelming evidence of their government being monumentally crap, and its all the fault of a newspaper for reporting it. Not just the odd loon like we get on these pages, but whole contingents of ranters completely unable to face facts.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Observers hail from Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, the USA and New Zealand..... Penguin News says….
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So far we have, more or less, confirmed….:
From Canada…:
?????????????????????????????????????????????
From Mexico…:
?????????????????????????????????????????????
From Uruguay…:
Jose Carlos Cardoso and Jaime Trobo.
From Paraguay…:
?????????????????????????????????????????????
From Chile…:
?????????????????????????????????????????????
From the USA…:
Brad Smith and Juan Manuel Henao.
From New Zealand…:
?????????????????????????????????????????????
Good job Penguin News….
Just curious…....... Is that the Penguin News logo on those comfy looking fleece wests the Yanks are wearing?
Parasites bad mouthing the country they are suckling from.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Law of the jungle boys, - Abuse your host, and you will perish.
You know who you are.
@102 Stink and from rgenweener..................................no one why? To scared. Perhaps you could be a delegate from Northern Europe since you live there eh? No to scared!!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Best Wishes to the Falkland Iskanders from Vancouver Canada
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#86
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuujajaja
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUJAJAJA
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUJAJAJA
I hope this is clear enough for your peanut sized brain and intellect.
@102think/dame Dover
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ha ha , it's driving Think /DoD crazy - not knowing who they are or how to attack them. Also, that he has no way of influencing anything!!
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Best wishes to all Falklands Islanders....from Seattle, USA.
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentine Army training
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://p.twimg.com/AsUoY1KCEAA1fB4.jpg
TWIMC
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Secret observers to watch over a FCO public relations exercise......
Wonder if the results will be confidential too?
Brainwash anybody?
I say again stink why don't you volunteer, to comfy in europe eh your so two faced bless you, stink brainwashed anyone?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@108 harta;
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sort your english to morse translation out first.
Then re-send. Then tell me where you are, and I'll jump on a plane. Trust me, it will be so cool if we could meet.
Argentina dispatch: the troubled reign of Queen Cristina of Argentina
Mar 08th, 2013 - 09:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/9890078/Argentina-dispatch-the-troubled-reign-of-Queen-Cristina-of-Argentina.html
The end is in sight.
.
no retort stink from your european hideaway?....................no thought not, more faces than a rubik cube
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@111 Sr Think, talking of confidentiality, do you think they will be ready to release the detail of the Census and the Immigration Policy Review before the Assembly elections?
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0105 and 109
Mar 08th, 2013 - 10:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks very much boys. Catch you on Monday. I have a weekend of spontaneous grass roots activities to attend.
Internationally supervised and recognised.
(116) Mr. McDod
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You ask...:
“Do you think they will be ready to release the detail of the Census and the Immigration Policy Review before the Assembly elections?”
I say...:
1) If by “Detail of the Census” you mean small, uninportant details as “People's place of Birth or ”Nationality”,..... the answer is no.
2) The Immigration Policy Review is too important to be “rushed” through the system, so...... the answer is no.
117 Joe Bloggs
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah!!
Best wishes to all Falklands Islanders..... from Nottingham UK
To Think-me-not and the lame “La Compora” trolls.... Have a lovely referendum won't you? Sit back and spit your bile and empty threats through this web site and watch as the Falkland Islanders go from strength to strength.
Watch and learn boys!! This is called Democracy in action.....something that you in Argentina ( If you really are in Argentina ) can only dream of...............
@116 i'd like to THINK where you are on a census form in the UK, probably on the immigration watch list, or MI6's most likely traitor, being ex Royal Navy as you are..........NOT!!!!!
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Think, Why don'tr you tell us all why your family FLED Argentina and you now feel more secure in Northern Europe than going back to where you came from-ANSWER PLEASE
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@121 you won't get one mate he is a coward, talks the talks and then surrenders
Mar 08th, 2013 - 11:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0@120 Ah, AB Slater,
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Don't worry, Agent999 has me under surveillance as a threat to UK sovereignty. No wait, I'm the one that has no doubt about UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. He must be a double agent.
@125
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0No doubt aboutUK sovereignity, and a disdain for the islanders matched only by Think.
@125 My disdain is for hypocrisy and wholly thinkers.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0TWIMC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0I, (El Think, Chubut, Argentina) have no doubt about the Argentinean sovereignty over the Malvinas Isles and I certainly do not harbor any “Disdain” against the current British occupants…...
But their squatting an stealing in favor of Her Most Britannic Majesty certainly provokes my “disapproval”, “displeasure”, “disfavour” and “disinclination” …....
@128
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0And having disavowed disdain, out you come with your usual expression of it.
Careful, or the good Commander will be taking you to task for hypocrisy and wooly thinking.
Woolly thinking even....
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0@127 I take it you are not too fond of yourself and possibly think then?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Do you two ever wonder what life would be like if you'd had enough oxygen at birth?
Morons.
Signing yourself off as Morons is just a little harsh on yourself. Your spelling and grammar, if not your other rank level content, suggests it. Stick to Bombadier Spoon.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Doveoverdover
@132
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0You might like to look out for your noun-verb agreements yourself.
@133 Thanks for the advice. I was actually congratulating him on his spelling and grammar.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0Spelling and grammer is not a measurement of intelligence and therefore cannot make me a moron. Unlilke your posts.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting, that of Argentina's six neighbours, three of them are in a fourth observing a vote emphasising they don't want to be part of Argentina.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Even more interesting.... two of Think's posts have been removed. Seems the referendum is indeed rattling the cages. Chortle chortle.
136
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hey Anglotino!
For a referendum that will serve no purpose and be noticed or recognised by nobody, they sure are getting a little anxious about it.
How's your Saturday been?
@135 How true. You were harsh on yourself by signing off as Morons. You are obviously at the Bombadier level of expression and comprehension, which is well above Moron level. Go easy on yourself and don't make the same mistake again.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Doveoverdover.
138
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Was there once a time in your sad life when your situation made it acceptable to speak to people like that?
@139 Oh let me see.... Yes, there was that time when I was responsible for the basic training of potential officers and one or two of them lacked the personal confidence to see it through to selection. Coincidentally, it was when I was grieving for the loss of one of my parents. So, my life was sad and it was acceptable. But this is now and my life is happy so giving encouragement comes naturally.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But wait, you're not suggesting I was wrong to give encouragement? You're not suggesting that he was actually calling me a moron are you? Was there once a time in his sad life when his situation made it acceptable to speak to people like that do you think?
TWIMC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I would suggest all British Turnips in here to concentrate their limited mental resources on easy targets. (As deranged Argie poster Mr. Pirat Hunter or deranged Argie poster Ms. Sussie)
But, you better keep away from Scottish Mr. Doveoverdover....
It gives me Spanish Shame to see him broom the floor with you....
140/141
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why wouldn't you just remain logged in and write all of that on the one post? See you later. I'm off to do what you'll no doubt watch on TV sometime later. Get those lemons ready to suck.
Chuckle chuckle.
Oh, by the way, I promised a lovely young lady, being followed by a man with a camera and the funniest looking microphone cover I've ever seen, that I'd meet her in a while to let her have her way with me. Keep your scanners on boys and you might see me on TV later. She wants me to bring my beloved 110 with me also. Lucky the Disco isn't due to arrive until September; that would give the wrong signal.
In a real democracy all different opinions have a place. In the Fakllands there´s no minimal debate. No one defends the “no” choice. In such a small society where everyone knows everything about the other and where any disagreement is treason, that´s not surprising.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You say you`re not a colony. However, in M 10-11 British subjects will decide they want the UK to keep appointing their Governor, traditionaly a diplomat of the Foreign Office. The Governor has the power to introduce laws and take decisions even when contradicting the Legislative Assembly and the Excecutive Council. Both the Commander of the British Forces and the General Attorney appointed by London are members of the Legislative Assembly. The “Supreme Court” is made up by only one judge, that comes from London.
For the first time in history, the 2012 census does not tell how many people were born in the islands. Instead of enquiring about the nationality of the inhabitants, it asked them what nationality they were “identified” with. 59% said “Falkland Islander”. Many of these “Fakland Islanders” are British born, this includes many government officials. Half of the Legislative Assembly are British.
Anyone, despite of having British citizenship, cannot vote or be elected if he/she has delared to be loyal to a “foreign State”. The practice - non written law - prevent Argentines from acquiring residence permits or purchasing land or property on the islands. Argentine heirs were even forced to sell their inherited properties. For 17 years, Argentines were not allowed to visit the islands. Since the British occupation in 1833, the UK has controlled immigration, preventing Argentines from “threatening” the britishness of the population.
Democracy? Self-determination?
Bummers.
140/141
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why wouldn't you just remain logged in and write all of that on the one post? See you later. I'm off to do what you'll no doubt watch on TV sometime later. Get those lemons ready to suck.
Chuckle chuckle.
Oh, by the way, I promised a lovely young lady, being followed by a man with a camera and the funniest looking microphone cover I've ever seen, that I'd meet her in a while to let her have her way with me. Keep your scanners on boys and you might see me on TV later. She wants me to bring my beloved 110 with me also. Lucky the Disco isn't due to arrive until September; that would give the wrong signal.
The will of inhabitants does not always decide the future of the territory in wich they live. British propaganda states that what matters is the people and not the territories.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0After 1st WW, France did not recognize the will of inhabitants of Alsacia-Lorena.
The sweedih population in Aland islands expressed they wanted to be part of Sweden, but only gained autonomy under Finnish sovereignty.
The ICJ has decided in recent cases that certain territories were part of a State, although populated by people from another: 100.000 Nigerians, some with many generations in the Bakassi península, are under Cameroon´s sovereignty.
The ICJ decided the rights of these peoples should be respected by the sovereign States. Argentina has already moved into this direction when recognizing inslanders rights on its Consitution.
In Canada, the Supreme Court decided that the result of a referendum would not be enough for Quebec to be independent. Quebec would have to negotiate with other provinces and the Federal Government to decide with them wether indipendence is an option or not.
For the Scotish to decide on their independence, the UK requires the British Government consent. Unilateraly sessecion is not an option.
The UK is using a disortion of the principle of Self-determination to perpetuate its colonial posessions in the South Atlantic. This manouver wouldn´t have had a place last century. The UK is the colonial power that took longer to recognize the self-detemination principle as international law and only did it when most of its colonial posessions were already independent. Still, the UK kept violating it: Chagos Islands. Of course there was no referendum when retunging Hong Kong back to China.
There's been an outbreak of multiple postings this afternoon. I see even JB has succumbed. Fortunately, I have a grass roots event to go and watch. It's called the Six Nations. Bye.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0UKs refusal to negotiate sovereignty with Argentina is preventing the dispute from being peacefuly and permanently settled.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Referendum will not change the current situation. The UN will keep considering the islands a colonial case. It´s not up to the administring power to decide what´s the best way to put an end to the colonial situation or wether the territory should or not be under the UN list of Non-self governing territories.
The UN has organized and supervised referendums when it decided that was the best way to put an end to colonialism in certain cases, East Timor the most recent.
In the Falklands the UN will not organize, supervise or participate in any way in the referendum. The UK has not even tried to involve the UN in this because the UK knows it will fail in gaining support from the UN, as it has failed with Gibraltar. The UK could not even include a reference to self-determination in any of the multiple UN Resolutions regarding the Falklands Question. Why? Simply because the UN understands that the best way to put an end to the colonial situation in Malvinas is by solving the sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina, and not by letting inhabitants decide on the matter.
We are not disputing the Falklands sovereignty. That was decided in the UK's favour ages ago.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 04:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Islas Malicious
Mar 09th, 2013 - 04:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Too late, too late, for your specious arguments. You're just repeating the same old things that have been refuted previously many times before.
Three cheers for the Islanders, they are very happy with the way things are going - and they live there.
You do not live there, never have, and it has nothing to do with you.
As it should be.
www.telam.com.ar/201303/9829 or google
Mar 09th, 2013 - 05:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@150malen
Mar 09th, 2013 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Off topic
That link has nothing to do with the Referendum
Does anybody know if there will be Observers from the UK?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 06:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(152) GeoffWard2
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Juppppp...................
Some 2,600 civilian and 1,300 military.................
Perhaps it is Argie turnips who should be taking their own advice and get their facts right,
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For is it not true that most if not all their arguments against the Falklands actually applies to them selves,
Still
Only an argie turnip would not understand,
Munch kings.
.
@153
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Flashback 2nd April, 1982. 47 Royal Marines. 1200 Argentine Marines and soldiers and associated armoured vehicles.
Juppppppppp.
@155 - RC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And the Argentines only just suceeded. Imagine if we'd've had 1,200 Royal Marines on the Islands at the time?
But you have to remember that El Think ad his ilk were busy celebrating on the 2 April 1982. You know not supporting the Military Junta by supporting their illegal invasion of the Falkland Islands. Strange that, isn't it?
@153 - Think
1,200 military personnel keeping 73,100 regular military personnel and 31,240 paramilitary reserves at bay!
Wow so that means that one British serviceperson is the equivalent of 87 Argentine service personnel.
You're right the odds are far too much in Britain's favour. All that militarisation of a whole 1,200 people, making Argentina and her armed forces that laughing stock of the world.
He just needed a polite reminder why there are 1253 more service personel there today.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@157 - RC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Quite right, but it is also amusing to remind him that Argentina outnumbers the UK forces 87-1, and still they complain that the British are 'militarising' the South Atlantic.
Since the UK is pulling out of Germany, I think that 1 Bde should be diverted to the Falklands and rotate through every 3 years or so.
Imagine how the Argies would complain if instead of a 1000 troops, there were nearer 10,000 troops. :D
The absolute icing on the cake would be to give them the right to vote whilst posted there. Now that would go down well in BA.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@159 - RC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well the USA did that didn't they? With Hawaii. So it's not like the US could complain about the UK doing it. Argentina, however as we know, will complain no matter what happens.
But the truth is that we don't need to do it. The Falklanders know exactly what they want, and by God they are going to make sure the whole damned world hears them.
159 and 160
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good posts guys. We truly appreciate your support.
Off to bed now Joe, 22:38 local, good luck with the referendum tomorrow, not that you need it. Will monitor the news with interest. Pass the good wishes from all of us here, to one and all down there.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0162 RC
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good man. Many thanks mate. Will do.
Take care.
Hey Joe
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry I missed you last night. We're in the middle of a March heat wave, 10 consecutive days over 30C and last night at midnight it was still 29C. 4 million people starting to get sleep deprived.... and yet no riots-go figure.
The referendum has been making the news here sporadically. It really doesn't reflect well on Argentina. In giving context to the need for this referendum the words they use to describe Argentina are usually: bully, invasion, collapsing economy, out of control inflation. Argentina usually doesn't make it into our news but I'm pretty sure plenty more people know about her problems now.
I think I understand why CFK and the trolls are so against the referendum now.
And like you, I can see a distinct change in personality with our dual personality poster. So much so that I have had to have two posts removed. How? Well I just “concentrate [my] limited mental resources on easy targets” and voila “Comment removed by the editor.”
Also I live that some posters now have given up all pretext of using their own arguments and just copy and paste other people's words.
Anyway have an AWESOME weekend. I love the festive atmosphere that will prevail, so much better than having the army guard polling booth as happens in other countries.
Also I'm a little upset as Sussie on another thread let slip that there were going to be cupcakes. If only I'd known I would have applied to become an electoral observer. Alas I will have to jump in my car and drive 15 minutes in this stinking heat to get myself one now.
Good luck matey!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/as-their-parents-head-to-the-polls-the-youth-of-the-falkland-islands-are-more-content-than-ever-8527682.html
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A British academic named as an observer for the referendum ballot had his status revoked today after the Falklands authorities ruled he had infringed impartiality requirements.
Peter Willetts, a retired professor of politics from City University in London, addressed a public meeting in Stanley last night backing the right of islanders to self-determination but arguing the Falklands still faces having to change its political status to satisfy the United Nations.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/as-their-parents-head-to-the-polls-the-youth-of-the-falkland-islands-are-more-content-than-ever-8527682.html
Not part of the RIOM though. Must be the NO Campaign getting off to a late start.
@163,164, Joe and Anglo
Mar 10th, 2013 - 02:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good luck tomorrow!!
Just watching on BBC News, broadcast in Canada, quick blurb on Referendum, followed by piece on Argentine frustration, politicos, FI veteran, overweight old civilian woman having outline of Malvinas tattooed on her forearm (possibly a thigh).
Caught a glimpse of the Land-rover “YES” on the hill. Sure that I saw a particular 110 up there.
Election observers from Paraguay? Maybe they should concentrate on getting their own country out of dictatorship?!
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0@165 DoD
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0Great article. Electoral observers should indeed exhibit political neutrality.
But it was the figure of 7oo under-18s that caught my attention. That's a huge cohort of youth. I'd been lead to believe that its population was stagnating. But it is booming.
Anyway Perer Willettsshiukd have known better. His views weren't secret, he just had to keep them to himself during the period he was an observer.
The Argentine government had the opportunity to run a no campaign and they chose not to partake.
@167 BritKirch
It you think Paraguay is a dictatorship then don't look at what's happening in Venezuela.
@166 Troy
;) “possibly a thigh” bahahahahahaha. Cream of their society.
@167 fkBK
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Election observers from Paraguay? Maybe they should concentrate on getting their own country out of dictatorship?!”
Obviously they recognise what a dictatorship is, and are eager to prevent the Falklands from being taken over by one.
http://news.sky.com/story/1062616/falkland-islanders-to-vote-in-referendum
Mar 10th, 2013 - 07:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0Brad Smith, from the Referendum International Observation Mission. “Because the spotlight is here internationally, this is a issue that plays way beyond the islands. We have to make sure that even in these very remote places, everybody has an opportunity to vote.”
For the second time, publicly this time, Mr Smith has been identified not as an observer but as an adviser. It's just as well almost everyone now recognises that the Referendum is a publicity stunt and not a genuine act of political necessity to assist decision making. otherwise he would have to join Prof Willets in the sin bin.
I have a suggestion. A novice journalist on the Penguin News staff might do well for her international career if she investigated the chain of funding and relationships that have brought Mr Smith and his team to the Islands at this time. One hypothesis might be that US oil money was channeled into the International Republican Institute to pay ex-employees of the IRI to give legitimacy to the exercise when it was thought that it would be taken seriously. The involvement of the FCO in placing Euan Blair in Mr Smith's partner's office in Congress might also be tested when it was decided which NGO would covertly facilitate the ad hoc mission. It would all make for a better story than coverage of a per-scripted street party featuring a man in a silly suit.
@170 DoD
Mar 10th, 2013 - 08:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0Pathetic. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to distract here, aren't you?
Well the referendum is upon us. The international observers are in place to ensure fair play.
Keep crying my Argentine troll.
Argentina ever the loser, but it is all brought upon yourselves.
(170) Mr. McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 08:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0I would wish you would stop mentioning the Blair Dynasty....
It still pains men how easily that young lad could flabbergast everybody with his oratory, some forty years ago at Oxford...
I learn my lesson though.
Beware of smooth talking Englishmen ;-)
@171 Thanks.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0The budding Bob Woodward might also take a look at the sacking of the Minister who allowed this to happen. Whatever did happen to the Lib Dem Jeremy Browne's future ministerial prospects? And watch the career prospects of the present Governor, too, once he's replaced by the man from the FCO department who was equally responsible. Don't be confused by the PM and FS giving full support. That just hides their true feelings.
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0@175 Hence the international career. She would have to get those tattoos removed though.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Back at the conspiracy theory. Have a look at the CANADEM website. No mention of this RIOM but Steve has identified an article giving them the credit.
(175) Mr. McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0Two souls, one though.....;-)
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/03/10/argentine-lawmakers-to-call-special-session-to-reject-falklands-referendum#comment225676
@176 Two souls, two posters, one thought!
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0It looks like the trolls are fielding the A Team today ... or maybe its just because I disagree with their better-expressed points of view.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0(178) GeoffWard2
Mar 10th, 2013 - 10:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good morning Geoff, you ol' Baconian....
Early on a Sunday, huhhh?
How's Brazil treating you?
Another Observer crosses the boundary between observer and adviser.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Local island newspaper the Penguin News carried a front-page interview Friday with one international observer monitoring the vote, who said: “In the eyes of the United Nations, the principle of self-determination would be better considered if accompanied by a 'Free Association' to the UK rather than the status of 'British Overseas Territory'.”
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/10/c_132222919.htm
(180) Mr.McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As the turnips like to say...:
You are scraping the barrel now.
XINHUA! Who cares what some Chinks say....
Just an anecdote for you....:
It's official now that the Malvinas referendum voting cards had to be discarded some weeks ago because one of the friendly Yankee adservers (or was it an obsviser) pointed out that it wasn't very “smart” that they where serial numbered :-)))
Juppppp... SERIAL NUMBERED!
Can you vizualize it?
Ohhh... hello Commander dear.
Welcome to the Six Nations polling station.
Here you are....., a shiny new voting card for you.
Ohhhhh... how funny..............You got number 28-18.
@181 Sr Think,
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I might be guilty of double reporting since, not having read the Penguin News original, it was probably the Professor who was lured into the trap by our intrepid Cub reporter. By the way, I hope you are simply holding up a mirror to the islanders when you describe Chileans and Saints as Brownies.
I see from the Italy team that both Argentinians and Canadians would have a front row role in a Six Nations Referendum. As for scrapping serial numbering, all the selfserver has done is force them to fall back on DNA testing. Still, they can afford to pay for it from the oil industry provided Consolidated Fund now can't they?
(182) Mr. McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I can assure you that I'm simply holding that dark mirror.....
You just made me nervous, you Orwellian young man....:
1650 ballots x ~400£ DNA test cost = 660,000£
Peanuts for “Some People” to have a complete picture of the situation....
Quick Kelpers.... take your rubber gloves on!
Think #179
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good morning Think, well observed.
You find me in Turkish Cyprus today, sampling an early Spring. Next call should be from the Aegean, probably Rhodes (now there's a man who knew how to win countries for the monarch!).
(184) GeoffWard2
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Enjoy...(but take care about the novovirus)
If you get bored, you could always use some of your inductive reasoning and analyse some of Mr. McDod's above info.
Would like a second opinion from a true Englishman.
@183 They only need to test the NO votes so a bit of a saving there.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@184 Interesting that you should be visiting the internationally (UN) observed but unrecognised TRNC this weekend of all weekends.
... where the Turkish Commandos where sky blue berets because they so admire the UN berets.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And, Think, the noro is a cruise-ship problem. We don't do that ... but we do do casinos!
and where you can still see Argentinean aircraft in operational use (but someone else is paying to keep it in the air of course). You can also see British and Argentinean troops working together under the same operational commander.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(187) GeoffWard2
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Glad you don't...
Terrible things those big ships...
They always remind me of pig lorries..
Yes, my friend, but Ushuaia needs all the 'pig-lorries' it can get.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Might be impolitic to so describe them if you need their business.
(188) Mr. McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 05:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0UNFICYP is indeed one of the most successfull UN stories.
(If we forget Royal Green Animals like Allan Ford, Justin Fowler and Geoffrey Pernell)
(190) GeoffWard2
Yes, my friend, likevise, the UK needs all the 'business' it can get with LatinAmerica, Africa & Asia.
Might be impolitic to antagonize 2/3 of the world with an insignificant colonial issue as Malvinas if you need their business.
@191 I don't want to be scholastically nit-picky but the late lamented Green Jackets were not a part of the UN Force at the time of the unfortunate encounter with the Danish tour guide and her boyfriend. They were garrisoning British Sovereign territory; a dry run for the eventual status of MPA in an independent Falkland Islands perhaps? Let that be a warning to the ungrateful colonists.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 06:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0UNFICYP is nothing of the sort, it's a monitoring force manning cross boarder check points on the Green Line at Nicosia and a number of other places, along with the GNG and CYPOL. You stand there watching Turkish Cypriots watching you, that's it. There are no UN military aircraft, Argentine or otrherwise. It is a nice jolly, living in air conditioned hirings, extra UN pay. The only thing wrong with it is you can not wear your civies, it's Blue Berets and Brassards, uniform, 24/7, seven days a week. I should know, I served there.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 06:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@191 I should know, I was in PJHQ Ops at the time and I learned how to use the internet. That means I can check to see that things are still the same.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Lo! They are:
http://www.unficyp.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1368&tt=graphic&lang=l1
You on the other hand must have been either an Artillery or Armoured rate with a stiff neck that stopped you looking up anything. Or a writer, regulator or a pusser's mate. You certainly weren't near the HQ or you'd know better.
(193) reality check
Mar 10th, 2013 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Next time, remember to salute your superior officers.....
None of the above. 1979 five years after the invasion. Nice view of Fama G from Dekhalia, shame about all those fucked up hotels. How about the hundreds of cars and other property, left behind by the Turish Cypriots in the compounds at Epi. Only two hotels on the front at Limasol then. I prefered the the Churchill., nice pool. Give me old port Limasol or the mountain, any day over Nicosia, too humid for my liking. Nice people the Greek Cypriots, though some said the Turkish were just has nice, though I never met any socially. Most of the refugees then were worried about the fate of the missing, something they had in common with your Argentine friends, though not on the same scale. Maybe I looked that up to.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 06:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@195 and 196. Thank you for not pointing out that I directed my comment incorrectly.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 07:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@196 The Danish Tour Guide was done to death near Napa in the mid nineties. Things had moved on.
Think
Mar 10th, 2013 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0here's a nice Cypriot salute for you. Gatsi Bannon! not sure of the spelling, you'll have trouble looking it up. Find a friendly Greek, but be careful how you ask him or her for a translation. Yassoo!!!!!!
#196
Mar 10th, 2013 - 07:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Had a pointy rifle stuck up my nostril on the Green Line in Nicosia/Lefkosa in '89 .. found it much less tense in 2013.
But the Gazimagusa/Famagusta ghost town is still decaying, collapsing and over-vegetating, with Keep Out signs at every 20 paces and No Photography signs to make sure it remains a hidden ghost. Of course I have some great pics.
A generation on people on both sides are reserved, polite and friendly; even those we met who had been displaced either north to south or south to north were friendlily phlegmatic and resigned to their relocated life.
EU Development funds have given the North a building boost. This was a surprise ... my years in Brasil meant that this Development funding injection to this offshoot of Turkey was totally unexpected.
Never met any Turkish Cypriots in 79, but was invited into many Greek refugees homes. They had simply occupied the abandonned homes of the Turks that fled north, the Turks no doubt did the same to their homes. What always struck me was the poor quality of the Turkish neighbourhoods and houses, compared to the Greek. The Greeks would tell us about the their land they left behind, get very sad show us the photographs they had. Nice people, do anything for you and absolutely loved their kids!
Mar 10th, 2013 - 07:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My favourite place was the port at Pathos, no hotels or villas there then, probably would not recognise the place now. Used to sit in a bar at the port, drinking ice cold Charlie feeding the salted nuts to the pelicans. Nice memories.
@195 This is what it's like every Sunday evening in the Dover Legion.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Referendum is being monitored by both BBC TV and CNN available in Canada.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 08:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Summation:
“Falkland Islanders vote to remain British and to keep their Self Determination”
A reporter standing in front of Casa Rosada, “In Bs As, very little is seen or heard in the media, but people can be heard talking about it. The Argentine government has declared the vote illegal”
That's about it, but lots of video of happy islanders voting.
(201) Mr McDod
Mar 10th, 2013 - 08:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oops!.... You did it again....
I need some apple pie ;-)
#200
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I remember talking to an old Turkish Cypriot in Bellapaise, in 1998.
He identified himself as a Cypriot -not a Turkish Cypriot - and wished that”the bloody Turks from Anatolia would go back to Turkey and leave them in peace. This was not the reply I expected.
In a meze restaurant in Paphos, there was a school reunion taking place of the class of 1959. It dawned on me that they had probably been EOKA members and for the good fortune of me missing the National Service call-up by 6 months, I could have been chasing them around the Troodos mountains as some of my older schoolmates had been !
Happily, they all came back, never having fired a shot in anger.
If you guys ever go back for a holiday, take a trip to Platras ,a village a couple of miles short of the summit of Olympus, nice and cool in the Summer, lovely restuarants. Well there was 34 years ago.
Mar 10th, 2013 - 10:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina is now facing another crises as the world begins to see the live broadcasts coming out of the Islands today. Several of their neighbors are on the Islands and loving every minute. Boy it sure is going to be worth following Argentina's situation after the actual results are in. Already getting some frustrated Argies comments on Facebook which is great because the face book world is a much bigger place than Mercopress and they are being laughed at by a larger audience. Really love that.
Mar 11th, 2013 - 12:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0206
Mar 11th, 2013 - 03:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0“This meaningless Falklands referendum will resolve nothing”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/09/meaningless-falklands-referendum-uk-sovereignty
One has to assume that Mr. Norton is a Malvinista.
Mar 11th, 2013 - 06:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0@208 If he is or he isn't any article that begins:
Mar 11th, 2013 - 07:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Falkland Islanders are voting on remaining part of the UK”
is probably written by somebody with a less than full grasp of the situation.
207 Marcos Alejandro
Mar 11th, 2013 - 08:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0(#)“This meaningless Falklands referendum will resolve nothing”
That what you would hope but the reality is that it is going to change the opinion of the wider world and will begin to see the like minded people within Argentina start to rise up and support us openly. What is happening on the Islands is not a game but a very serious move to tell the whole world how we feel . Falkland Islanders are fed up with lies coming out of Argentina like we don't exist. The strange thing is though seeing Argentines replying to Falkland Islanders comments which proves that we do exist or otherwise you are talking to your own imagination.
Troy #202
Mar 11th, 2013 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I wouldn't trust the BBC (Establishmant Left) or the Guardian (Loony Left) to 'observe' the Falkland Islands' Referendum as far as I could throw their CEs!
Surely there is an *official* UK Observer team accompanying those of the seven other countries.
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 12th, 2013 - 06:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0The results of the Falkland Islands referendum were as follows
Mar 12th, 2013 - 09:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0The number of ballot papers issued was 1,522
The number of votes cast at the referendum was 1,518
The total number of rejected ballot papers was 1
The total number of votes validly cast at the referendum was 1,517
The percentage of turnout at the referendum was 92%
The number of “Yes” votes cast was 1,513 (99.8%)
The number of “No” votes cast was 3 (0.2%)
1 vote was unaccounted for
We Isanders have told the world and particularily Argentina how we feel. It is not a question of implanted people or stolen territory but the rights of a people to desire their right and the Falkland people desire to remain as a Territory of Great Britain period.
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