MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands’ referendum: the view from the Islands, “as many as 98% of voters will say Yes”
“We hope, by voting overwhelmingly in favour of remaining British, the rest of the world will understand and support our right to self-determination”. The message is clear in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, in all of Argentina that is calling for sovereignty negotiations with the United Kingdom. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules“as many as 98% of voters will say Yes”
Mar 09th, 2013 - 05:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0It reminds me about this dictator referendum:
“Iraqi officials say President Saddam Hussein has won 100% backing in a referendum on whether he should rule for another seven years”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2331951.stm
There were no independent observers there, Marco.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0In fact, Ba'athist adulation of their 'glorious leader' had a lot in common with Peronism, including inspiration from European fascism as a model.
@1
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Since the question is basically “do you want to live free and prosper or do you want to be robbed and ethnically cleansed” you shouldn't be surprised that apart from the odd Quisling, fool and voting error people will prefer freedom and prosperity.
Does that quote come from a Yahoo site, or did John say Yahoo! at the end there?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Woo-Hoo! (in the voice of Homer Simpson)
@3
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0That is not 'basically' what the question is, read it again. Without spin.
@3
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0Put rarher well. Thank you.
@5
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sure it is. The alternatives to status quo is joining Argentina or independence - followed by an Argentine invasion 24h after the last British troops pull out.
@7
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0There are more possabilities than just those two: the Falklands could become a protectorate of Britain, pretty much the same as a BOT except that we have a seat on the UN, we could be in close association with Britain like the cook Islands are with New Zealand, we could be independant and have a defence treaty with Britain. Although I can't see how it could work I've heard it suggested that we could be incorporated into the UK, maybe as another country in the union or even as an island county like the Isle of Wight.
To answer 'no' to the question does not equate to one scenario but to any possability other than remaining a BOT.
'yes' is IMO the sensible and right choice for us but that's not to say that 'no' is inherently a bad choice.
By the way! This guy was born in England ............... and believed with the right to speak, the okupa.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Those Argies gonna fry!
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@8 At the risk of causing you to become a target for unpleasantness, can I congratulate you for your balanced post.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@8
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0When someone claims that a 98% Yes vote is somehow similar to the Saddam elections (as in the original post I responded to) then you have left sensibility far behind.
@12 Sense not sensibility.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@13 - I stand in orthopedic shoes...
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As for the FI adjusting their relationship with the UK, that is clearly not what this election is about. If it had been then there would have been an alternative to continued status que. This referendum is only about giving Argentina the finger and throw gravel in BA's propaganda campaign. Even feeble minded celebrities will find it hard to argue against the will of the FI people.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mar 09th, 2013 - 12:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He is a gurú, he already knows the results, the percents. How can he??
@1 Slight difference. Hussein sent his bully boys to ensure that everybody voted the “right” way. But, by all means, let's question every vote where “someone” gets an overwhelming majority. For example, in October 2011, CFK received 54.11% of the vote. However, only 78.89% of the electorate voted. That means that 21.11% definitely didn't vote for her. 0.11% of the votes were challenged. 0.92% of the votes were null. And 3.03% of the votes were blank. That means that 25.17% reckoned she wasn't even worth going to the trouble of voting for or against. Does that put her “victory” in doubt? And where was La Campora at the time? Well, where were you?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@9 You're quick, aren't you? Right there in the article it says “John Fowler, a former school superintendent from York who settled in the Falklands in 1971” How brilliant of you to have noticed that. That's 42 years. He was there for your little invasion. Didn't frighten him away, did it? All on its own, that gives him massive credibility. Vastly more than you have. Jealous?
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 - 01:37 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.
adivina adivinador......the results will be: 90 to 99 % YES
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and about 10 persons, malevolants and presumibly drunk, that will vote NO.
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 - 02:20 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.
I-M
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Your pathetic whining is amusing, particularly that the “No” choice is undefended. Perhaps because in this context it is indefensible except to pro-Argie neo-colonialists - which are in short supply on the Falklands since the surrender in 82.
UKs refusal to negotiate sovereignty with Argentina is preventing the dispute from being peacefuly and permanently settled.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:40 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.
@19
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why not just point to the blog you stole your text from
http://paulburgin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/keeping-falklands-british.html
@21 - Your pain is amusing.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 02:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What is the point of negotiating when one side have already determined the outcome?
@CJvR Exactly but only being Argentine would you believe that any governmant would go into negociations when the other side already as a pre determined outcome, HUH
Mar 09th, 2013 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@21 What sovereignty dispute ?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 03:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There isn't one any more.
It's over, finished, bad luck.
If Argentina, as it claims, wants to “regain” the islands peacefully then they need to display more maturity in foreign and domestic and economic affairs - all of which are a disgrace by and standards of decency. Just one small example - their unbridled support of Hugo Chavez dictatorial methods. And then there's the internal conditions of Argentina itself - out of control street crime, unkempt streets and a landscape littered with half-finished buildings, rusting lumps of old equipment lying around, broken pavements, piles of garbage, poorly-maintained parks and public spaces and monuments, corrupt and brutal police, endless roadblocks and police checks like a typical 3rd world dictatorship, stifling inefficient bureaucracy, strikes, demonstrations, graffiti everywhere .
Mar 09th, 2013 - 04:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just one minor example - in the untidy provincial capital where I am unfortunately staying now, a few months ago they re-surfaced (very poorly I might say) all the major intersections but they have completely “forgotten” to repaint the zebra crossings. Having said that, they barely existed before (just one stripe on each side of the road and the rest rubbed out by years of traffic) and which arrogant and disrespectful of pedestrians Argie drivers never took any notice of them anyway, so I guess they considered it a waste of white paint.
All you Argies, and their fellow travellers here, know exactly what I am talking about, don't you? So what I am saying is this - what on earth have you got to offer the Falkland Islanders except your shockingly poor-quality Argentine-made goods? (that nobody would buy if the import duties were not so outrageously high). If you want the islands “back” then you need to show that you deserve them first. Only lunatics and morons would choose to live under Argentine occupation..!!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/halsinger/2013/03/07/argentina-has-the-power-to-avoid-catastrophe/
@17
Mar 09th, 2013 - 04:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Read post eight you moron.
#1
Mar 09th, 2013 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, by comparison with Iraq, pro YES voters will be demanding to see all ballot papers at the point of a gun. If the voter votes no, then they will be removed from the scene and executed with all their family. I presume that this is similar to Argentine democracy.
#9
By your logic, no one who immigrated into Argentina after 1971 has any right to speak or vote on Argentinean affairs. Correct ?
What on earth can Argentina offer the FALKLANDERS? I have yet to hear any useful comments. Come on trolls tell us.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 06:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Corned beef?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 06:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Seriously though, I thought they were famous for corned beef.
I'm quite partial to a bit 'o corned beef hash....
@30
Mar 09th, 2013 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How do you know it is made with beef? Or at the very least beef with additives ( drugs )
@17 Trolling.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@19 More trolling.
@21 More trolling.
Boy the argie turnips are out in force it must be the norovirus.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Still
98%
That’s two left,
And still there is nothing Argentina can do,
Unless you are pessimistic,
Perhaps CFK will unleash this secret weapon she has under her skin
Just waiting for Sunday.
.
Last chance trolls, what is Arg offering the Falklands, make your pitch Think DOD, Marcos thingy, mal de mere, Toby nostril and all the rest of you sad gits who have deserted your homeland. Show us what you got?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Villas
Corruption
Lies
Crime
Financial collapse
What?
@34
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What's yhe betting we do not get a reply to the following question.
What is Argentina offering the FALKLANDERS?
See@31 ,@34
What NO ANSWERS?
thats because they have no honest answer,
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@35 You know the answer. Poverty, corruption, criminality, depravity, larceny, mendacity, stupidity, government-induced mental incompetence, deep ass-licking, xenophobia.
Mar 09th, 2013 - 08:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Let's have a vote. Who thinks the sub-animal occupants of argieland should be eliminated? Permanently!
@37
Mar 09th, 2013 - 09:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A tad harsh I think. Better they get rid of their government, generally speaking the majority of Argies couldn't care less about the FALKLANDS. Unforetunately there is not a credible opposition.
@8 Westisbest
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The simply answer to that is that the UK doesn't offer BOTs anything other than being a BOT or being a (part of another) sovereign indepndent state.
The choice is quite stark and simple really.
The Falklands will reaffirm their BOT status tomorrow. Should they wish to change this then they can always vote for independent or union with Argentina.
@38 its seems 25% of RGs consider the Falklands to be the most important issue facing their country http://news.sky.com/story/1062349/falklands-sky-poll-reveals-nations-divided
Mar 09th, 2013 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I note they say 'international' in the poll but obviously the items polled ( the economy, crime) are as much domestic as international.
So what does this say about 25% of argentines?
@ 29 golfcronie
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“What on earth can Argentina offer the FALKLANDERS?”
A complete waste of time to ask that kind of questions.
The Malvineros never answer questions, the answer of which contradicts their unfounded claims.
Gibraltarians have also voted 98% to remain British rather than join Spain, an incomparably nicer and much better-ruled country than Argentina. And most Gibraltarians are native Spanish-speakers. What does that tell you Argies?
Mar 09th, 2013 - 11:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Typical BBC,
Mar 10th, 2013 - 01:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Basterd Basterd crap
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Insulting [yes]
They have just been on,
They spoke to 2 islanders,
Who stated they wished to remain British, and asking the Argies to leave them alone,
/////////////////////
Then they amazingly interview an argie in a tattoo shop having the Malvinas on her arm,
She tells how they are Argentinas, she’s been their generations,
Then they talk to an argie soldier, he says they are argentine, they went to fight for the Malvinas,
Telling us of generations wanting them back,
Then they talk to an argentine government official, he tells us more crap about their rights, blab la bla,
……………………………
Sounds pretty much like BBC bias to CFK and against us, if you ask me.
.
@39
Mar 10th, 2013 - 02:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0”The simply answer to that is that the UK doesn't offer BOTs anything other than being a BOT or being a (part of another) sovereign indepndent state.”
Well you learn something every day, could you post a source that confirms that (coff)fact(coff) please teach?
Lets see if some sound argument can raise the right side in this referendum above 2%! http://socialistunity.com/falkland-islanders-should-vote-no-in-referendum-on-british-sovreignty/
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0@44 Westisbest
Mar 10th, 2013 - 04:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Putting aside your facetiousness, I can indeed provide you with a source. No coughing (coff?) needed.
How does the honourable Emma Edwards sounds? Former member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly? How about her address to the UN? Sound good so far?
How about an official UN document including all of the above?
http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/pdf/crp_2010_15_falkland.pdf
Glad I could help.
@46
Mar 10th, 2013 - 10:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0Looks like three options there Anglo, and that's even as defined in the simplistic kiddyspeak that UN committees are inclined to use.
You were saying?
#45
Mar 10th, 2013 - 12:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Who reads this Marxist drivel ?-Oh BK.
I note your post is made at 00:12 B.A. time.
@ 43 Briton....
Mar 10th, 2013 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I saw the same biased report. They interviewed 2 Argentines employed by the govt - one a museum curator the other a politician - how absurdly pointless, its obvious whose side they are one - their high-profile jobs depend on parroting the Argie govt propaganda. However they did interview one young (and obviously more intelligent) Argentine who held the reasonable viewpoint that Argentina needed to improve its own act first so as to have something positive to offer the islanders. I somehow don't think he works for the govt - or if he did, he doesn't have a job anymore..!
@ 46 Anglotino
Mar 10th, 2013 - 09:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What is your point?
Clearly stated in the C-24 principles:
”Principles which should guide member in determinating whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter.
Principle VI
A Non-Self-Governing Territory can be said to have reached a full measure of self-government by:
(a) Emergence as a sovereign independent State;
(b) Free association with an independent State; or
(c) Integration with an independent State.
Principle VII
(a) Free association should be the result of a free and voluntary choice by the peoples of the territory concerned expressed through informed and democratic processes. It should be one which respects the individuality and the cultural characteristics of the territory and its peoples, and retains for the peoples of the territory which is associated with an independent State the freedom to modify the status of that territory through the expression of their will by democratic means and through constitutional processes.“
[e.g. a BOT]
”Principle VIII
(c) Integration with an independent State should be on the basis of complete equality between the peoples of the erstwhile Non-Self-Governing Territory and those of the independent country with which it is integrated. The peoples of both territories should have equal status and rights of citizenship and equal guarantees of fundamenental rights and freedoms without any distinction or discrimination; both should have equal rights and opportunities for representation and effective participation at all levels in the executive, legislative and judicial organs of government.”
10 ☭ Dmitri ☭
Mar 10th, 2013 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0fucking communist, and Fuck you
@51 - Jose
Mar 11th, 2013 - 05:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But the Russians back Argentina 100%, your beloved leader said so...Oh wait, that's right, your beloved leader is a fecking liar.
It's very amusing that you feel so threatened that you have to resort to name calling....Oh wait, that's your usual modus operandi, isn't it?
49 ernest shackleton
Mar 11th, 2013 - 08:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0thanks for that,
even today the BBC seems to give more time to Argentinas side, than the islanders,
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