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Falklands celebrates International Day of Democracy

Friday, September 16th 2016 - 08:31 UTC
Full article 24 comments

Falkland Islands MLA Michael Poole on behalf of the Legislative Assembly said the following on International Day of Democracy: Read full article

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  • Liberato

    Wow, how generouse!!!!. A colonial regime celebrating the international day of democracy!!!.

    Sep 16th, 2016 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Papamoa

    @1 At last you get it!!! True Democracy!!

    Sep 16th, 2016 - 07:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    A colonial regime
    I did not know Argentina was a colony ,
    read up,,read up.

    Sep 16th, 2016 - 07:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    A self governing UKOT...?
    I could understand perhaps, a self governing BOT, meaning they are British...but a UKOT...
    The phrase implies UK ownership...and it's a quote from the guy...

    Sep 16th, 2016 - 10:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • downunder

    1# Liberace
    A healthy democracy in the Falklands gets right up your nose, doesn’t it?

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 08:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #5: there is no democracy in the islands. As far as i remember they are a NSGT. A territory under a colonia regime.

    http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgovterritories.shtml

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 01:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @6 Liberato

    Firstly, being Argentine you don't know the meaning of true democracy.

    Secondly, yes the Falkland Islands ARE a NSGT. And yes the DO have democracy.

    Hence why they told YOU to foxtrot oscar in 2013 by an over-whelming majority of 98%.

    That's true democracy, and true self determination.

    Just because you refuse to live in the REAL world doesn't make it any less so.

    Tell you what Liberato. Why doesn't Argentina take its 'sovereignty case' to the ONLY body in the ENTIRE world that could ORDER a change of sovereignty? The International Courts of Justice.

    If your 'claim' is so 'true' and 'solid' surely they'd rule on your side?

    Of course you'd have to try to explain why a FAILED illegal MILITARY penal colony gives Argentina title to the islands (especially since the country of Argentina didn't exist at the time) rather than to the civilian colonists (who were there before the military arrived) and whose descendants still live on the Islands today.

    Then you'd have to convince the ICJ that the right to self determination doesn't apply to the Falkland Islanders, which would be difficult considering numerous UNGA resolutions AND the UN Charter all state that they do.

    Ah, now I see why you won't go to the ICJ, because you haven't got a snowflakes chance in hell.

    Just like you have a snowflakes chance in hell of actually persuading the British to just abandon the Falklanders.

    Well we didn't abandon them in 1982 and we will never abandon them in the future.

    Your best chance would've been the EU, but since we've told them where they can stick their undemocratic union, you chance of gaining sovereignty over the Islands in NONE at all EVER.

    Now wonder you come on here spouting your nonsense sentences, your bile and your obvious hopeless desperation.

    The Falkland Islands: British since 1690. Will still be British when Argentina disappears up its own backside and ceases to exist.

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 03:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #7: Do you know the meaning of Non Self-Governing Territory? . Do you know what is a colony?. Well im not going to argue with you like if you were a child, but in a few words it means quite the contrary to a democratic system.
    And the real world is not whatever that fat old queen owner of your life says but what the United Nation says.

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 05:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    And the real world is not whatever that fat old queen owner of your life says but what the United Nation says
    /////////
    Actually its what the people say in a democracy,
    it matters not what you call the islanders,
    for they have the freedom to choose, and freely choose they did, and they freely chose to remain British,

    Argentina on the other hand, refuses point blank to accept this, refuses to acknowledge even, that they exist,

    What you call freedom and what we call freedom are entirely two different things.

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 07:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @8 Liberato

    Do you understand the meaning of democracy?

    “a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.”

    Well the Falkland Islanders elect their representatives, have their own government, their own laws, their own currency. In fact they ARE self governing in EVERYTHING except foreign policy and defence, and even in those areas they are not considered self governing, the British government consults with the Falkland Islands Government.

    The ONLY reason the Falkland Islands haven't been removed from the decolonisation list is because the C24 is full of corrupt, 3rd world, human rights abusers, who haven't decolonised any territory in over 50 years.

    Because lets face it if they truly wanted to 'decolonise' these territories all they'd have to do is hold a referendum allowing the people of the territories to express their self determination.

    And once that was done all the NGST's could be removed from the list and the C24 would be disbanded. Of course if they did that it would be the end of the gravy train for most of these countries.

    So, in spite of everything you say, the Falklands have a democratically elected government, have already held a referendum where 98% of the population voted to remain a British Overseas Territory, and they are still British.

    They were British in 1690, 1745, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1833, 1843, 1850 (when Argentina came into existence), 1900, 1945, 1966, 1982, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2013, and are still British in 2016.

    All Argentina ever had was an illegal occupation of about 12 weeks in 1982.

    Try taking that to the ICJ and watch them laugh you out of court.

    Sep 17th, 2016 - 10:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #9: quote: “Actually its what the people say in a democracy”

    Well, The representatives of a people can be wrong. The whole United Kingdom can claim sovereignty over the antartic, can claim that Malvinas is a democracy, a self determined people, and self government or claim the moon if you like. But in the real world, as much as they are convinced of being the owner of the world, for the rest of us they are not.
    It is the british who claims that the islands are self governed and self determined and that there is a people that choosen to be british. For the UNGA and the UNDC, they are still a colony, a NSGT.

    And you are definitelly wrong. Argentina do not refuses to acknowledge that they exist. We recognize there are british citizens living there. What we argentines and the UN do not acknowledge is a People different to those living in the UK.

    #10: quote: “Well the Falkland Islanders elect their representatives, have their own government, their own laws, their own currency.....”
    That is what you and Britain says, but reality goes beyond Britain's pretensions.

    The c24 AND the General Assembly consider the islands a colony. Nowadays there is not UNGA resolutions regarding Malvinas becouse Argentina and the UK decided to try a sovereignty umbrella formula. But the topic of Malvinas situation is back on the GA agenda.

    There are many forms of colonialism. One form of colonialism is when exist a people subjugated by a colonial power, In that case, yes the c24 could easilly support a referendum in the territory alowing the government of that territory to gain freedom. That is not the case for Malvinas.

    quote2: “They were British in 1690, 1745, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1833, 1843, 1850”
    What makes you think that?.
    The UK refuse to accept jurisdiction of the ICJ and also refuse to dialogue with Argentina, which avoid taking any kind of arrangement.

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 12:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • downunder

    6#Liberace
    Clearly you don’t get the concept of a proper democracy. This can be because either:
    1. You don’t get it – perhaps understandable given you Argentine experience with democracy. It cannot be declared like martial law or imposed from above. It belongs to the people; or

    2. You are just wilfully stupid.

    Either way it is fruitless arguing with someone who is starting from a wrong premise and arguing with malevolent intent.

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 01:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #12: The concept of democracy is quite clear to me. The problem that you have is that you consider that Malvinas have democracy and the rest of the world consider them to be a colony. Different way of looking at it. You see it one way and the rest of the world see it the other way.

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 01:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #11
    Where do you get the idea that Britain is claiming the Antarctic continent ?
    According to Nostrils and your governor of the extreme south province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands it belongs to Argentina.
    For no other reason except colonial expansion..

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 09:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @13 Liberato

    There you are with your sweeping statements of the 'rest of the world'.

    You do realise that you can be NSGT and be a democracy too, don't you?

    As for your assertions that the Falkland Islanders aren't a 'people', the only country saying that is Argentina. The UN says that they are a 'people' and that they have the right to self determination. Just because Argentina refuses to accept reality doesn't make it any less true.

    You should actually try reading some of those UNGA resolutions that your government constantly spouts as supporting Argentina's colonial aspirations. If you did you'd realise that not only do they say that the Falklanders are people, they also say that they have the right to self determination. So does the UN Charter which Argentina promised to uphold.

    But then when has Argentina actually upheld any treaties or agreements? Never.

    Please explain to me, though, Liberato, how Argentina can possibly hold sovereignty over the Falkland Islands when the people who live on their today are direct descendants from the original colonists (the ones your country erroneously said the British had evicted), and the fact that they've been their longer than Argentina has been a country?

    Well you can't, which is why Argentina lies, and lies and lies.

    No matter how much you yell at the British 'Imperialism' and 'colonialism', it is Argentina that wants to do this. Which is why you claim the Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the WHOLE of Antarctica as Argentine territory, when you have never had any rights to any of them. Some other country always beat you to them.

    And should the Antarctic treaty ever expire then the country that holds the territory closest to the Antarctic would have the real advantage should the territory be exploited for natural resources. Which is the real reason Argentina wants them.

    However, the UK got there 1st and Argentina can go and cry like the impotent country it is, like usual.

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 09:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Sometime one cannot make people understand thing,
    in this case, when they refuse to understand, one must just leave it alone until he wakes up.

    Sep 18th, 2016 - 07:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #14: Britain do claims part of the Antartic.
    #15: quote: “You do realise that you can be NSGT and be a democracy too, don't you?”
    You do realise that you claim Malvina's inhabitants are self governed by democratic means and for the UN the islands are administered by the UK, dont you?.

    http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/pdf/falkland_islands.pdf
    quote:”The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the
    administering Power of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).“

    http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/pdf/falkland_islands.pdf
    quote: ”The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) is a Non-Self-Governing Territory
    administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland“

    The UN have never said that Malvinas have the right to self determination. They have said that the way to put an end the special and particular colonial situation was through sovereignty negotiations between Argentina and the UK.

    You are wrong. Name one resolution of the UNGA regarding Malvinas that says they have the right to self determination. There are many many resolutions regarding Malvinas in the GA, i just ask you one.

    quote: ”they've been their longer than Argentina has been a country?“.
    really? name them.

    #16: After all the stupid things you guys says, i really hope that you underestand that it is not me who have to ”underestand“ thing. In any case try to make ”underestand” the United Nations that those 10 territories under british colonialism are not such thing and that the Decolonization Committe are a committe paid by Argentina to be against the UK in those ten cases of colonialism in this 21 century. Good luck with that.

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 12:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Kanye

    Mr Lib

    - The Falklands can simply declare themselves Independent.
    No problem with the U.K.
    And there's f-all that Argentina can do about it.

    -giving sovereignty over the Falklands to Argentina would only mean Argentina will either have them as a colony or part TDF and they will cease to exist as a self-governing body.

    - the UN Charter states they are entitled to Self Determination - no UN resolution is necessary, as that applies to all peoples.

    - the UN is certainly not handing the Falklands to Argentina

    -

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 02:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    #18: quote: “ The Falklands can simply declare themselves Independent.”
    Yeah, and who would recognize that independence since there is not even a recognition of a british de iure government there in the first place?. The USA?.

    Is hong Kong currently a colony of China?. Is Malvinas a self-governing body?.

    The UN charter states that all peoples have the right to self determination. If a nation invade the antartic with its own citizens. Are they entitled to self determination in the antartic? are they a new people?.

    The UN is certainly not recognising a new people in Malvinas.

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 02:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @19 Liberato

    Oh the old 'Hong Kong' crap argument that you always try to resuscitate. How pathetic.

    Yawn, yawn, yawn.

    Your desperation is so obvious now that its pathetic.

    The Falkland Islands will remain either a BOT or become independent. They never voluntarily agree to be a part of Argentina, and never will given Argentina's imperialist colonial attitude towards the people who live there.

    As for the Antarctic. No if people invade the Antarctic they would be in breach of the Antarctic treaty, and the other countries with a valid interest would just turn up and evict the 'squatters'.

    Your problem (and Argentina's too), is that you want to apply 19th century law to today and 21st C law to the 19th century.

    By this I mean that you want to use the right of conquest...that being any territory is yours if you can hold onto it. This is how the 'New World' came about. Europeans invaded land that the Native Amerindians couldn't defend. Then those colonists declared independence from their respective mother countries and continued to expand their territories through conquest.

    In 1832, the United Provinces of the River Plate sent military personnel to the Falkland Islands to do just that. However, those troops had been on the islands for approx 8 weeks before they were removed by the British. See, territory was only yours IF you could DEFEND it.

    However, when the UN was founded after WW2, this strange thing called 'International Law' was written and numerous countries (including Argentina) agreed to abide by it.

    In that new law it allowed for the principle of self determination...but it CAN NOT be applied RETROSPECTIVELY.

    So in 1982 when Argentina tried the 19th C route of conquest the UNSC issued a resolution AGAINST Argentina for breaching international law.

    Using that very same law the UK legally removed Argentina from the Falklands.

    So if you want to apply 21 C law then you have to hand Argentina back to the natives, whom I'm sure want you gone.

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 06:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Kanye

    Mr. Lib.

    Now, don't get angry, but you just don't seem capable of objective thinking.

    Tell us in what way HK remotely resembles the Falklands ?

    The FI were unoccupied, then settled by people, and shortly aft became continuously and consistently administered by the British, long before there was a UN and even before an Argentina.

    Argentina never owned them, nor did anybody recognise Argentina owning them.

    The modern day Falkland Islanders seem to like the model they have for self-governing their economic and social affairs, with some British muscle to keep away the riff-raff.

    If you don't like it, too bad. It doesnt matter what judgements a jealous have-not on the sidelines thinks.

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 07:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Liberato
    The main trouble with you and the like is how hypocritical you lot are,

    if the Falkland islanders voted to be Argentinian, Argentina would happily accept it, would it not,
    if the Gibraltarians all voted to be Spanish, they, like you would accept it, not only that, both countries would be screaming at the top of your voices to Defend their right to be argentine or Spanish,
    Is this not so
    , tell me im wrong......????????????????????????????????????????

    They freely voted to remain British, so that's the end of this story is it not,
    now prove me wrong Again,????

    Next.

    Sep 19th, 2016 - 07:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MagnusMaster

    @20 ”
    Your problem (and Argentina's too), is that you want to apply 19th century law to today and 21st C law to the 19th century.


    No, our problem is that today we are inferior to Brits, and you want us to bend over and accept we will always be inferior subhuman instead of resisting you, getting back Malvinas and Gibraltar, and prove that we are just as human as you are. You Brits always cry about Argentine imperialism, and human rights, and international law, but what is behind all of that is your belief that not only you are superior to Latinos in every way, but because you are morally superior, it is right for you to be superior humans and for Latinos to be inferior subhumans.
    Well, we will NEVER bend over to people like you.

    Sep 22nd, 2016 - 11:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Kanye

    23

    Mister 'Master,

    “our problem is that today we are inferior to Brits”

    If you insist, and you do.

    Sep 23rd, 2016 - 02:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    MagnusMaster
    , our problem is that today we are inferior to Brits,
    [ you said it, why put your own people down ]

    we will always be inferior subhuman instead of resisting you

    [ again, why do you argies brainwashed insist on putting yourselves down, and blame the British, ]

    , getting back Malvinas and Gibraltar,

    [ yes, but they don't want to be with you, they freely voted to be British, ]

    and prove that we are just as human as you are.

    [ yes of course you are human as we are, what have you lot been told, you are Vulcans or something ]

    You Brits always cry about Argentine imperialism,

    [ only when you lot refuse to accept democracy, and demand the islanders obey your instructions and not their own, this make you a future Empire builder, does it not, ]

    ,is your belief that not only you are superior to Latinos in every way, but because you are morally superior

    [ simply not true, this is your opinion, and your look out, you put yourselves down, not us, ]

    , it is right for you to be superior humans and for Latinos to be inferior subhumans.

    [ but we do not claim to be anything other than democratic and believe in freedom to choose,

    if you wish to be sub-human, that's your problem, please stop blaming the British for everything, you sound like the deluded EU that blames everything on Brexit, ]

    Well, we will NEVER bend over to people like you.
    [ and we British will never give in to you guys bullying threatening or abusing the islanders, ]

    is that it then,
    bye...

    Sep 23rd, 2016 - 06:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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