Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Falkland Islanders to hold referendum over sovereignty

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Falkland Islanders to hold referendum over sovereignty

    The Falkland Islands will hold a referendum on its "political status" in a bid to end the dispute with Argentina over the archipelago's sovereignty.

    The islands' government made the announcement ahead of the anniversary on marking 30 years since the end of Argentina's 74-day occupation in 1982.

    It said it wanted to send a firm message to Argentina that islanders want to remain British.

    The UK prime minister said Britain would support the result of the vote.

    The referendum will be organised by the Falkland Islands government and will take place in the first half of next year.

    'Economic blockade'
    The announcement comes amid growing tensions between the UK and Argentina surrounding the anniversary commemorations marking the islands' liberation by British forces on 14 June, 1982.

    Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Brown is currently there on an official trip.

    Argentina claims sovereignty over the islands it calls the Malvinas, and wants the UK to negotiate over their rule.

    Recently, UK ministers have accused Argentina of trying to impose an "economic blockade" on the islands.

    The South American country has been turning away cruise ships carrying the British flag and is taking legal action against five British oil firms exploring the coast of the islands.

    Gavin Short, chairman of the islands' legislative assembly, said they were holding the referendum "to show the world just how certain we are about it [our future]".

    "I have no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

    "We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views.

    "But we are aware that not everybody is able to come to these beautiful islands and to see this reality for themselves.

    "And the Argentine government deploys misleading rhetoric that wrongly implies that we have no strong views or even that we are being held hostage by the UK military. This is simply absurd."

    'Resolute support'
    Prime Minister David Cameron said it was "absolutely right" that the islanders set out how they intended to "make their voices heard once more".

    "And Britain will be resolute in supporting their choice," he said.

    "Next year's referendum will determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands. Britain will respect and defend their choice.

    "We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the islanders' decision about how they want to live."

    Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say."

    The prime minister's official spokesman later confirmed the UK government had been aware of the plans and had been in discussions with the Falklands government before the announcement, but said "it was their decision and we fully support it".

    Argentinian president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, is due to attend a meeting of the UN's decolonisation committee on Thursday.

    The Falkland Islands, a rocky archipelago in the South Atlantic, are 7,780 miles from the UK and 1,140 miles from Buenos Aires.

    With the exception of the 1982 occupation by Argentina - which sparked the Falklands War - they have been under British control since 1833.
    The Falkland Islands government says it intends to send Argentina the message it wants to stay British, after announcing a referendum on its sovereignty.



    It's a win/win situation, because absolutely ever possible result from this referendum will be hilarious.
    The genesis of the "evil Finn" concept- Evil, evil Finland

  • #2
    So, what percent do you think will vote to join the argies? My money is on single digits.
    If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
    ){ :|:& };:

    Comment


    • #3
      i think it will turn out like the gibraltar referendum... (0.36% voted to join spain)

      whoops. forgot about the 2002 'joint sovereignty' referendum, where a whopping 1% voted for the joint sovereignty.
      "The Christian way has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found to be hard and left untried" - GK Chesterton.

      "The most obvious predicition about the future is that it will be mostly like the past" - Alain de Botton

      Comment


      • #4
        If they've got any sense, they'll rig a 49% vote for Argentina just to wring loads of panic-stricken subsidies from those Tories not wishing to go down in history as the ones who gave away Thatcher's moment of glory.
        The genesis of the "evil Finn" concept- Evil, evil Finland

        Comment


        • #5
          Socrates: "Good is That at which all things aim, If one knows what the good is, one will always do what is good." Brian: "Romanes eunt domus"
          GW 2013: "and juistin bieber is gay with me and we have 10 kids we live in u.s.a in the white house with obama"

          Comment


          • #6
            Territory disputes got trickier for governments when it started mattering what the actual residents think. Although perhaps from a certain perspective they got simpler--"the answer is no"
            If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
            ){ :|:& };:

            Comment


            • #7
              We already know the Argies are nothing but a bunch of black hearted pieces of dog **** who couldn't win an election to save their lives. Seriously, how the **** could they win against the U.K.? They don't have the money, the manpower, or the skill. The Brits would wipe their feet on them like a floor rug.
              Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.

              Comment


              • #8
                Argentina's willing to go to war in order to incorporate the Falklands Islands? Again?

                Good on them to hold a popular referendum.

                The Brits have done that for most everyone I believe, let them go when the people wanted to guide their own ship.
                Scouse Git (2) La Fayette Adam Smith Solomwi and Loinburger will not be forgotten.
                "Remember the night we broke the windows in this old house? This is what I wished for..."
                2015 APOLYTON FANTASY FOOTBALL CHAMPION!

                Comment


                • #9
                  If they've got any sense, they'll rig a 49% vote for Argentina just to wring loads of panic-stricken subsidies from those Tories not wishing to go down in history as the ones who gave away Thatcher's moment of glory.
                  Like the Quebecois?
                  Scouse Git (2) La Fayette Adam Smith Solomwi and Loinburger will not be forgotten.
                  "Remember the night we broke the windows in this old house? This is what I wished for..."
                  2015 APOLYTON FANTASY FOOTBALL CHAMPION!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Ben Kenobi View Post
                    Like the Quebecois?
                    Clearly the frogs are subhuman. Surely everyone sees that.
                    Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      do the sheep get a vote?
                      Any views I may express here are personal and certainly do not in any way reflect the views of my employer. Tis the rising of the moon..

                      Look, I just don't anymore, okay?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Dinner View Post
                        We already know the Argies are nothing but a bunch of black hearted pieces of dog **** who couldn't win an election to save their lives. Seriously, how the **** could they win against the U.K.? They don't have the money, the manpower, or the skill. The Brits would wipe their feet on them like a floor rug.
                        Hahahha more comical racism from oerdin ahahhaha
                        Click here if you're having trouble sleeping.
                        "We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones." - François de La Rochefoucauld

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Dinner View Post
                          We already know the Argies are nothing but a bunch of black hearted pieces of dog **** who couldn't win an election to save their lives. Seriously, how the **** could they win against the U.K.? They don't have the money, the manpower, or the skill. The Brits would wipe their feet on them like a floor rug.
                          Yeah. **** you too hipster douchebag.

                          Referendum It's not like the result will be any surprise at all.
                          Indifference is Bliss

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Bugs ****ing Bunny View Post
                            If they've got any sense, they'll rig a 49% vote for Argentina just to wring loads of panic-stricken subsidies from those Tories not wishing to go down in history as the ones who gave away Thatcher's moment of glory.
                            **** off
                            In Soviet Russia, Fake borises YOU.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Perhaps the Argentines can replace the ballot papers with this question:

                              Should the Falkland Islands cease to remain a British Overseas Territory, and should the British Government not reject the Argentine offer of the Falkand Islands becoming a part of the Argentine nation?

                              Sorry if you don't use a white background.
                              One day Canada will rule the world, and then we'll all be sorry.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X