FIA October 2013.Indd
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No. 105 October 2013 IINSIDENSIDE FFalklandsalklands nnewsews rreferendumeferendum ppeopleeople ppoliticsolitics cconservationonservation fi sshinghing ttourismourism The Canache, Stanley Harbour Picture S Jaffray Editorial by FIA Chair Alan Huckle Falkland Islands The Argentines were for the abolition of the wrong-footed by the power of veto of the fi ve Association Falkland Islands permanent members. Newsletter Government’s decision Her assertions were to call a referendum on roundly rejected by Published by: the Islands’ future. The Sir Mark Lyall Grant, The Falkland Islands overwhelming majority the UK Permanent Association, vote to remain as a Representative to the Falkland House, UK Overseas Territory UN, who reminded her London was an important act that the matter was SW1H OBH of self-determination by not just between two the Falkland Islanders governments: “There Tel 0845 260 4884 - and, as Barry are three parties to ISSN 0262-9399 Elsby reports in this the debate. The views Newsletter, it gave the of the people of the Edited by: Islanders an excellent Falkland Islands cannot Sharon Jaf ray opportunity to present be dismissed. There can Stanley their case without the be no discussion on the Falkland Islands distraction of Argentine sovereignty of the Islands Tel 00 500 52739 propaganda to a wide body of infl uential unless and until the Islanders so wish. They [email protected] opinion in 28 countries in Latin America made their views unequivocally clear in and further afi eld. the referendum in March when they voted Editorial Committee This won’t necessarily have changed overwhelmingly to remain a UK Overseas Ms Cindy Buxton (Chair) governmental policies in these countries Territory.” Mr David Tatham CMG but the concerted message brought by It is signifi cant that Argentina scheduled Mr David Ainslie elected FIG representatives and young this open debate just before the primaries Mrs M Christie Falkland Islanders in making these for the mid-term elections to be held in Mr Saul Pitaluga overseas visits will have had an educative Argentina in October. Argentina has not impact on those who heard them speak been doing too well economically in this Advertising: and saw the local media coverage. There the global recession and, through her Full page £250 is little real understanding of the issue and policies, Mrs Kirchner has lost ground with Half page £125 what life is really like in the Falklands. So Argentina’s trade unions and business Quarter page £65 the Islanders’ campaign will have had a sector. Keeping the Falklands high on Eighth page £35 positive impact. Argentina’s international agenda is Short insert £3 per line The Argentines had to react and have probably as important for Mrs Kirchner’s done so by declaring the referendum domestic popularity as it is for Argentina’s WEBSITE ‘illegitimate’ and resurrecting their familiar foreign policy. But Argentina is seeking and easily refutable accusations of British constantly to widen international support www.i association.com ‘colonialism’, our ‘militarisation’ of the SW for its position on the Falklands. So it Atlantic and our ‘unilateral exploitation’ is important that the Falkland Islands Release of copyright of the hydrocarbons in the region. It was Government continues its efforts, alongside predictable that Argentina, currently in those of the UK Government, to explain the The Editorial Committee the UN Security Council, would use its realities of the Falkland Islanders’ right to releases all copyrights August Presidency to bring the Falklands self-determination to a wider international on the content of into the Security Council in the context of audience. the Falkland Islands an ‘open debate’ on UN co-operation with Separately, the Islanders mourn the Newsletter except on regional and sub-regional organisations death of Baroness Thatcher and other pictures, cartoons and in maintaining international peace and stalwarts, like Sir Rex Hunt and Admiral maps. Other publications security (a bit rich from a country that Sir Sandy Woodward, who restored are invited to quote invaded the Falklands without provocation democracy and freedom to the Falklands freely. in 1982). President Kirchner’s speech, in in the face of Argentine aggression and Argentina’s national intervention, repeated illegal occupation in 1982. But in the current Howevever, we ask that her usual demand for bilateral discussions coalition government, Falkland Islanders quotations are made in with the UK on the Falklands in accordance (and Gibraltarians) can have confi dence context and the Falkand with past UN General Assembly resolutions that they have strong friends in the UK who Islands Newsletter (which she conveniently forgets are non- will continue to defend their rights against acknowledged as the binding). Signifi cantly, she also called for those who threaten them. source. the reform of the Security Council and For further information turn to the inside back page or alternatively contact the Editor Sharon Referendum coin Jaf ray (contact details objoy Mint has announced the release of a coin above). Pwhich commemorates the Falkland Islands referendum held in March 2013. The result of the referendum was overwhelming PRINTED BY: with 92 per cent of eligible voters turning out and Platinum Press (UK) Ltd 99.8 per cent voting in favour of retaining the current Tel 0844 880 4722 political status. www.PlatinumPressLimited.co.uk The design on the coin shows the Totem Pole erected by servicemen after the Falklands War with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse. 2 Politics Referendum results go abroad well as from countries farther afi eld, to explain that we are not a colony but including New Zealand. a democratic country with a modern As a Government we realised constitution that remains an Overseas we had to ensure that the result Territory of Great Britain by choice! was heard in as many countries as Many commented that this was the possible, from South and Central fi rst time they had heard the Falkland America to the Caribbean, North Island side of the situation. America and Europe. To achieve Having younger Falkland Islanders this, MLAs accompanied by younger with us really made a difference during members of our community, visited the many debates we took part in 28 countries in the days before and various leading universities. Students weeks after the vote took place. throughout the regions seemed able MLA Barry Elsby takes a look at We had visited a number of these to cut through all the politics and see recent trips abroad to spread the countries six months previously, the situation for what it really is - a word of the Referendum and MLAs were able to reinforce country of 40 million people trying to our message on self determination bully a small country of barely 3000 believe we will look back in 10 years backed up with the overwhelming into submission and failing. These I time and fully appreciate just how result of the referendum. students will be leaders and decision important the Referendum was for our We were well received in all countries makers in their countries in years to political future. and MLAs had meetings with senior come and their understanding of our As we have always said, we held members of the Governments. situation is crucial for building bridges, the Referendum not because we had Some countries were more developing opportunities and planning any doubts as to the outcome but to supportive than others. I had the for the future. shame the supporters of Argentina privilege of addressing the whole The Referendum was a tremendous and convince any “fence sitters” of our of Congress in Colombia, such was success and, I believe, has made right to determine our own future. their interest in the Referendum. countries rethink their automatic From the outset we were Other countries were perhaps less support for Argentina. determined that the process would be vociferous in their support but no one We need to continue to build on this totally fair and beyond reproach. We questioned that the process was open, achievement by telling the Falkland were fortunate when the Referendum democratic and a true representation Islands’ story; be that with MLAs International Observation Mission/ of the wishes of the people. visiting countries, younger members Misión International de Observación In every country we visited we had of our society debating the issue in Referendo (RIOM/MIOR) offered huge media exposure. There seemed universities in the region, or members to act as offi cial observers. They to be endless TV and radio interviews of our Chamber of Commerce building deployed representatives from a which enabled us to explain the commercial links number of regional countries as reality of the situation in the Islands, I like the challenge of trying to change a mind in general, and the referendum in prominent Spanish politician we met particular, but others knew very little. with made clear from the start of our We encountered a wide variety of meeting that he could not, and would political stances as regards the Islands not, publicly offer his support for the and in particular the relationship with Islands’ right to self-determination, Argentina. but he did concede at the end of We had meetings where we were our conversation that any meeting immediately assured that those or discussion regarding the future of ‘across the table’ supported us in the Islands has to involve Falkland our cause, and we also had some Islanders themselves. That, to my where it was made clear from the mind, was a victory. outset that their views differed from One of the great things about the Islander James Marsh (pictured our own. To be honest I found that trip was I felt we were delivering an with son Albert) shares his post refreshing, I would much rather that immensely positive message.