Falkland Islands Newsletter No 109 October 2015 Published by The Falkland Islands Association www.iassociation.com A medal for the people events politics news Picture Nigel Leach 1 Falkland Islands editorial Association Newsletter by FIA Chairman Alan Huckle Published by: The Falkland Islands Association, sovereignty without change in nationality. Falkland House, Corbyn may dress this up as a London reasonable approach but, in so doing, SW1H OBH he totally ignores the wishes of the Falkland Islanders and is politically Tel 0845 260 4884 naïve in thinking that Argentina would ISSN 0262-9399 give up their long-term objective of a full transfer of sovereignty. He has been Edited by: roundly and rightly condemned by those Sharon Jafray who fought to liberate the Islanders from Stanley illegal Argentine occupation. It is the job Falkland Islands of this Association - and of everyone Tel 00 500 52739 who supports the Falkland Islanders [email protected] ne of my greatest pleasures as an – to make sure that this potential shift Oerstwhile Governor of the Falkland in Labour Party policy does not gain Editorial Committee Islands was to present an award to those traction. After all, enabling the Falkland Ms Cindy Buxton (Chair) exceptional people who had made a real Islanders to determine their own future Mr David Tatham CMG difference to life in the Falklands beyond and to develop their own natural Mr David Ainslie the normal expectations of their job. resources in peace and stability with Mrs Merle Christie It was a privilege therefore to be able, little real impact on UK interests in South Mr Saul Pitaluga with special permission of the current America or at any signiicant cost to the Governor, to present a Falkland Islands UK Exchequer cannot be bad policy. It Advertising: award – the Queen’s Certiicate and is certainly not ‘colonial’, as Corbyn has Full page £250 Badge of Honour – to our Association’s implied. Half page £125 own Hon. Secretary, Colin Wright during On 25 October, Argentina will hold Quarter page £65 a small family ceremony at his home in elections for the Presidency, since Eighth page £35 Shrewsbury(see page 31). With typical Cristina de Kirchner will have to stand Short insert £3 per line modesty, he accepted the award not down in December. In the August just for himself but also on behalf of the primaries, Daniel Scioli, Governor of the WEBSITE Association and the principles which Province of Buenos Aires and a loyal it serves – the self-determination and supporter of the Kirchner regime, took a www.iassociation.com democratic freedom of the Falkland clear lead with 38% of the vote against Islanders. the 30% of Mauricio Macri, Mayor of the Release of copyright By the time this Newsletter is City of Buenos Aires, and the 21% of published, we should know the results Sergio Massa, who fell out with Cristina The Editorial Committee of the Labour Party leadership contest. de Kirchner after serving briely as her releases all copyrights With his anti-austerity message, Jeremy head of Cabinet. To prevent a run-off on the content of Corbyn MP has emerged as the front- election in November, Scioli must gain the Falkland Islands runner. Given his hard-left views, it is 45% of the vote or 40% with a 10% Newsletter except on right that his policy positions should lead over his closest opponent. So far, pictures, cartoons and come under close scrutiny. We have there is no sign of the two Opposition maps. Other publications been fortunate since the 1982 conlict candidates joining forces and, in a run- are invited to quote that there has been strong cross- off, much would depend on how Massa’s freely. party support in Westminster for the supporters would vote. Scioli looks the Falkland Islanders and for rejecting any more certain to win but it could be close Howevever, we ask that concession to Argentina on sovereignty. (see fuller analysis in the Association’s quotations are made in But Jeremy Corbyn, if elected Labour website www.iassociation.com). context and the Falkand party leader, might just nudge the party Scioli is likely to maintain the Kirchners’ Islands Newsletter in a wholly unwelcome direction. hard-line policy on the Falkland Islands acknowledged as the Corbyn has radical left-wing views on and gleefully reported former French source. many topics, not least on the Falklands. President, Nickolas Sarkosy, as offering As a Haringey Councillor, he was to assist ‘both sides’ (i.e. the UK and For further information strongly opposed to the despatch of the Argentina but not the Falklands) to turn to the inside back Task Force in 1982 and called for the come to dialogue, when Sarkosy visited page or alternatively immediate withdrawal of British troops. Buenos Aires at the end of August; contact the Editor Sharon He regarded the conlict as simply a Sarkosy is standing again for the Jafray (contact details Tory plot to ‘keep their money-making French Presidency in 2017. Whether above). friends in business’ and as an attempt by that relects Sarkosy’s real views on the Mrs Thatcher to distract voters from the issue or was a line of least response is economic woes caused by her domestic PRINTED BY: a matter for conjecture, just as whether policies. During the BBC’s ‘Daily Politics’ the Pope really intended to allow his Platinum Press (UK) Ltd programme shortly before the Falkland Tel 01494 756213 long-held personal views on Argentina’s Islands referendum in 2013, Corbyn sovereignty claim to become public (see went on the record to say there had to be our website report) is also questionable. some other way forward than the status Happily, the Vatican has always made it quo, hinting at the possibility of joint clear that it would not wish to intervene. 2 UN Decolonisation Committee MLAs Rendell and Summers at the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation the list of NSGTs for decolonisation. be classiied as a colony due to the Most of the British Overseas progress made in the Islands in the Territories, like the Falkland Islands, last thirty years both constitutionally have no wish to become independent and economically. The Islands’ due to their size and need for Constitution was updated in 2008 administering country support. and conirms the right to self- The Falkland Islands Government determination for Islanders as well (FIG) sends MLAs to the annual as the right to responsibly exploit the C24 meeting in New York in order natural resources within the Islands’ to counter the rhetoric from the conservation zone. (This includes Argentine side over their claim to the ishery and hydrocarbons). I the Islands. A large delegation described the progress with each Member of Legislative Assembly from the Government of Argentina industry and rigorously outlined the Phyl Rendell (above) takes a look attends each year, with this year deliberate hindrance and aggressive at this year’s visit to the United being no exception; it was headed by steps being taken by the Argentines Nations in New York Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, to prevent these industries s in previous years, two Members accompanied by Daniel Filmus, Head functioning. Aof the Legislative Assembly of the Malvinas Department, and two MLA Summers spelled out the (MLAs) attended the meeting of the petitioners from Argentina. untruths being constantly quoted United Nations Special Committee on The Committee routinely supports by the Argentine delegation on the Decolonisation, known as the C24. a motion calling for bilateral historical claim to the Islands and The open session on the Falkland negotiations between Argentina and the failings of the committee year Islands was held on June 25 this the United Kingdom on the issue on year to look after the rights of the year at the UN headquarters in of sovereignty over the Falkland NSGT’s as it is tasked to do. Yet New York. MLA Mike Summers Islands. Because of this, it is again an invitation was extended to and myself attended, together with absolutely necessary for us to make the Committee to send a mission young Islanders, Tiphanie May and a robust defence of the Falkland to visit the Falkland Islands to see Farrah Peck. Prior to New York we Islanders’ views to counter the for themselves what progress has visited Washington to brief Members Argentine claim. been made. The Chair subsequently of Congress, senior staffers and Islanders’ right to self- suggested it should only be to Think Tanks about developments determination and their wish to Buenos Aires and London! This in the Islands and seeking support remain a British Overseas Territory, perhaps says it all about the value of for Falkland Islanders’ right to self- conirmed in an internationally the Committee in doing its work. determination. Although the US recognised Referendum held in Noticeably this year very few C24 Government maintains its stance March 2013, needs to be put on the Members attended this session, of strict neutrality, there is strong record at the UN. Furthermore, the or spoke to the motion, other than support in Washington for the presentations made by MLAs are South and Central Americans Falklands’ message. covered globally by the press and go supporting Argentina. Of the 25 The C24 committee was viral on social media, spreading the non-south American Members of established in 1961 by the UN message that Islanders demand the the Committee, only China, Syria, General Assembly with the purpose right to self- determination and to be St Vincent, Indonesia, Tunisia and of monitoring the implementation of represented at any discussions about Sierra Leone spoke, with the latter the declaration on decolonisation. the future of the Islands.