Falklands Say NO to Argentina

The Falkland Island residents have overwhelmingly voted to remain a British Overseas Territory with only three of 1520 voters saying no. The question the voters were asked was as follows:

                           

“Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?”

The massive landslide comes as no surprise to anyone who has even a slight understanding of the Falkland Islanders and their identity. Yet it was still met with delight across the small, South Atlantic archipelago. The residents are fed up with the Argentine government’s constant aggression towards them and the UK. For the past 30 years successive Argentine governments have tried everything to try and get the islands under their sovereignty, but to no avail.  British government after British government has refused to properly negotiate with Argentina on the issue unless the Falkland Islanders agree to talks.

Unsurprisingly the Argentinians had rejected the referendum before it even took place and they will still try and get something to move at the UN. The Falkland Islanders knew that Argentina would simply ignore their will, but the referendum was not meant to sway the Argentines. The point of the referendum was to show the rest of the world, the overwhelming opinion of the Falkland Islanders. Many countries simply did not realise the strength of opposition held by the Falkland Islanders and may have previously considered supporting dialogue between London and Buenos Aires.

This will not stop Argentina, the Falklands issue is always a good way to stir up national support for your government. It will not stop De Kirchner constantly attempting stupid stunts at the UN, such as handing David Cameron a piece of paper containing a list of UN Resolutions that they claim support their cause. They claim that the islands are rightfully theirs, despite British rule being firmly established in 1833 and Argentina only being re-unified in 1862. Many of the Falkland Island residents of today can trace their ancestry back to the 1833 settlers, they’ve been there for almost 200 years! Some people would claim that the Falkland Islanders should get no say in the future of the Falkland Islands as they are not ‘indigenous’. Which is absurd as there are no indigenous Falkland Islanders! It’s also hugely ironic as most of these people, in Argentina, making this claim are descendants of European immigrants. Just like those on the Falklands.

Regardless of what Argentina decides to do next, this referendum was very useful for the Falkland Islanders in their attempts to show the world that they are British and wish to remain so.