[MTVN]

The people of the Falkland Islands have voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.

Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum, 1,513 were in favour of keeping the current status, while just three votes were against.

There was a turnout of more than 90% from 1,672 British citizens eligible to vote in a population of about 2,900.

It follows pressure from Argentina over its claims to the islands, more than 30 years after the Falklands War.

Dick Sawle, a member of the island's legislative assembly, said: "To get a 99% result on the 'yes' vote, with only three voting 'no', I think is an absolutely phenomenal result which will send out the strongest possible message to the rest of the world about our right to self-determination - a right that was fought for in 1982, and which we have honoured tonight."

Election observers from different countries have overseen the vote, including representatives of Chile and Mexico - despite an Argentine request for Latin American countries not to take part.

Most Argentines regard the islands, which they call Las Malvinas, as Argentine and their recovery is enshrined in the national constitution.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said the inhabitants' wishes are not relevant in what is a territorial issue.

Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982. The garrison of Royal Marines was overwhelmed and other British South Atlantic territories including South Georgia were also seized.

In two months of fighting, 255 British and about 650 Argentine servicemen were killed, along with three Falklands civilians, before Argentine forces surrendered.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909

Not that this will have any effect on Argentina's claim on the islands, but it's a pretty emphatic message in support of British status

[Shaun]

lmfao 3 votes

a pretty resounding "piss off" to Cristina Kirchner <3

[Mrluvaluva]

Pretty resounding result.

[lostalex]

WHy was it so easy for the Faulklands to have a referendum , but it's so difficult to get a referendum for Scotland?

[Shaun]

because it's rolled out to just over a thousand of people rather than a couple of million? besides, it's definitely happening [the Scotland one] the last time I heard

[Benjamin]

The Scottish one is still happening.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Ben

The Scottish one is still happening.

But we didn't see any of the Media frenzy around this Faulklands one is my point. Just have a freaking referendum like this, all of the political propaganda from Westminster is not necessary. Why does it takes YEARS to have a referendum? it shouldn't.

[Shaun]

There was a small amount because Argentina keep kicking off about how colonial we supposedly are (by... laying claim to a territory that isn't theirs...), but there was never really any hubbub because, as this poll showed, almost nobody wanted to leave the UK's rule.

In Scotland the majority would appear to be against independence, but there is a very sizeable minority. Cue drama.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by lostalex

But we didn't see any of the Media frenzy around this Faulklands one is my point. Just have a freaking referendum like this, all of the political propaganda from Westminster is not necessary. Why does it takes YEARS to have a referendum? it shouldn't.

The Scottish parliament set the date and chose a reasonable timescale in line with UK legislation. They wanted time to build up support.

[SharkAttack]

Originally Posted by MTVN

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909

Not that this will have any effect on Argentina's claim on the islands, but it's a pretty emphatic message in support of British status

Zero surprise here. Mostly UK folks living up in there, along with some SAs who, have no doubt, blended in with the peeps and that way of life. The few who voted against are obviously spies from the mainland. It's like the ironic version of Key West over there, you won't move them.

[joeysteele]

What a surprise, as if anyone ever thought there would be any different result.
Waste of time and money in my view.

[arista]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

What a surprise, as if anyone ever thought there would be any different result.
Waste of time and money in my view.

They wanted to do it
but of course Argentina
ignores it.



Nothing changes

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by arista

They wanted to do it
but of course Argentina
ignores it.



Nothing changes

Yes, I heard that on the news last night and this morning,obvious that Argentina would totally dismiss it.

[lostalex]

I wonder what the UKs reaction would be if an Island off their coast wanted to be independent...oh wait... Ireland...

I wonder what the UK reaction would be if some Argentinians on just one part of the Falklands wants to be part of Argentina, would they allow just one small tip of the island to be in Argentinian control?

[Kizzy]

Know what we were taught?..
That there is nothing on the falkland islands but sheep, and that Margaret Thatcher went to war over a principle...

I know right?...

That was in the 80's, during a conservative government.
Nothing like that would ever happen now would it, ministers rewriting history as a means of informal social control?

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
― George Orwell

[arista]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I wonder what the UKs reaction would be if an Island off their coast wanted to be independent...oh wait... Ireland...

I wonder what the UK reaction would be if some Argentinians on just one part of the Falklands wants to be part of Argentina, would they allow just one small tip of the island to be in Argentinian control?

No thats like Canada
having a Legal section of LA
it would never happen

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Shasown

The Scottish parliament set the date and chose a reasonable timescale in line with UK legislation. They wanted time to build up support.

...And also the Scottish want to hold it on the anniversary of a resounding historical victory over the English.

I think the English should also have a referendum on whether we want to be independent. I think Scotland and Wales would be surprised at the result.

Great result for the Falkland Islanders. Their views are the only ones that matter.

[lostalex]

just have a ****ing referendum, i say, giving the media time to manipulate it is wrong, because obviously England has a stronger media than Scotland.

it's not fair.

[Nedusa]

Interesting point to note is that our staunchest ally the US does not support our claim that the Falklands are British, our so called special relationship doesn't extend as far as siding with its closest ally given the war that was fought and the British servicemen that gave up their lives to keep the Falklands British.

No the US is happy to sit on the fence on this one and instead recognise only the de facto status of the Falklands islands ie Britain is occupying them at the present time ( in other words the US will not say publicly that the UK has a sovereign right to these Islands.

Interesting eh....!!!!!

[Ramsay]

those 3 votes, rofl

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Interesting point to note is that our staunchest ally the US does not support our claim that the Falklands are British, our so called special relationship doesn't extend as far as siding with its closest ally given the war that was fought and the British servicemen that gave up their lives to keep the Falklands British.

No the US is happy to sit on the fence on this one and instead recognise only the de facto status of the Falklands islands ie Britain is occupying them at the present time ( in other words the US will not say publicly that the UK has a sovereign right to these Islands.

Interesting eh....!!!!!

especially so given Puerto Rico