Lisa Watson, editor of the 'Penguin News', gave an
interview last week after the referendum in the Falklands. Amongst many issues,
she talked about self-determination.
In what if of interest here, she said:
“Of
course I have imagined it; and following a recent Commonwealth Parliamentary
Conference in the Falklands it was fascinating to hear the very varied versions
there are of the concept of self determination. It was described by delegates
from all over the world the different ways that greater autonomy can develop.
It is not a matter of having to choose between being an old style 'colony' or
being fully independent, there are examples all over the world of so many
different status in between; and all accepted and respected by the
international community.”
Indeed, she is very precise. The term self-determination
is a very flexible one. That is because it is associated to people rather than
sovereignty. That is to say, it is linked to a group of people as a nation and
not as a State.
Self-determination is the right a certain group of
people that fulfill criteria to decide upon the way they will be governed. From
there, it can lead to independence and Statehood, but to be a State is not the
only possible outcome when applying self-determination to a sovereign conflict.
Lisa is right when she says that “greater
autonomy can develop”. This has to do with the way Falkland Islanders (like
any other group of people) do and will govern themselves. It may have to do
with future independence and Statehood. It does not need to. Self-determination
does not imply per se independence.
Lisa is even clearer in that respect when she says “[i]t
is not a matter of having to choose between being an old style 'colony' or
being fully independent”. Indeed, between black and white we have a grey
scale. The same happens with self-determination. It offers the chance to opt
for independence, free association, shared sovereignty, leaseback, titular
sovereignty and autonomy (the case of Aland Islands and Finland, and so on.
This list is by no means exhaustive or complete. The choices that self-determination
give are multiple.
Therefore, when the various governments in
Argentina since the 1982 war claim that self-determination is a subterfuge for
independence, they are simply not right. Indeed, independence can be one of the
outcomes when self-determination is applied. But it is not the only one.
The main problem Argentina’s government has to face
is to be able to offer a more viable way in order to work together with the
Falkland Islanders. So far, Argentina’s government has done very little (if
anything at all) to approach the Falkland Islanders and work collaboratively with
them towards a solution fair to all.
The only outcome Argentina’s government is securing
with these attitudes is to put more distance between Argentina and the Falkland
Islanders. As a result, the Falkland Islanders have to consider other options
open by application of the right to self-determination, none of them giving
Argentina much involvement. However, why would the Falkland Islanders think of
using self-determination as a way to get closer to Argentina when Argentina’s
government is literally ignoring them?
Argentina’s government must realise we live in a
world in which international cooperation is a must. We are no longer part of a
more or less developed society. What happens in China affects the United States
as well as Zimbabwe. To play selfish games may work internally, but the
international society has other rules. We may shout at home, but if we shout
outside we will be segregated.
It is the time to be realistic and bear in mind all
human beings have equal moral worth. The Falkland Islanders are open to
dialogue. The United Kingdom supports whatever decision they make in regards to
their political future-i.e. they openly recognise the right to
self-determination to the Falkland Islanders. What is Argentina’s government
waiting for?
For other posts on this blog re self-determination
visit:
Falklands and the right to self-determination (part 1 of 3)
Falklands and the right to self-determination (part 2 of 3)
Falklands and the right to self-determination (part 3 of 3)
Falklands and the right to self-determination (part 1 of 3)
No comments:
Post a Comment