UN Committee hears petition on Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
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President Cristina Fernandez
The UN Committee on Decolonization on Thursday heard petitioners from the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) on the political status of the archipelago
There is a dispute between the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over the islands.
Roger Edwards, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) was one of the petitioners who opposes Argentina's claim over the islands.
He said that 30 years ago Argentina was defeated when the dispute between the two countries resulted in a military confrontation.
"As a result of that defeat, Argentina lost its brutal military dictatorship and has subsequently experienced the longest period of democracy in its history. Unfortunately, this has not stopped Argentina from persisting with its attempt to deny the people from Falkland Islands our democratic rights."
Another petitioner before the Decolonization Committee, Alejandro Jacobo Betts, said he is a fourth generation native of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
He told the Committee that he was raised and educated on the islands and his mother and two brothers and sister are still permanent residents of the islands.
"My eldest son moved to the Argentine mainland in1981 and I have other children and grandchildren who were born in Cordova. I myself was also a permanent resident of the colony until the end of the armed conflict in 1982 when due to my unconditional support of the Argentine position it became impossible for me to stay."
President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina attended the meeting of the Decolonization Committee.
