Is it
time for Gibraltar to have another referendum on its future status? I ask the
question because next year the Falkland Islands will do just that with Britain
promising to honour whatever outcome is voted on. It has to be said that in
both the case of Gibraltar and the Falklands the view of the people would be to
remain British so London doesn’t have much to worry about.
A
Gibraltar referendum in 2013 would be appropriate because it is also the tri-centenary
of the sign of the Treaty of Utrecht. Under the terms of that battered old
treaty Spain ceded Gibraltar to the British Crown in perpetuity and not as many
in Madrid currently believe to when Franco or the Partido Popular were or are
in power.
The
British Prime Minister, David Cameron, raised the referendum at the G20 summit
after a diatribe from the Argentine President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, demanding
talks on the future of the Falklands/Malvinas. He stated that in this post
colonial age the rights of the people of the Falklands were paramount and
whatever they decided in their referendum should be respected.
Following the announcement by the
Falklands Government that it was organising the referendum David Cameron stated
that it was “absolutely right” that the islanders made their voices heard over
their future. He added: “And Britain will be resolute in supporting their
choice.”
Cameron continued: “Next year’s referendum will
determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands. Britain will
respect and defend their choice. We look
to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and
accept the islanders’ decision about how they want to live.”
Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague reinforced
Cameron’s words stating: “I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole
of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what
they have to say.”
Gavin Short is the Chairman of the Falkland Islands’
legislative assembly and said they were holding the referendum about their
future “to show the world just how certain we are about it”.
“I have no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish
for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United
Kingdom.”
Well the Chairman of the Falkland’s legislature could
be echoed word for word by our Chief Minister. Indeed statements this year by
both Cameron and Hague suggest they support the wishes of Gibraltarians in the
same way as residents of the Falklands to self determine their own future.
So may be 2013 is the year for a double whammy in
support of democracy in Gibraltar and the Falklands and with it a devastating
blow to the colonial ambitions of Spain and Argentina.
Of course to be meaningful the Gibraltar referendum
should give Gibraltarians the option to choose to be ruled by Spain and even
offer an Andorra-style future which should gain one vote. What is important is
that once Gibraltar and the Falklands have spoken that Britain takes those
decisions to the UN and demands they are honoured and respected by all member
states and the organization’s own committees.
