Falkland Islanders Vote To Remain British 99.8%

Falkland Islanders Vote Overwhelmingly To Keep British Rule -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Residents of the Falkland Islands voted almost unanimously to stay under British rule in a referendum aimed at winning global sympathy as Argentina intensifies its sovereignty claim.

The official count on Monday showed 99.8 percent of islanders voted in favor of remaining a British Overseas Territory in the two-day poll, which was rejected by Argentina as a meaningless publicity stunt. There only three "no" votes out of about 1,500 cast.


"Surely this must be the strongest message we can get out to the world," said Roger Edwards, one of the Falklands' assembly's eight elected members.

"That we are content, that we wish to retain the status quo ... with the right to determine our own future and not become a colony of Argentina."

Pro-British feeling is running high in the barren and blustery islands that lie off the tip of Patagonia, at the southern end of South America. Turnout was 92 percent among the 1,649 Falklands-born and long-term residents registered to vote.

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More News On The Falklands Referendum

Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory -- BBC
Falklands Vote Shows 99.8 Pct Want to Stay British -- New York Times/AP
UK pleased Falkland Islanders vote to stay British -- CNN
Falklands Islands Vote to Remain under British Control -- Voice of America
Falklands Vote to Stay With U.K. -- Wall Street Journal
Falklands Vote Overwhelmingly to Retain British Status -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Falkland Islanders Vote to Remain Part of Britain -- New York Times
Argentina urged to respect Falklands mandate -- Al Jazeera
Emphatic referendum vote sees Falklands say Yes to Britain -- The Telegraph
Falklands: Cameron says Argentina should respect vote -- BBC
Falkland Islands: respect overwhelming 'yes' vote, Cameron tells Argentina -- The Guardian
Cameron: Argentina must respect wishes of Falkland Islanders -- The Telegraph
Falkland Islanders celebrate yes vote in referendum – video -- The Guardian
Only three Falkland islanders vote against British rule -- Irish Times
Is the Falkland Islands’ Referendum a Farce or a Landmark Moment? -- Kharunya Paramaguru, Time