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Morrissey weighs in on Falklands debate

The former Smiths frontman told Argentinian fans that the islands “belong” to them.

MORRISSEY IS THE latest celebrity to wade in on the ongoing row between British and Argentian administrations over the Falkland Islands.

Speaking to a crowd at a concert in the Argentinian city of Córdoba on Thursday, the British singer said, “we know, of course, the Malvinas islands…they belong to Argentina”.

Please do not blame the British people, we know the islands belong to you.

His comments echo those of Hollywood actor Sean Penn and Pink Floyd’s bass player Roger Waters.

Old tensions have been revived by both Britain and Argentina as the 30th anniversary of the ten-week war over the tiny islands in the South Atlantic Ocean approaches.

The islands, which are inhabited by about 3,000 people, are officially classed as a British Overseas Territory. Despite Argentina’s claim to the land, the islanders themselves have shown that they predominately wish to maintain their current status.

The renewed dispute broke out earlier this year after British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Cristina Fernandez’s government of having a “colonialist” attitude over its claim to the islands. As the war-of-words emerged, Fernandez hit back saying that Cameron’s accusation was “nonsense”.

On Monday, two British cruise ships were prevented from docking at an Argentinian port, according to the Guardian.

Related: Sean Penn wades in on Falklands row and accuses Britain of ‘intimidation’>

Explainer: What’s going on in the Falkland Islands?>

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38 Comments
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    Mute terry
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 5:49 PM

    Good to see Argentina standing up for itself in the face of british historical imperialism we might as a divided nation have something to learn from their example. 2016 not far away and the county is an economic disaster it’s children being it’s best export. Not the republic it’s founders envisaged.

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    Mute Chelseajoe
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 7:44 PM

    There was nothing brutal about the British colonization of the Falklands. It was uninhabited up until that point.

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    Mute Adam McCarthy
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 11:21 PM

    not striclty true Chelseajoe. While The UK did control the islands orginally, they left them abandoned again until 1833 by which time Argentina had set up some settlements. when the British returned they removed the Argentinian settlers and installed their own, the descendants of whom are the population today.

    The issue isn’t as black & white as reported in the British or Argentinian media.

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    Mute David Higgins
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 5:43 PM

    Celebrity speaks about politics and somehow it makes the news as being an expert opinion….

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    Mute Diarmuid Ward
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:00 PM

    A lot of people may see Morrisseys music especially in his Smiths days as Political and Social commentary David, therefore I for one would’nt classify Morrissey as just another celebrity!

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    Mute Alan Murphy™
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 5:50 PM

    If we can have a pointless referendum, surely the falklanders can have a meaningful one to determine where they belong

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    Mute Dave Jeffery
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:20 PM

    A referendum would come out clearly in favour of the country remaining a UK territory. I’m sure even Morrissey would acknowledge this. The vast majority of people there are of British descent and wish to remain British citizens.

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    Mute Alan Murphy™
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:36 PM

    Which makes this whole fiasco pointless. If the people want to belong, leave them be

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    Mute Pilib O Muiregan
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:27 PM

    A referendum wont solve this. Argentina won’t accept defeat in a referendum just like Irish Republicans would not accept if one was had on Northern Ireland today. There is no dispute that the people on the island are British. As it was planted just like the North. but the Island itself should belong to Argentina.

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    Mute Reg
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 9:07 PM

    Why should they belong to Argentina, they’re hundreds of miles from Argentina?

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    Mute Adrian De Cleir
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 9:42 PM

    What do you mean by Irish Republicans? I’d say even the more hardcore republicans at this stage would accept a referendum result.
    The only people left fighting now are “real Ira” scumbags who just want to belong to something.
    (sorry, bit off topic)

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    Mute Winston
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 11:03 PM

    Philib, just because a small island is closer to a larger territorial mass doesn’t mean it should ‘belong’ or be subjugated to that entity…

    I would have thought this was obvious, especially to us Irish !

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    Mute Ciarán Reilly
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    Mar 4th 2012, 12:09 AM

    Oooooh, shrewd point there, Winnie.

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    Mute Damhsa Dmf
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:26 PM

    Simply ask the Falklands residents who have been there for century’s now, who do they feel more loyal or attributed to? Let them decide and not celebrities or self interested parties

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    Mute Diarmuid Ward
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 5:56 PM

    Morrissey knows the craic!

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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 7:10 PM

    In the immortal words of Fr. Jack Hackett – ” Feck off gobshite” !!

    56
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    Mute toorkeel
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:25 PM

    Ape. Is he trying to let people know he still exists?

    56
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    Mute Dirt Lancaster
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:10 PM

    He’d be more clued in than a lot of politicians I’d say!

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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    Mar 4th 2012, 12:49 AM

    Well if he is more clues in he isn’t showing it with those comments. History and the views of the overwhelming majority of Falkland Islanders are different to his.

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    Mute Dirt Lancaster
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    Mar 4th 2012, 11:06 AM

    The same way northern ireland belongs to the UK?

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    Mute stephen corrigan
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    Mar 4th 2012, 11:30 AM

    Well it is similar considering that 72% approx voted to accept the good friday agreement thus to stay within the UK. Thats democracy, majority rules.

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    Mute Simon Clarke
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:28 PM

    Wonder if he’s doing any concerts in northern Ireland soon and we can hear his views there…

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    Mute Peter 66
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 7:20 PM

    He has given his views on Ireland in his music years ago.

    32
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    Mute Kevin O Sullivan
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 6:39 PM

    he’s a twit. typical pr rubbish, what was he going to say.. na na nana na the falklands are ours!!!

    35
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    Mute mcbab
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 9:11 PM

    Let’s send them angeus o’ink cartridge and Gerry “never in the ira” Adams to help them out. We can’t be selfish should share them

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    Mute Boy Russell
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 7:36 PM

    He (Morrissey) made this comment before singing the beautiful “Please, let me get what I want”
    I assume he was working with irony!?
    When he speaks the world listens, all don’t agree however as some would see him as Mister Meloncholia.. The Pope of Mope.. Miserable Mozza.. The fact of the matter is he speaks it as it is!
    And credit where credits due, No Pop/Rock stars would dare smear their careers with fear of plundering. Morrissey ALWAYS took that chance (Is why he is STILL selling out worldwide!)
    And any man who tells his birth place prime minister to STOP liking his music, says a lot about a mans very dignity!
    “The world is full of Crashing bores”
    Viva Morrissey, Las Islas, Malvinas Argentina!

    26
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    Mute Marc McCabe
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 11:32 PM

    Argentina, like any other north or south American country IS because of Europeans spreading out and grabbing land and then defining Borders. With theses islands it is no different, a product of the past. The people on those islands are of British decent in and around as long as the population of Argentina are of Spanish.. To bring up past British colonialism is lame. I’m not sure of Argentinas motives, I suspect its more about possible resources in the seas around those islands.. But why are a few rocks 400km away from argentina, populated for nearly 200 years by people of British descent and prior to that briefly by Spanish and other Europeans of such ‘patriotic’ importance? Fact is falklanders have no interest in being part of argentina.. so leave them be. Peace lol

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    Mute Gerry Gavin
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 10:50 PM

    I’m just surprised that he’s still gigging! Apart from that, the will of the people living there is to remain with England and until that changes, all of the political bluster remains just that.

    23
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    Mute Boy Russell
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 11:21 PM

    He is indeed!
    Toured most of Europe last year, if not all.. The States.. Headlines main stage at Glastonbury, Hop Farm, and Festivals in Scandanavia through summer 2011. He sold out Hollywood bowl quicker than The Beatles, Rolling Stones & Bob Dylan.
    On his Leg of South America, then on to North Africa I beleive for a stint. He then finishes with touring Asia…Yeah he’s CLEARLY still gigging!

    19
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Mar 4th 2012, 12:06 AM

    He’s just a shite pop singer spouting bullshit.

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    Mute Marc McCabe
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    Mar 3rd 2012, 11:50 PM

    Oh and I’m a massive smiths/morrisey fan :-)

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    Mute Madeline Angela Hind
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    Mar 4th 2012, 1:37 AM

    I thought Morrisey was dead!

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    Mute Boy Russell
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    Mar 4th 2012, 2:11 AM

    karma!

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    Mute Madeline Angela Hind
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    Mar 4th 2012, 7:56 PM

    Robert Mangan: grow up!

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    Mute Madeline Angela Hind
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    Mar 4th 2012, 7:56 PM

    boy russell i’m not saying that I wish Morrisey was dead, I was referring to his low profile of late.

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    Mute Boy Russell
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    Mar 4th 2012, 11:44 PM

    No hard feelings ;-)
    Stay alive! x

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    Mute Robert Mangan
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    Mar 4th 2012, 7:17 PM

    I’m pretty sure putting a referendum to descendants of a plantation within a strict territorially defined area isn’t really valid!
    Northern Ireland is an artificially created majority,Malvinas are the same.
    Both of which are illegal under international law but hey it doesn’t apply to Britain.

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    Mute eastsmer
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    May 6th 2012, 3:55 AM

    Its really not about who owns the Malvinas/Falklands its about the Oil and Mineral wealth that is in its 200 mile? limit

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