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Latin America: Defending their Right to Independence and
Self Determination
It seems unreal
in these times of human development that international
entities, like the UN Decolonization Committee has to
continue debating, analyzing and demanding a few powerful
nations to comply with resolutions while they continue
attempting to control others.
However, we do not have to tour the world to find very
familiar cases of colonial powers as though time has come to
a halt.
Two nations and close allies like the US and Britain are two
examples of current colonialism: Puerto Rico in the
Caribbean and the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands in the South
Atlantic.
These cases of colonialism has been analyzed and debated
with the approval of resolutions at the UN urging
independence for these two colonial regions but refused by
the two powers in a flagrant violation of international law
and respect to the rights of the peoples.
Regarding Puerto Rico, another draft resolution was
presented at the UN Decolonization Committee demanding the
US to end their control over the Caribbean nation.
The document, also sponsored by Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua
and Venezuela demands the White House to comply with
Resolution 1514 of the UN General Assembly for sovereignty
and independence for the Puerto Rican people which will
commemorate in July, 113 years of US occupation.
This debate coincided with the presence of President Barack
Obama in Puerto Rico in a demagogic maneuver ignoring the US
dominating status over the nation.
Meanwhile, almost coinciding with the visit of the UN
Secretary General Bam Ki Moon to Buenos Aires, Argentinean
President Cristina Fernandez made direct reference at the
Decolonization Committee about the violations on the rights
of the Argentinean people by Britain regarding the Malvinas
(Falkland) Islands while the UN leader was silent on the
issue.
The Cuban representation in the discussions reiterated its
support to Argentina´s demand of fair negotiations with
London on the case of the islands and pointed out that as
long as the demand is not instrumented, the British
authorities must abstain from violating the rights of the
Argentinean people.
Britain is unilaterally exploiting oil in the region in
addition to imposing restrictive measures on fishing and the
reinforcement of the military presence in the archipelago.
London recently refused in coming to an understanding with
Buenos Aires and continues to occupy a piece of Argentina by
force dating back to the Spanish invasion of South America.
For Cuba, used to express solidarity with its regional
sister nations to reiterate its support to the Puerto Rican
and Argentinean people constitutes an elemental right, a
principle of justice, equality and respect.
These are elements whose systematic violation by the
powerful has provoked severe wounds to our nations and have
even carried out violent military clashes like the case in
the Malvinas during the 1980´s, inflicting death and
destruction.
These measures come from policies of those that think they
are the owners of the planet ready to distribute nations and
people as they wish.
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