Japanese national pride has attracted $14 million and counting. That's how much citizens have chipped into a public fund to buy a set of islands the Japanese say is rightfully theirs.

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have been a diplomatic and emotional wedge between the two Asian superpowers, as both countries lay claims to the five uninhabited rocky islets in the East China Sea.

The dispute, which dates back decades, came to a boiling point in 2010 when a Chinese fishing trawler rammed into a Japan Coast Guard vessel on patrol in the island's waters. Japan detained the crew but later released them under Chinese diplomatic and trade pressure.

Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara never got over that dispute and his national government's response, which he characterizes as "weak." Ishihara, an unrepentant nationalist who is loudly anti-China, said when it comes to the islands, China is acting like "a burglar in Japan's house."

"Chinese hegemony is totally intolerable to us," said Ishihara. "We do not want to become a second Tibet and Mongolia. We have no intention of becoming China's annex. We shall stop China, who is coming to steal our land."

Driven by that nationalist fury, Ishihara cooked up a plan with a family, who claims to own four of the five disputed islands. That family, the Kuriharas, says it has documents showing the islands' Japanese ownership dating back to 1890.

Ishihara established a public fund for donors to send in money to the Tokyo metropolitan government. The city of Tokyo would eventually use that money to buy the islands from the Kurihara family, turning them from private Japanese property into government property. Hiroyuki Kurihara said his family would sell the islands to Tokyo's government, calling a sale in his country's "national interest."

"It's not possible for my family to keep protecting the island, considering the territorial issue," he said. Kurihara added that as owners, the Tokyo or national government would "protect the island in an appropriate way" from China.

Kurihara and Tokyo's governor announced the public fund last month. Ishihara said he expected to raise eyebrows and make a point to China about Japan's interest in the islands. He said he didn't expect a flood of money.

The fund has raised the equivalent of $14 million and it continues to grow daily.

Go here to see the original:

Japanese donate millions to buy islands

LIBOR TRADERS AVOID CRIMINAL CHARGES IN BRITISH PROBE

By Robert Hutton and Eddie Buckle - 2012-06-12T13:45:12Z

The government of the Falkland Islands, the British territory in the South Atlantic claimed by Argentina, said it will hold a referendum in the first half of 2013 on the islands status.

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, Gavin Short, the chairman of the Falklands legislative committee, said in an e-mailed statement today. We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views.

Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falklands 30 years ago after Argentinian forces invaded the archipelago. Tensions have heightened this year, with Argentina protesting at the U.K.s deployment of a modern warship to the region and Prince Williams arrival for a stint as a military-helicopter pilot. Argentina said last week five British oil companies are operating illegally near the islands by exploring for crude.

Next years referendum will determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said in an e-mailed statement. Britain will respect and defend their choice.

A total of 255 British military personnel were killed while 649 Argentinian lives were lost in the 1982 conflict over the islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas. Britain has since reinforced its armed forces on the islands, which have a population of about 2,500 people.

We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way, Short said. The Argentine government deploys misleading rhetoric that wrongly implies that we have no strong views or even that we are being held hostage by the U.K. military. This is simply absurd.

The Argentinian government said June 4 that Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc (BOR), Rockhopper Exploration Plc (RKH), Desire Petroleum Plc (DES), Argos Resources Ltd. and Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd. dont have the required permits to operate off the Falklands. Salisbury, England-based Rockhopper and London-based Borders & Southern have announced discoveries.

To contact the reporters on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net; Eddie Buckle in London at ebuckle@bloomberg.net

Visit link:

Falklands Will Hold Referendum Next Year on Islands’ Status

A Falkland Islands spokesman said the vote would reinforce the message that residents had the right to freely reject the Argentinian claims. He said that only a few residents, "probably those who misread the question", were expected to vote against continued ties to Britain.

"We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way," said Gavin Short, the Speaker of the Legislative assembly said. "The Argentine government deploys misleading rhetoric that wrongly implies that we have no strong views or even that we are being held hostage by the UK military. This is simply absurd."

President Cristina Kirchner, Argentina's nationalist leader, plans to address a UN committee on decolonisation on Thursday in New York. Her views will be confronted by a delegation of Falkland residents who will publicly restate their right to remain British.

British officials have criticised the "domineering" approach pursued by Buenos Aires, including threats to island's trade by banning British flagged ships and legal pursuit of oil firms exploring for oil in its waters.

Mr Cameron said the islanders were in effect sovereign and the vote would vindicate British support for the far away territories.

"I have always said it is up to the Falkland Islanders themselves to choose whether they want to be British and that the world should listen to their views," he said. "Thirty years ago they made clear that they wanted to stay British. That's why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders."

Since the 1982 war, which cost 255 British and 655 Argentinian lives, Falkland officials have bolstered the democratic constitution of the islands, introducing a fully elected Legislative Assembly in 2009.

Ordinary Islanders retain a romantic, deeply emotional, view of their nationality. One resident pointed out yesterday that Argentina was 400 miles from the islands, not a bordering state that was hankering after a lost slice of territory.

Jeremy Browne, the Foreign Office junior minister, who is visiting Stanley to mark the surrender, promised support for the vote. Island leaders said they would bring in outside experts to frame a fair question.

No effort would be made to stop Argentina if it mounts a campaign to woo the island voters. The number of Argentinian passport holders resident on the island is thought to be less than 30.

See the original post:

Falkland Islands plan referendum 'to send a message to Argentina'

Log in to manage your products and services from The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.

Don't have an account yet? Create an account

E-Mail or Member ID

Password

Remember Me Log In

Follow this link:

Falkland Islands: Government Plans Referendum on Islands’ Status

LONDON The Falkland Islands government said Tuesday it plans a referendum next year on the political future of the tiny south Atlantic archipelago, seeking to end Argentina's claims of sovereignty and to secure its status as a British territory.

Gavin Short, chairman of the Falklands' legislature, made the announcement ahead of Thursday's 30th anniversary of the end of the brief 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over the islands, which saw more than 900 people die.

Tensions have risen ahead of the June 14 anniversary, with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez planning to press her country's case at a meeting of the U.N.'s decolonization committee to be held on Thursday in New York.

Short said he hoped that a referendum would help the Falklanders "convey a strong message to the outside world," about their desire to retain ties to London.

"We are holding this referendum not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how very certain we are about that," Short said in a statement.

He said that he had no doubt that the people of the Falklands "wish for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom."

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the U.K. would abide by whatever choice the islanders make when they hold their vote and urged Argentina and its allies to do the same.

"Britain will respect and defend their choice. We look to all U.N. members to live up to their responsibilities under the U.N. charter and accept the islanders' decision about how they want to live," he said.

Argentines insist Britain has illegally occupied the islands they call the Islas Malvinas since 1833. Britain accuses Buenos Aires of ignoring the wishes of the island's population of about 3,000 people.

A total of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers died in the 1982 war fought between the nations over the archipelago, prompted by the Argentine invasion of the islands.

More here:

Falkland Islands government says it plans referendum on its future political status

By Mariano Castillo, CNN

updated 11:33 AM EDT, Tue June 12, 2012

Locator map of the Falkland Islands.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- The Falkland Islands government announced Tuesday that the British territory will hold a referendum on its political status.

The vote is intended to affirm islanders' desire to remain a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom and to reject claims of ownership by nearby Argentina.

The Argentine government in recent months has stepped up its rhetoric over the Falklands, saying that the U.K. is exploiting the resources of the islands it calls Las Malvinas. The British defeated Argentina in a 1982 war over the territory.

"We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way," said Gavin Short, chairman of the Falklands legislative assembly. "So we have decided, with the full support of the British government, to hold a referendum on the Falkland Islands to eliminate any possible doubt about our wishes."

The vote will take place in the first half of 2013.

The Argentine government did not immediately respond to the announcement.

See more here:

Falkland Islands will vote on political status

By NBC News' partner, ITV News

Britains Falkland Islands are to hold a referendum on their "political status" - hoping to bring an end to the continuing dispute with Argentina over the islands' sovereignty, their government said Tuesday.

Britain and Argentina in 1982 went to war over the South Atlantic islands, and 30 years later tensions have escalated between the two nations.

Cristina Fernandez, Argentina's president, has asserted her country's claims to the islands - known in Spanish as Las Malvinas and has asked for negotiations with Britain to end their colonial control from London.

An Argentinian television ad showing an Olympic hopeful training on a British war memorial in the Falklands has been branded a "stunt" by foreign secretary William Hague. ITN reports.

The referendum is expected to take place in the first half of 2013.

Read the full story at ITV News

Gavin Short, chairman of the Legislative Assembly for the Falkland Islands, said he hoped a referendum would indicate islanders are "certain" about their future.

Mr Short said: 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.

We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views.

Read the rest here:

Falkland Islands to vote on UK or Argentina rule

The Falkland Islands government said Tuesday it plans a referendum next year on the political future of the tiny south Atlantic archipelago, seeking to end Argentina's claims of sovereignty and to secure its status as a British territory.

Read the original here:

Falkland Islands: We plan referendum on our future

The Cocos Islands cluster lies a little under halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka.

THE remote Cocos Islands are being targeted as an asylum destination, with Sri Lanka's top envoy to Australia confirming his government stopped a boat carrying 113 people departing the Indian Ocean nation.

Three boats have arrived in the past weeks carrying 135 asylum seekers to the small Cocos Islands cluster, which lies a little under halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka.

People-smuggling syndicates have not historically targeted the Cocos Islands, preferring to send boats to Australian territory closer to Indonesia - either Christmas Island, south of Java, or Ashmore Reef off West Timor.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Sri Lankan envoy Thisara Samarasinghe: 'It is a very international racket.'

Two boats were intercepted in waters off Christmas Island yesterday with 150 people on board.

But the prospect of a third people-smuggling passage will stretch Australia's border patrols, already struggling with a surge of arrivals. The distance from Ashmore Reef to the Cocos Islands is more than 4000 kilometres, a massive expanse of sea for navy and other services to patrol.

Until the past month, just two boats had attempted the nearly 3000-kilometre journey from Sri Lanka to the Cocos, one in 2011 and one in 2010 that had to be rescued when it got into distress.

Sri Lanka's high commissioner in Canberra, Thisara Samarasinghe, told the Herald security services in his country had stopped 113 people on a boat three weeks ago, bound for Australia.

Go here to see the original:

Smugglers open passage to Cocos

THE remote Cocos Islands are being freshly targeted as a destination for asylum seekers, creating a nightmare for Australian border surveillance authorities to cover thousands of square kilometres of open waters.

Three boats carrying 135 asylum seekers have arrived since May 16 at Cocos Islands, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean just over halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's top envoy in Canberra has also confirmed his government recently stopped a boat carrying more than 110 people departing for Australia via the Indian Ocean.

Advertisement: Story continues below

People-smuggling syndicates have not historically targeted Cocos Islands, preferring to send boats to Australian territory closer to Indonesia - either Christmas Island, south of Java, or Ashmore Reef off West Timor.

The prospect of a third route for boat arrivals is bound to stretch Australia's border patrols, already struggling with a recent surge in smugglers' operations.

The distance between Ashmore Reef and the Cocos Islands is more than 4000 kilometres, a massive expanse to patrol.

Few boats have made the nearly 3000-kilometre direct journey from Sri Lanka to Cocos Island. One did in 2011 and another in 2010, which had to be rescued.

Opposition border protection spokesman Michael Keenan said most of Australia's patrol boats were acting as taxis to ferry people to Christmas Island, making it impossible to cover such an enormous zone.

More than 4000 people have risked a boat journey to Australia so far this year - almost the same number as for all of last year. Another two boats carrying 150 people were intercepted off Christmas Island yesterday.

Read this article:

Refugees' new route to Australia

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands--(BUSINESSWIRE)-- Walkers, the leading International Financial Centre law firm, is delighted to announce that a number of attorneys across its global network have been promoted to partner, as part of the firm's annual promotions process.

A total of eleven individuals across five of Walkers' international offices have been promoted to partner, which represents a significant expansion in order to meet the growing needs of our clients. Walkers' new partners are in the following offices and practice groups and their considerable expertise and experience will support the continued growth and success of the firm.

British Virgin Islands:

Marianne Rajic (Investment Funds)

Cayman Islands:

Ben Benson (Investment Funds)

Caroline Heal (Investment Funds

Tim Ludford-Thomas (Investment Funds)

Lindsay Luttermann (Dispute Resolution)

Ramesh Maharaj (Finance & Corporate / Investment Funds)

Here is the original post:

Walkers Expands With New Partners

Beijing (China Daily/ANN) - Tensions may erupt again as a group of conservative Japanese politicians and political activists held a fishing campaign yesterday in waters near the Diaoyu Islands (also known as Senkaku Islands) to demonstrate "Japan's sovereignty", according to Japan's Asia News Network.

See more here:

Tensions may erupt over Senkaku islands

Korean emigre groups in Russia have denounced Japan's claim to the Tok Islets in the Sea of Japan and off the South Korean coast.

SEOUL, June 10 (UPI) -- Korean emigre groups in Russia have denounced Japan's claim to the Tok Islets in the Sea of Japan and off the South Korean coast.

Japan is becoming more desperate to seize the Tok Islets, a statement from the pro-North Korean United Confederation of Koreans in Russia along with the All-Russia Federation of Koreans and other Korean organizations said.

Their comments came in a meeting in Moscow along with "experts" of the Russian Institute of History, the Institute of the Far East and the Institute of Oriental Studies, a report by North Korea's state-run news agency Korean Central News Agency said.

Speakers asserted the Tok Islets, called Takeshima Islands by the Japanese, always have been "inalienable territory of Korea," the KCNA report said.

"There is no ground for Japan to insist that they belong to Japan," the statement said, noting that in a children's school textbook Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science has them as Japanese territory.

Tok Islets are around 116 miles from mainland South Korea and 114 miles from the main Japanese island of Honshu. Japan has incorporated the territory into the prefecture of Shimane on Honshu.

The territory -- also known as Liancourt Rocks -- consists of two main islands, Dongdo and Seodo and up to 35 surrounding rocky outcrops. Dongdo and Seodo together amount only to around 40 acres of land.

Japan's official claim to the islands is laid out in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It puts forward an historical ownership thesis as was well making reference to the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty.

In the treaty, Japan recognized the independence of Korea, renouncing any claims to territories, including the islands of Quelpart, Port Hamilton and Dagelet. Japan claims that by omission, the Tok Islets remain Japanese, the ministry document says.

Link:

North Koreans voice claim over Tok Islands

This Thursday will mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina -- a 10-week affair that could be considered Britains last military victory.

The mini-war killed more than 900 people on both sides and wounded another 1,800.

Reportedly, after the surrender of Argentine troops was announced, Londoners appeared outside Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers residence at No. 10 Downing Street and serenaded her with the patriotic song of empire, ''Rule Britannia.''

Over the past three decades, the conflict over these remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean has never really subsided Argentina, which calls the islands "Las Malvinas," still claims the territory as its own, citing sovereignty through inheritance from the Spanish crown in the early 1800s.

Argentina wants to negotiate a handover of the islands to Buenos Aires, while London adamantly refused to do any such thing.

Follow us

The British government firmly asserts its right to the Falklands under the strength of its near-continuous administration of the islands since 1833. Westminster also cites the Falkland Islanders'"right to self determination, including their right to remain British if that is their wish."

British Prime Minister David Cameron complained earlier this year that Argentina has a "colonialist" attitude towards the Falklands a statement quickly condemned by the Argentine Senate.

Camerons remarks also prompted a protest at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires where Argentine demonstrators demanded that diplomatic ties to London be cut.

Argentina frequently refers to the Falklands (a.k.a. Malvinas) as an illegally occupied territory, for example when Prince Williams made a highly publicized visit to the islands in February.

Originally posted here:

Falkland Islands: The Last Remnants Of The British Empire

Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9

Enabling Cookies in Firefox

Enabling Cookies in Google Chrome

Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad)

See the rest here:

5.7 earthquake strikes Greek islands

Navinchandra Ramgoolam says Mauritius wants to be equal partner in US-UK talks over islands including Diego Garcia Britain and Mauritius have set the stage for talks that could end one of the most shameful episodes in recent British history, the seizing of the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, used by the US as a long-range bomber base and by the CIA for secret rendition flights. After ...

Read more:

Mauritius PM targets Chagos Islands sovereignty after Downing Street talks

Geographically Micronesia lies west of Polynesia, north of Melanesia and east of the Philippines. That puts it primarily in the North Pacific Ocean, though its southernmost islands straddle the equator. It incorporates thousands of small islands and islets, with a land area totaling about 1200 sq. mi., covering over 3 million square miles of water in the western Pacific Ocean.

In order of size, the island groups/countries that make up Micronesia are:

Kiribati 313 sq. mi.; population 102,000

An independent nation straddling both the equator and the International Date Line, Kiribati is the only country in the world that falls in all four hemispheres. 33 coral atolls, 21 of which are inhabited, spread over 1.3 million square miles. One of the poorest countries in the world it has minimal tourist facilities. Popular tourist activities include sailing, snorkeling, and exploring the local culture.

Federated States of Micronesia 270 sq. mi.; population 111,000

An independent country in the Caroline Islands made up of four primary island groups (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae) with over 600 islands (only 65 of which are inhabited), spread over 1,000,000 sq. mi. of ocean east of Palau and the Philippines. Due to its remoteness, there are minimal tourist facilities on these islands. Popular tourist activities include scuba diving, especially in Truk Lagoon with a sunken Japanese fleet, snorkeling, and exploring the local culture.

Guam 210 sq. mi.; population 186,000

A territory of the United States (and one of its primary military bases in the Pacific), Guam is the largest single island in Micronesia, and the southernmost island in the Marianas Archipelago, about three quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. Guam has a flourishing tourism business comprised mostly of Japanese and other Asian visitors. Popular tourist activities include scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports, duty free shopping, hiking and visiting historical sites.

Northern Mariana Islands 179 sq. mi.; population 45,000

A commonwealth, or territory, of the United States, the Northern Mariana Islands consist of 14 islands, only three of which are inhabited; southern islands are limestone with fringing coral reefs while the northern islands are volcanic. Popular tourist activities include scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports, golfing, gambling and visiting historical sites.

See more here:

List of the Islands of Micronesia

Jun 10 2012

The Olympic torch is visiting both the Orkney and Shetland Islands, as it continues its journey through Scotland.

It will travel from Inverness in the Highlands, to Stornoway on the Western Isles, and will be carried on the islands by 40 torchbearers, chosen for their contributions to sport and their communities.

The flame will arrive at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands, and will be carried through the town by 20 torchbearers, including an appearance at the community celebration at The Pickaquoy Centre.

The first torchbearer will be Inga Kemp, 22, from Orkney, who will start with the flame in front of St Magnus Cathedral. Inga was nominated for her work in netball and hockey youth development coaching.

The torch will then be flown to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands, where a further 20 torchbearers will carry it through the town of Lerwick.

Among the torchbearers there will be Chris Rocks, 24, a fencer from Shetland who in 2010 won the Scottish Open Championship.

During its visit to Shetland, the torch will be taken across Clickimin Loch by boat by Matthew Cox, 42, from Shetland, before making a visit to the town's community festival, and then leaving by helicopter.

The flame will also be taken to John O'Groats - regarded as the most northern point of mainland Britain, before arriving at Stornoway airport on the Western Isles in the early evening.

The Olympic torch is now more than a third of the way through its journey.

Go here to read the rest:

Scottish News: Torch to visit Scottish islands

LONDON - Britains Latin America minister on Thursday accused Argentina of using its power to dent the economy of the Falklands Islands, as he prepares to visit the tiny South Atlantic archipelago to mark the 30th anniversary of a brief and bloody war between the two countries over the territory.

Jeremy Browne, who will visit the Falklands next week, said attempts to develop tourism in the islands a self-governing British Overseas Territory also claimed by Argentina were being damaged by actions taken by Buenos Aires.

The islands are seeking to attract visitors to boost tourism, hoping to capitalize on the territorys wide variety of wildlife, including penguins, sea lions and the rare caracara bird.

In recent months, Argentine ports have turned away cruise ships carrying the British flag, while flights passing through the islands are restricted from Argentine airspace. In addition, Argentina has recently called on its Latin American neighbours to boycott British goods.

Tensions have risen ahead of the June 14 anniversary of the end of the short war between Argentina and Britain over the Falklands, which began on April 2, 1982, and saw more than 900 people die.

Argentines insist Britain has illegally occupied the islands they call the Islas Malvinas since 1833. Britain accuses Buenos Aires of ignoring the wishes of the islanders, who say they are happy with their current status as a British outpost.

There is a G-20 country, at the top table of world affairs and one would imagine keen to be responsible on the world stage with a population of about 40 million people, seeking to put an economic blockade in place which will in tangible terms ... impoverish an isolated community with about 3,000 people, Browne told reporters ahead of his visit.

Browne, who has held talks in London with Argentinas ambassador Alicia Castro, said the move by the countrys government to sue five British companies involved in oil exploration off the coast of the Falklands were doomed to fail.

The prospect of exploiting undersea gas and oil reserves in the seas surrounding the islands has further fueled hostilities between the British and Argentine governments.

The lawsuits are part of trying to frustrate the economic development of the Falkland Islands, Browne said. But I dont get any sense that what Argentina is doing will impede oil exploration.

See the original post here:

British minister: Argentina denting Falkland Islands economy, risks harming isolated community

In the invitation to Buenos Aires on Friday, Hector Timerman, Argentina's foreign minister, said: "As Winston Churchill would say: 'You need courage to sit down and listen'."

"The UK has a long-standing interest in building a stronger partnership with Argentina on a broad range of issues of mutual interest.

"The only issue that we will not discuss is the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, unless and until the islanders wish us to do so.

"We will issue a formal response in due course."

On Thursday, Mr Browne criticised Argentina's "domineering behaviour" over President Cristina Kirchner's plan to address a UN "decolonisation committee" in New York next week.

She will be the first head of state ever to address the gathering.

Mrs Kirchner has tried to maximise economic pressure on the Falklands by preventing any cruise ships which stop at the islands from using Argentina's ports. She has also begun legal action against companies exploring for oil in the waters around the British territory.

Mr Browne accused Argentina, with a population of 40 million, of trying to "impoverish an isolated community of about 3,000 people". He asked: "Which party is behaving in a domineering way?"

Go here to read the rest:

Falkland Islands: Argentine foreign minister quotes Churchill over Jeremy Brown invite