MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
The Voice of Gibraltar Group
In September 2001, Peter Hain came to The Rock and hang the 'Sword of Damocles' over the heads of the People of Gibraltar. By the end of that year the Brussels Process was re-launched and the concept of a 'done-deal' reared its ugly face.
In March 2002, the Gibraltarians took to the streets in protest. Jack Straw gave them the proverbial two-fingers with his now infamous 12th. July policy statement in The Commons. Later, in November, Gibraltar rallied round the Referendum and returned the gesture.
Since then, 'familiarisation' visits have become the norm. Words like ?long grass', 'shelves', 'dust' and 'period of reflection' have been regularly flung to the four winds, like confetti. At the core of this new approach is The Governor with his 'reconciliatory' brief.
Now, just as the Gibraltarians were beginning to breathe a little easier, or lulled into a false sense of security, whichever the case, Tony Blair, at his narcissistic best, raises the tension on The Rock by encouraging the Spaniards. If it were not enough to oblige them with a resumption of the 'talks', be it as a face-saving exercise or to boost the Partido Popular's electoral campaign, he tells the world that the 'talks' were 'never dead'. How far can this man (described by some prominent Spanish politicians as a 'dick-head') go when he is more inclined to acquiesce to his co-religionists in the PP than respect the legitimate wishes, interests and rights of the People of Gibraltar.
It must be carefully noted that when GBC requested the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to comment of the Prime Minister's statement, it was referred back to Jack Straw's policy statement of 12th. July 2002. Yet, only recently, the Chief Minister insisted that he had been informed by the British Government that 'joint-sovereignty' was off the agenda.
One wonders whether all this is just another of HMG's subtle ploys, masked by a sublime use of the Thesaurus, to create a 'temperate' climate whereby the Chief Minister can be tempted to attend 'talks' under the Brussels Process.
After two years of political 'snakes & ladders', The Rock's future is still subjected to the ever-present and foreboding 'Spanish Dimension'. Perhaps, the ?ghost' of Hain? Furthermore, it is difficult to envisage any progress on constitutional reforms whilst Jack Straw's 'magna carta' remains HMG's stated policy.
The Voice of Gibraltar Group calls on Gibraltar's elected representatives, political parties and all social forces to unite in a concerted campaign to have the said policy officially retracted. The Rock has proved its resolve over the last two years, irrespective of the present situation, and can do so again.
Jim Watt - Gibraltar http://www.gibnet.com
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