MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
“We will never concede one drop of our waters to Spain”, pledged Picardo on Gibraltar Day
By Jim Watt - The Gibraltar National Day political rally organised by the Self-Determination Group for Gibraltar (SDGG) was held at Casemates square on Tuesday. On stage were local politicians, including the leader of the opposition, heads and representatives of other British Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, British MP's from all parties and Mr Perry Stieglitz Gibraltar's man in the US. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesHa, ha, ha!!!!!
Sep 11th, 2013 - 02:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0Suck it up Spain!!!! Your b*st*rd children in Argentina FAILED to steal the Falklands from the British and you will FAIL to steal Gibraltar. Oh you can whine and moan but it won't do you any good.
These lands are ours, we will NEVER give them up.
Ave it!!! and live with the disappointment
In news elsewhere, it appears that the British Government is considering extending Gibraltar Territorial Waters from the current 3 miles to the UNCLOS limit of 12 miles, where practicable. Possible considerations may include the necessity for the Royal Navy and the Government of Gibraltar to deploy an adequate number and size of fully-armed enforcement vessels. What a surprise for the Guardia Civil or any other Spanish state vessel when they are faced with the new warning. “Leave Gibraltar Waters immediately or be fired on. This is your only warning”! And the shock of the poachers as they, and their vessels, get arrested. The vessels to be destroyed, never returned and no compensation. They'll have to get proper jobs! After release from prison. Much the same for Spanish users of pleasure craft. Stay OUT of Gibraltar Waters or have the “pleasure” of spending 6 months in a Gibraltar prison. And all identified as not being permitted to enter Gibraltar, ever! Perhaps Spanish state vessels could also be seized and their crews imprisoned. Might teach them respect. And repeat offenders should get longer sentences. First offence, 6 months. Second offence, 9 months. Third offence, 12 months. And so on.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 06:41 am - Link - Report abuse 02 Conqueror
Sep 11th, 2013 - 07:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think that may be a possibility once the 12 mile limit is in place except I disagree about pleasure craft being included.
It presently seems that anti-British feeling is much muted compared to the level headed Spaniards who see this for what it is; a distraction from the Spanish economy. No need to alienate reasonable people.
@2 conq - indeed, Gibraltar are within their rights to get their full quota...definitely go for that. I'm all for the impounding of the boats too, since this is all legal. I'm inclined not to shoot just yet.. just send them away boat-less but with a T-shirt saying 'Britain and Gibraltar Keep Calm and Carry On'.. and a free video of David Cameron's video address on Gibraltar Day!
Sep 11th, 2013 - 07:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0@3 ChrisR
You're right but I think the Spanish government should be hauled before the courts, they need to be seen to loose big time.
are they after the gib water as well now, how greedy. I would station an island class patrol ship permanately in harbour.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 08:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0The important point about claiming the 12 mile limit is that the Spanish would then be forced to object through the courts - or do nothing and accept it.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 08:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0They've avoided the courts because they would lose and they don't want a judgement against them as they deny Gibraltar has any territorial waters. It's a way to force their hand.
@6 Idlehands: “ the Spanish would then be forced to object through the courts - or do nothing and accept it.”
Sep 11th, 2013 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0Or Madrid could just do the same as they have done with the 3 mile limit and ignore it: coming and going as they please.
Rule Britannia!
Sep 11th, 2013 - 11:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Rule Britannia: Land of Cowards, Bullies and Lackeys.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/matt-carr/rule-britannia-land-of-cowards_b_3783887.html
Gibraltar's sovereign territorial waters:
Sep 11th, 2013 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmfaff/memo/overterr/uct26402.htm
Stupid Spanish hypocrites:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmfaff/memo/overterr/uct26402.htm
Is it me or Picardo has NEVER uttered any words of reconciliation with Spain? Not once. All I have ever read issuing from his mouth are belligerance, intolerance, and division.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 12:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Hell will freeze over before any other flags fly in Gibraltar that are not our flags.“
Sep 11th, 2013 - 12:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Hell will freeze over before I remove those blocks”
“Hell will freeze over before I concede one Pie to Spain”
It seems to me is someone else using a “foreign enemy” to bolster his popularity!
Sep 11th, 2013 - 12:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@13 and who else in your opinion is using such tactic?
Sep 11th, 2013 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What kind of response do you expect when a foreign power and close neighbour plunders your territory and damages the ecology, lays economic and physical siege, and finally demands you surrender sovereignty?
Sep 11th, 2013 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hmmm, sounds familiar somehow...
Rajoy should be more concerned about disunity within the ranks -
Sep 11th, 2013 - 01:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Hundreds of thousands of Catalans held hands in a 400-km (250-mile) human chain across their region on Wednesday to press the Spanish government to let them vote on breaking away and forming their own country.
“We want a referendum to see whether there's majority support for independence. The problem is Spain won't listen. Our only hope ... is that Europe and the rest of the world put pressure on the Spanish government,” said Ester Sarramona, a 39-year-old civil servant.
Growing separatism in the region of 7.5 million people has become a major headache for Rajoy, who is mired in a corruption scandal and trying to pull Spain out of recession while also pushing through unpopular spending cuts.
Catalan separatists are watching closely a planned September 2014 Scottish referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, hoping it will promote the idea of self-determination for regions within countries that belong to the European Union.
Rajoy says a referendum would be unconstitutional and has pledged to block it in the courts.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/11/us-spain-catalonia-idUSBRE98A0FR20130911
Unconstitutional!
Allowing people to determine their own future surely, is democracy?
16
Sep 11th, 2013 - 02:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
Scotland didn't have a right to a referendum.....England has allowed it, rightly or wrongly ...remains to be seen!
@17
Sep 11th, 2013 - 02:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0According to the UN ICJ , 'a state's right under international law to acquire the territory of another sovereign state or a non-self-governing territory against the will of the people under the theory of 'historical ties' is severely circumscribed. The theory cannot support the annexation of the territory of another sovereign state. WHEN APPLIED TO THE TERRITORY OF A NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORY THE REQUIREMENTS ARE STRICT; IT REQUIRES PROOF OF CONTINUOUS, IMPORTANT AND FORMAL TIES OF A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC NATURE IN THE FEW INSTANCES WHERE IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED THE RIGHT OF THE INHABITANTS TO SELF-DETERMINATION.'
So that means that Spain and Argentina will never bring Falklands/Gibraltar sovereignty cases to the UN ICJ.
18
Sep 11th, 2013 - 02:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0......and there was me thinking that Trunce was talking about Catalonia and Spain!
.....and Scotland and the rest of the UK!
......Bless my soul I'm such a fuddy duddy!
Gibraltar could hold meetings inviting “prominent citizens of the EU” where they all agree that Catalonia has the right to leave “Spain”.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Gibraltar could host marches of support for the Catalonian Referendum, in full view of the Spanish frontier.
That sort of thing is quite acceptable to the Spanish and Argentinians isn't it?
It's not going to happen for Catalonia for several reasons....
Sep 11th, 2013 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Could you imagine if the EU had tried to influence or pressure England to let the Scots have a referendum to achieve a separation?
In UN law Spain is in the right concerning Catalonia!
Also it's not just Spain....areas in the South of France are technically Catalan or were Catalan Regions....where does it stop!
It can only come from Spain.....or Civil War!.....or a separatist movement that will resort to terrorism ....bombs etc like in Ireland...and still not win!
@21 responses from the international community to Catalonias Independence.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0UN - “The United Nations respect self-determination processes”.B.K.MOON
UK-“Let the people decide” and do not “ignore questions of nationality, independence, identity”
EFA“We believe that freedom, democracy and the right to decide on your own future are core values of Europe. We would welcome Catalonia and a Catalan Republic to be a new state within Europe, if the people so decide”
and of course Spains response to Catalonias Human Right of SELF-DETERMINATION: “Spain is indivisible”.......Well well!
A_Hole
Sep 11th, 2013 - 04:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Expert on the Act(s) of Union now.
At least Picardo doesn't act like Benny Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtXH5w0Q5ug
@3 You think? Then perhaps you should read up on the Spanish “pleasure craft” manoevering within about 50 yards of Gibraltar's physical shores. Is there some justification for “reasonable people” to break laws and intrude on other people's property?
Sep 11th, 2013 - 05:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@4 I did mention warning them first!
@7 And there is the reason for the potential use of force. They won't be “coming and going as they please” if they are being shot at!
@9 You would know. After all, being cowards is what argies do best!
@11 “Words of reconciliation”? For a bunch of thieving, lying cowards? Let's see now, ten minutes honest research shows that Spain's claim about Gibraltar is dishonest. There's thieving and lying. As for the cowardice, that's also straightforward. The Spanish thugs (Guardia Civil) are armed. As are the National Police. And they confront unarmed Gibraltarians! And then there's Spain's constant refusal to go to the ICJ. Much like argieland. And for the same reason. They would lose.
@17 South Sudan?
@21 And again. South Sudan?
m'eh
Sep 11th, 2013 - 05:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0close the border for an hour or two.
@25
Sep 12th, 2013 - 03:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0You say:
“close the border for an hour or two.”
I say:
Then hand back all that lovely money the EU has gifted Spain (to drag it up from the Donkey Age) and leave the EU.
That's what they signed up for....but oh, its Spain its expected they can't be trusted to abide by such agreements. Simple, turn off the cash tap.
yeah but my proposal is possible.
Sep 12th, 2013 - 01:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and unilateral.
and elective.
and whimsical.
1 wrong gesture to certain people in the region and its mobile home time.
Talk like some of the above in public and its 'please take a ticket and form an orderly queue'.
Major political responses take a lot more, and just lead to a retort, and an upping of stakes. Blighty/EU only cares for the major.
On the minor issues - its Spains call, so watch your mouth.
(in before and bllcks, and nonsense etc.)
@9
Sep 13th, 2013 - 02:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Rule Britannia: Land of Cowards, ”
You mean like Captain John Coward?
“Brilliant was part of the Task Force that took part in the Falklands War, with Captain John Coward in command.[1] During the war her two helicopters were involved in unsuccessful attacking the Argentine submarine Santa Fe, and she was the first Royal Navy warship to fire the Sea Wolf missile in action when, on 12 May 1982, she shot down three A-4 Skyhawks”
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!