Governor calls on Spanish authorities to acknowledge "gravity" of incursion
We will keep adding the pressure that is needed so that the people in Gibraltar do not have to fear using their pleasure boats or swimming in our waters!The UK Government and the FCO keep trying to downplay the incursions as they reiterate they are not acts of war!
Although we agree the incursions may not be acts of war - what do you call them instead?
Whatever one chooses to call them, they are both illegal and dangerous.
We welcome the statement from Sir James Dutton that clearly leaves no doubt on the seriousness of these incursions!
Now this is the sort of statement that we expect from Our Governor and Ex-Royal Marine!
But what we need is action not words!
The questions we must ask is - why didn't the RGP or the Royal Navy make an arrest?
Who is stopping them? THE FCO say it is up to RGP? But is it really? What is going on behind the scenes that we do not know about?
This incursion is a clear violation so how can you expect people to respect the laws if those who break it from another country are not made to face the consequences of their acts!
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Courtesy www.gbc.gi
Video Footage of the incursions - https://youtu.be/jHLS4NKtHCk
The Governor, Sir James Dutton, has called on the Spanish authorities to acknowledge the gravity of the actions of the crew of a Spanish state vessel that carried out an incursion into Gibraltar Waters on Saturday, and to take all necessary steps to ensure there is no repetition. Meanwhile the Government says this is another glaringly obvious example of a Spanish state vessel attempting to assert its authority well-inside our territorial limits.
In a statement, Number Six confirms that at around six thirty on Saturday afternoon the Spanish Customs vessel, 'Aguila IV', chased a Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and inside the demarcated buoys at Camp Bay. The vessel was about one nautical mile off Europa Point when it was circled by the SVA launch and the occupants, who claim to have been fishing at the time, asked to produce documentation. They took refuge in the area of Camp Bay and called for help.
The Spanish patrol boat returned to Spain when the RGP, GDP and Royal Navy launches arrived and warnings were read. The Spanish authorities claimed the pleasure boat had been off Estepona and failed to stop when asked to do so. The pleasure craft was escorted to the Marine Base where the occupants said they'd run away for fear of being boarded.
Acting Chief Minister, Doctor Joseph Garcia said: "It could hardly be clearer that the vessel had no jurisdiction to operate at Europa Point and even less a few metres from a beach at Camp Bay." He adds that quite apart from the serious political issues, the incident also raises the dangers of a state vessel operating within a demarcated bathing area.
This view has been echoed by the Governor, who has expressed serious concern about the incident. Sir James Dutton says the manoeuvres carried out by the Spanish vessel just metres from the shoreline were irresponsible and dangerous, as well as unlawful. He says they presented a significant risk to the safety of the public, adding that under no circumstances should Spanish vessels be provoking a situation that could result in serious injury or a fatality.
Sir James says that while the UK's sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters is not affected by such incursions, their repeated occurrence is nevertheless unlawful and unacceptable. He confirms that the British Government will be protesting this latest incident directly with the Spanish Government.
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The Opposition have stated:
The Opposition says the incursion on Saturday had all the hallmarks of a potential tragedy. It points out it happened when Camp Bay was full of bathers enjoying what is supposed to be a safe area. The opposition believes the incident illustrates that not enough is being done by the British Government to ensure these illegal activities cease. It believes it is obvious that any diplomatic pressure being exerted is having little effect and that sooner or later there will be a tragic accident.
Opposition Leader Daniel Feetham asks whether the British Government would tolerate these repeated incursions off the Coast of Portsmouth, when UK residents were being put at risk.The defence of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, he says, is a matter for the British Government and not our local law enforcement agencies.
The Opposition says it stands squarely behind the law enforcement agencies on this issue, adding they do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances. It adds that as with lobbying in Spain, attendance at the UN and the Brexit Referendum, the Opposition is prepared to work with the Government
Photo below - courtesy YGYV
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Defenders of Gibraltar do a lot of campaigning behind the scenes to help raise the awareness of the issues we face.
We will continue until such time as the Foreign office and the UK Government do what is our right and their responsibility - Defend British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!
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Below is one of our recent outcome as captured by GBC News
Courtesy of www,gbc.gi - http://www.gbc.gi/news/foreign-office-tells-defenders-gibraltar-incursions-are-not-acts-war-30158
The Foreign Office has written to the Defenders of Gibraltar, after the Group highlighted Incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. In the letter, it says, the British Government, from the prime Minister down, is working extremely hard to protect and assert the rights of Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in the EU and broader International contexts.
It reiterates the naval mission is constantly assessed, adding it does not rule out any measures that are necessary to defend Gibraltar from a genuine threat to its security or defence. However, it goes on to say, it remains the British Government's view that the maritime incursions we have seen so far, carry no such threat and although a violation of sovereignty and a misguided attempt to assert Spain's longstanding claim that the waters around Gibraltar are Spanish,-they are not acts of war or military aggression. It adds it's the Foreign Office's assessment that the current MOD resource in Gibraltar is equal to its tasking.
The Group has also highlighted Saturdays incident.
A copy of the correspondence may be viewed below:
SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST
HI
Firstly thank you for your reply. However, we have to raise that yet again yesterday we had another dangerous incursion in our Bathing areas. Please contact our Governor for more information.
My question to you all is - Will you all wait for a death before you actually take action? The incursion commenced off Europa POint with our locals using their pleasure boats and ended up on our shorelines on our western side.
THE Spanish SVA actually entered the demarcated swimming areas! THis is yet another dangerous act of breaking our laws!
By the time the RGP and the Naval Gibraltar Squadron arrived, they had already endangered the lives of those on the pleasure boats and the swimmers! Remember that before they entered the bathing area the navy squadron had already given them radio warnings to leave Gibraltar Territorial Waters! But they did not go out until the issue escalated to the beaches on the western side!
We are all now extremely worried on the amount of incursions and the lack of actions by you all. DO we have to be afraid to use our own pleasure boats and go swimming in our waters because none of you want to do the right thing?
All evidence is here - http://defendersofgibraltar.blogspot.com/2015/08/spanish-authorities-enter-gibraltar.html
We are not asking for a war - but we are demanding protection! This is our right!
Please ensure some action is done before we have a death and you will all be held responsible for the negligence in this matter!
I hope to hear some plan of action from you despite it is summer break!
Thank you
Anne-Marie Struggles
Chairperson for Defenders of Gibraltar
31 JULY 2015
Dear Ms Struggles,
Thank you for your email of 5th July about incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW). I have been asked to reply as a member of the Gibraltar Team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London.
The UK Government, from the Prime Minister down, is working extremely hard to protect and assert the rights of Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in the EU and broader international contexts. The Government remains unreservedly resolute in its commitment never to enter into arrangements under which UK sovereignty over Gibraltar would pass to another State against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, and not to enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. This “double-lock” on sovereignty is the keystone of our policy on Gibraltar.
Unlawful incursions into BGTW, are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty and we protest them as such to the government of Spain.
The Royal Gibraltar Police are responsible for upholding the law in BGTW while the Royal Navy is responsible for upholding sovereignty over BGTW. Both the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and the Royal Gibraltar Police will continue to carry out their responsibilities within BGTW, responding to any incidents as appropriate including challenging unlawful maritime incursions within BGTW.
The naval mission, its assets and people required to deliver it are re assed on regular basis, so that responsibilities can be carried out effectively. We do not rule out any measures that are necessary to defend Gibraltar from a genuine threat to its security or defence.
However, it remains the Government’s view that the maritime incursions we have seen so far have carried no such threat. Although they are a violation of sovereignty - and a misguided attempt to assert Spain’s longstanding claim that the waters around Gibraltar are Spanish - they are not acts of war or military aggression. And they do not weaken or undermine the legal basis for British sovereignty over Gibraltar, including BGTW. It is also our assessment that the current MoD resource in Gibraltar is equal to our tasking (though this is subject to continuous review).
We stand ready to do whatever is required to protect Gibraltar’s sovereignty, economy and security. We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, Gibraltar and the United Kingdom to avoid incidents such as this that damage the prospects for establishing dialogue and cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Mediterranean Department
5TH JULYDear SIr/ MadamPlease pass on this letter to the following people:The Rt Hon Lord Maude of HorshamThe Rt Hon Philip Hammond MPThe Rt Hon David Lidington MPThe Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBEJames Duddridge MPTobias Ellwood MPWe would like to raise our concern on the lack of action on defending the Gibraltar from the constant incursions by Spanish Paramilitary Guardia Civil and the State research vessels.This is not the first time and you have the statistics of this year alone!We are outraged by the lack of action and we would like to know why this lack of action in protecting the Integrity of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.I attach the photos taken of the recent one but I invite you to view our blog to keep up to date to your lack of action and the consequences of that!Are you waiting for an accident or a death at sea? We will hold you account to any loss of life or injury caused to the non protective action you have continued to stand for.Gibraltar deserves to be protected and we are not 3rd class British citizens.Listen to the recent incursion the audio is clear and the probe hit the Royal Navy Rhib!You are failing!We ask you take action now and we would like a response as soon as possible.Kind RegardsAnne-Marie Struggles
Chairperson
Defenders of Gibraltar Group**What
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