Madrid defies Hague and the British Government

Para-militaries back in British waters.

Following a series of recent incidents which have included British Gibraltarian jet skiers being shot at by Spanish para-military police, incursions into British territorial waters by Spanish fisherman escorted and protected by the same Spanish police, stand-offs at sea involving the Royal Navy, Spain finally gridlocked the British territory of Gibraltar creating ten hour queues at the border.

Special police forces, by order of the Government in Madrid joined the Civil Gardia, the para-military police at the frontier where hundreds of cars were kept in sweltering conditions endangering pregnant women, young babies, invalids and the elderly, the only respite being water provide by the Gibraltar authorities. An innocent Gibraltar man was pushed off his bike, beaten by the Spanish para-militaries, taken into custody and yesterday appeared in court in La Linea, who's own mayor has protested to Madrid about these atrocities. (photos and footage of the incident are available). Finally, under media pressure, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague was compelled to eventually make a statement and speak to the Spanish ambassador. Too little, too late?

How much more do the British Gibraltarians have to take before the British Government takes a more robust line with the tainted government in Madrid? Whitehall largely ignored Argentina's sabre rattling in 1981 as mere rhetoric and sabre rattling. How much more do these British citizens have to take before Spain, using every device it can to deflect from its own internal economic and political corruption problems, feels confident to take the same action as the Argentinean junta did, prompting the establishment of a British task force and loss of life.

In defiance of William Hague and the British Government, Spanish para-military police boats have this morning encroached into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters pursued by a Royal navy patrol boat. News is just breaking that the police on the border are again employing unnecessary delaying tactics.

Ends
 
Photo attached for info.  Further images available on request