Sep 17 - Government Says Guardia Civil Incident Was “Dangerous And Irresponsible”
The Government says that it considers that the incident of 11 September, where local vessels were rammed by a Guardia Civil RHIB, was “dangerous and irresponsible”. Number Six adds that this incident was also “a serious challenge to British sovereignty”. The incident is the latest in a series of serious incursions that have included Spanish helicopters hovering metres above the ground and shots being fired in BGTW by Spanish SVA officers.
The Government says that the evidence suggests that the situation at sea caused by unlawful incursions by Spanish state vessels is “getting worse and not better” adding that this is contrary to the assurances given by Madrid in advance of the Prime Minister’s visit to the Spanish capital.
The Government has seen various pieces of video evidence of the incident which involved two Gibraltarian pleasure craft, a Guardia Civil RHIB, the RGP Interceptor Launch Bravo 3 and the HMC Searcher.
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia have also met with one of the Gibraltarian anglers who was on board the pleasure boat which was the victim of this latest act of harassment by the Guardia Civil and members of the family in the other vessel. Number Six says that all those involved are “undoubtedly law abiding citizens.”
The Government also commends what it describes as “the quick and professional response” of the RGP and Her Majesty’s Customs in respect of this incident despite what it sees as “the sheer unprofessionalism and bad seamanship” demonstrated by the Guardia Civil.
A statement continued: “This incident is demonstrative of the flagrant disregard of the Spanish authorities for the sovereignty of British Gibraltar, the very day after our National Day. The blatant refusal of the Guardia Civil to engage with the RGP or HM Customs in a professional or calm manner and their threats to take Gibraltarian civilians and an RGP Officer into custody are inexcusable and completely intolerable. Moreover, the dangerous manoeuvres of the Guardia Civil and the deliberate ramming of both a Gibraltarian pleasure craft and an RGP vessel, just weeks after the firing of live shots at Gibraltarians civilians in BGTW, shows the extent to which some representatives of the Spanish authorities are willing put Gibraltarian lives at risk.”
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: ‘This latest attempted executive action in which the Guardia Civil resorted to violent manoeuvres in place of what should have been calm communication will be totally unacceptable to right thinking people who view the footage of the situation that developed. As the always laudable actions of the RGP and HM Customs have shown, every appropriate and proportionate response will be undertaken in order to protect Gibraltarian vessels in our waters. The video evidence is irrefutable and illustrates the danger created by the reckless navigation of the Spanish law enforcement officers in question. Those put at serious risk included a child who had been enjoying a day out fishing with his family and who was visibly and audibly shaken by the events in question. David Lidington was right to take this issue up immediately with his Spanish counterparts. The video evidence shows the world the facts as they occurred and will no doubt embarrass those involved on the Guardia Civil RHIB and those who, on their behalf, have put forward a demonstrably untrue version of events. It really makes a mockery of the statement by the Spanish Government two weeks ago on purported cooperation in respect of law enforcement. That will surprise no-one in Gibraltar."
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