Tireless security tightened:
PANORAMA insight special

Security measures have been tightened on HMS Tireless following the boarding of it this week by activists from Greenpeace. There has been concern at Gibraltar at the ease with which the protesters managed to climb over the nuclear submarine, which is awaiting repairs here since last May.

  A huge 'oil boom' has been placed encircling the submarine, which would make access to it more difficult as the previous exclusion zone, demarcated by buoys, was easily breached by Greenpeace inflatable rubber dinghies.

  At the same time a British frigate has arrived unannounced and is now berthed outside the control tower at the Command of British forces, which faces the submarine berth.  It has a flag flying that means that it is in a state of readiness to sail at any moment.It is the highly sophisticated HMS Richmond, commissioned in 1995, which has a complement of 169 officers and men. The telephones of the British military spokesman at Gibraltar were not picked up throughout the day, and an emergency mobile number was also out of action.   Messages left were not answered, all of which shows the state of the Command British Forces in Gibraltar, which has been severely depleted in a wave of defence cuts over recent years.

  Following the Greenpeace demonstration, the commander British forces, Commodore Andrew Willmett, said that security measures would be reviewed, but he attempted to play down the negative effects of the protest.

  The British view is that the repair of Tireless, whether in Gibraltar or Devonport, would carry equal risk, whereas that risk would be increased if the submarine were towed all the way back to Britain.  A report commissioned by the Gibraltar government, which has not been published, concludes that Tireless can be safely towed back to Britain during May and September, when weather conditions are improved.

  The Gibraltar government takes the view that towing would only be urged should his panel of nuclear experts advise that repairing the submarine would present an unacceptable risk. The chief minister Peter Caruana states that if it is safe for public health and the environment, the repair should take place. He clearly wants to be as helpful as he can to the UK ministry of defence, fearing the negative publicity his government would receive in the UK if it were to halt the repair process.

  The opposition take the view that Gibraltar is not an ideal place to undertake repairs to nuclear submarines, a view which opposition leader Joe Bossano says that the MOD has shared in the past. There is a feeling in opposition circles that Gibraltar is taking a risk it can do without - if anything goes wrong the whole of the population would be affected due to the smallness of the place.

  The government's nuclear experts today held another meeting with the MOD in Britain where additional information  was going to be provided to allow the panel take a view on the actual start to the repairs. 

Their hope of having the new report ready a week from today has now suffered another delay, and the likelihood of the repair process starting this month now appears to be out of the question.

  A major demonstration against Tireless takes place in the Algeciras, across the bay, tomorrow.(19.01.01)

Secret plan to move sub    

As protests grow against the presence of a stricken British nuclear submarine in Gibraltar, the UK Government has reportedly agreed to remove the vessel by 19 May.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais said on Sunday that London had secretly agreed with Madrid to remove HMS Tireless, whether it had been repaired or not. It is believed the sub could be towed back to the UK.

The newspaper said the British Defence Ministry had declined to confirm or deny the reports, but was told by a spokesperson that the Royal Navy was confident that repairs would be complete by the end of March.

Mr Aznar has accused the socialists of using the submarine as a political weapon against the ruling right-wing party.

The UK has dismissed allegations that the damage is more serious than so far revealed.

The British authorities say the vessel suffered a crack in its cooling system, but is entirely safe and poses no threat to the surrounding population.

But last week, a group of activists from the environmental group Greenpeace boarded the sub in a protest against its presence. (BBC 21.01.01)

Massive anti-Tireless demonstration in Spain

A massive demonstration against the presence and repairs to the British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless took place in Algeciras, Spain, today, headed by the president of the Andalusian regional government Manuel Chaves.

  Chaves said that the majority in Andalucia are against Tireless, while the mayor of Algeciras Patricio Gonzalez told the estimated 50,000-plus crowd: We will win this battle.

  With a multitude of banners and flags urging that Tireless "go home", the demonstration moved slowly in the streets of the nearby Spanish town, heading for the town square where the speeches were delivered.

  Buses had been chartered in different towns of Andalucia to bring people to the demonstration.  This has been criticised by the ruling conservative 'Partido Popular' whose spokesman said the demonstration had not been a success.

  All other political parties in Andalucia supported the demonstration, as well as unions and other bodies, who see their fight strengthened in the wake of the support received.

  Members of the Gibraltar environmental safety group also took part.

  There were banners linking Gibraltar to the American base at Rota, Cadiz, describing both as a threat.

  Extreme right-wing demonstrators who took advantage of the situation to unfurl a banner claiming the return of Gibraltar to Spain, were jeered, an  observer saying that the demonstration was not the place to promote Spain's claim to Gibraltar's sovereignty. (20.01.01)

Tireless repair delayed as uncertainties remain

 Repair work to the stricken nuclear submarine HMS Tireless,  due to have started next Monday, has suffered a setback as the Gibraltar government  nuclear experts report that "there remain a number of uncertainties relating to the welding activity" which do not provide it "with sufficient confidence that the repair will be ultimately succesful."

  The experts have asked for further detailed information, and this should be forthcoming at a meeting with the UK ministry of defence tomorrow Friday.  The panel say that they need until 26 January to report on the whole repair process.

  The MOD requested, in the circumstances, whether the experts could report only on a limited part of the welding process (known as the 'one third weld fill') and this has been agreed. The Gibraltar government has sought an assurance from the MOD that it will not carry out any works until the experts have reported to it and the government has been able to formulate its position. The assurance was given today following three telephone conversations between the chief minister Peter Caruana and the UK defence secretary Geoff Hoon.

  Once the experts are in receipt of all the information they seek they will need about 5 to 6 weeks to compile its report and recommendations in what is expected to be a substantive report covering all activities and preparations up to the departure of Tireless from Gibraltar.

  Thus, there will be an interim report on or about Friday 26 January followed by a substantive report. (18.01.01)

  FULL TEXT of Government statement and nuclear experts' report  

Gibraltar governor and chief minister accused by Spanish mayor

The mayor of the nearby Spanish city of Algeciras, Patricio Gonzalez, today accused the governor of Gibraltar David Durie and the chief minister Peter Caruana of subsidiary responsibility of any risks developing from the planned repair to the nuclear submarine HMS Tireless, due to commence on Monday.

  Gonzalez called on the Gibraltar stipendiary magistrate and handed over his accusations. A spokesman for the mayor said that they were told that a reply will be forthcoming within 24 hours if the submission is valid under Gibraltar law.

  Gonzalez made a similar protest last October against the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar.

  He says he is concerned of the risks posed to Algeciras and other towns in the Spanish hinterland by the Tireless repairs.

  As he came out of the court building, Gonzalez was jeered and insulted by about 20 persons who waited outside. He was given police protection.

  Levi Attias, of the Voice of Gibraltar group, said it was "absolute hypocrisy" that the mayor and others in the Spanish region should protest about Tireless when they ought to be honest enough to protest about the industries in their area, which he alleged had caused sufferings for 25 years, such as the oil refinery and the Acerinox plan, where there was an escape of radioactivity some two years ago.(18.01.01)

Opposition groups question Tireless security

Opposition groups are questioning the security of Tireless following the Greenpeace demonstration yesterday, when the nuclear submarine was boarded by environmentalists.
The labour/liberal opposition, in a statement, says it is surprising that Greenpeace gained access to the submarine. "The incident raises serious questions about safety and security," they say.
The opposition says that the incursion by Greenpeace serves to prove the point that they have been making all along. The authorities may well argue that Tireless is safe but "what cannot be guaranteed is an incident or an accident out of the blue which can lead to a catastrophe." They again urge that Tireless should be repaired in Britain.
"No explanation has yet been forthcoming from anyone as to why the submarine could not have gone back to Britain under tow from May to September of last year when, according to the Gibraltar government expert, weather conditions would have allowed it," says the opposition. 
VOICE OF GIBRALTAR 
For its part, the Voice of Gibraltar pressure group says in a statement that "in dumping a crumbling tin on our doorsteps, the British government in its wisdom, or sheer lack of it, has rendered Gibraltarians vulnerable not only to the possibility of a radiation leak or such similar horrifying eventuality, but we are now exposed to the ripple effects of assaults by third parties on Tireless."
Reacting to remarks last night by the Commander British Forces Commodore Willmett, the group adds that the truth is that the ministry of defence failed miserably in preventing Greenpeace's actions.
The Voice of Gibraltar adds: "We further expect the Government of Gibraltar to abide by the clearly expressed wishes of the vast majority of Gibraltarians and to oppose, unreservedly, the repairs to Tireless in Gibraltar."
A public opinion poll carried out by PANORAMA recently showed that 80% were against Tireless being repaired in Gibraltar. PANORAMA opinion polls have accurately forecast matters of public opinion for nearly 25 years, including forecasting all election winners in that period of time. (17.01.01) 

Spain blocking phone calls to Gibraltar

  Spain has been accused by the Gibraltar chamber of commerce of blocking telephone calls to Gibraltar - and the Foreign Office has been asked to do something about it.

  The chamber "is becoming increasingly alarmed by the number of complaints it has received from its members whose overseas clients and customers are having severe difficulties in telephoning Gibraltar."

  The chamber says it is understood that computer routing of phone calls is resulting in calls to Gibraltar being routed via Spain.  "The Spanish exchange does not recognise the Gibraltar 350 code and does not convert such calls to 34 9567. As a consequence calls to Gibraltar are being lost," says the chamber.

  The chamber calls on the Foreign Office to resolve this blockade immediately which is seriously damaging commerce in Gibraltar, they say in a statement. (17.01.01)

No terrorist threat, says British forces commander

  The commander British Forces at Gibraltar, commodore Andrew Willmett, says that there is no terrorist threat to the faulty nuclear submarine HMS Tireless, which was yesterday Tuesday boarded by activists from the environmentalist group Greenpeace.

  Defending the security arrangements in place, Commodore Willmett said: "Security procedures are designed to cope with what we believe is the assessed threat" and added that the Greenpeace demonstration was a "peaceful" event.

  He added that security arrangements would be looked at to decide if changes are needed in the light of the Greenpeace incident, when activists boarded  the submarine. "Our security measures prevented the demonstrators from having access to the inside of the submarine," said the commander.

  He was not surprised they had managed to make it, the security arrangements being designed for a particular security threat - "for keeping these people from getting inside the submarine."

  "We do not assess there is a threat from  a terrorist type of organisation at the moment," he said in a local television interview.

  The Greenpeace incident should not cause any concern. There was no danger to the submarine or to the people onboard the submarine, he said.

  He insisted that the safest option was to repair Tireless in Gibraltar and confirmed that the programme of repairs is scheduled to start on Monday.

  In a Gibraltar court today Wednesday, the ten Greenpeace activists arrested yesterday were each fined 350 pounds sterling for entering British Admiralty waters without permission and for obstructing police. They pleaded guilty. (17.01.01)

Greenpeace protestors fined by Gibraltar court

The ten Greenpeace activists who yesterday Tuesday staged a protest on the British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless were today fined £350 each in a Gibraltar court. 
The activists pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court to charges of entering British Admiralty waters without permission and of obstructing police. A rubber inflatable dinghy, which the police had impounded, is being returned to Greenpeace.
The prosecution explained the sequence of events yesterday when four fast boats belonging to Greenpeace entered the Gibraltar port waters and unfurled Greenpeace flags and a banner against the nuclearisation of the seas. Some of the activists boarded the submarine and were repelled by a joint naval/police operation.
In a crowded court today Wednesday, defence lawyer Lewis Baglietto said that the members of Greenpeace were all environmentalists and had no intention of injuring anyone or causing damage. They had spent more than 24 hours in police custody, since their arrest yesterday morning. He asked the magistrate to be as lenient as possible given the circumstances of the case.
The ten activists, of different nationalities, each pleaded guilty individually to the charges.
Tireless has been in Gibraltar since last May when it developed a leak in its coolant system. The UK ministry of defence say that repair works are programmed to commence on Monday. (17.01.01)

Greenpeace protestors to appear in court Wednesday

The ten Greenpeace activists arrested by the Gibraltar authorities today after staging a protest against the presence here of the British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless are to be charged later today. They will appear in court tomorrow Wednesday, said police.
  The four women and six men are expected to be charged with entering British Admiralty waters and with obstructing the law enforcement agencies in the execution of their duties. There are three Spanish women and an Italian; the men are three Germans, and one each from Andorra, Austria and Spain.
  The protestors, sixteen in all, arrived in rubber inflatable dinghies from the nearby Spanish town of La Linea. They were of Spanish, German, Austrian, Italian and Andorran nationality, said Greenpeace.
  The protestors "were able to enter the submarine exclusion zone and board the submarine", said Xabier Pastor of Greenpeace in a radio interview here.
  A British military spokesman said: "Some of the protestors gained access to the casing of the submarine, but were prevented from entering the submarine."
  In a brief statement, the command of British Forces Gibraltar said that "the hatches to the submarine were immediately closed and the security and safety of the submarine were maintained at all times."
  Eye-witnesses said that protestors who gained access to the submarine were pushed into the water by crew members of Tireless, but not before the activists unfurled an anti-nuclear sign.
  Gibraltar woke up this morning to the sound of police vehicles sounding their sirens and flashing their lights as they sped to the South Mole, where Tireless has been berthed since last May awaiting repairs to a leak on its water coolant system. After preparatory works, and the upgrading of the Gibraltar base to undertake nuclear submarine repairs, the actual repair works are due to commence next Monday.
  At first there was much confusion as to the number of protestors arrested, with Greenpeace itself saying there were eight. Both the Gibraltar police and the naval authorities have confirmed that ten arrests were made. A dinghy has also been impounded. Those arrested will spend the night in police custody until they appear at the Gibraltar magistrates court tomorrow Wednesday.
  "Civilian tugs which were in the vicinity at the time assisted the law enforcement authorities," said a British military spokesman. Eye witnesses counted up to twelve vessels in the area near the submarine at the time, including patrol boats belonging to the civilian police, the military police and the Royal Navy.(16.01.01)

Sailors help arrest protestors

The crew of a British nuclear submarine moored in Gibraltar have helped detain Greenpeace activists who tried to board the vessel.

Ten protesters were arrested after they encircled Royal Navy's HMS Tireless in speedboats.

Greenpeace say two of the campaigners managed to get on board the hull and unfurl protest banners before they were apprehended.

Gibraltar police in motor launches have impounded two Greenpeace boats and have detained around half of the 20 demonstrators believed to be taking part.

The Tireless has languished in Gibraltar since May but the British Government has enraged environmentalists and local residents by refusing to move it.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Paloma Larena has confirmed ten protesters - five Spaniards, three Germans, an Austrian and an Italian - have been arrested and are in custody in the British colony.

The protest was designed to highlight the dangers of having nuclear vessels at sea and had been a success, Ms Larena said.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman has stressed none of the Greenpeace activists had managed to get inside the nuclear submarine.

He said: "We don't discuss the details of security arrangements, but obviously there was security in place and the police boats responded very quickly."

The Tireless, a Trafalgar-class sub capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles, developed a leak in its cooling system while patrolling the Mediterranean last year. Defence chiefs claim it would be dangerous to move it from Gibraltar and insist on carrying out the repairs(Ananova 16.01.01)

Greenpeace activists arrested after submarine incident

A number of Greenpeace activists were arrested this morning in Gibraltar after they staged an incident on the British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless, which is at Gibraltar awaiting repairs.
First reaction from official sources here said that 8 activists had been arrested.There was some confusion early this morning about the precise number as this was a security operation involving civilian and military police and naval personnel and units. The nationality of those arrested is given as Spanish, German, Austrian and Andorran.
The activists arrived in four dinghies from Spain early this morning. The reached the submarine and placed a placard urging a nuclear-free sea.
It is understood that the Greenpeace boats have returned to Spain.
The UK ministry of defence here was apparently caught unaware by the arrival of the Greenpeace activists, who breached the security cordon guarding the Tireless. A string of buoys encircle the submarine. A large tug is anchored against the submarine. Other police vessels are always in the area.
After 8.30 this morning, a major security operation was put in place including naval, civilian police and military police personnel and patrol boats. As many as twelve vessels were seen in the area this morning.
Police vessels were patrolling the entrance to the South Mole, where the submarine has been berthed since last May when it arrived here with a leak in its water coolant system. The UK ministry of defence has been undertaking preparatory work for its repair, which is due to commence next Monday.
Gibraltar woke up this morning to police vehicles sounding their sirens and rushing to the submarine berth. Ambulances were also in the area. A large contingent of police are also on the mole itself.
The security alert continued this morning, with fear that Greenpeace vessels might return to the area.(16.01.01)

£30 million price tag for Gibraltar betting licence

A Gibraltar bookmakers licence is up for grabs - by anyone willing to pay up to £30 million.
Simon Bold (Gibraltar) Ltd, which operates from the Europort area, is seeking a buyer or strategic partner.
The Telegraph says observers believe the business could be sold for up to £30million.
The paper says it is understood that the firm advising and organising the sale has told bidders that the company could consider an outright offer.
“I would like to have an involvement in any new structure and continue to run the business for the long term,” he said.
In the last nine months, says the report, the internet and telephone bookmaker turned over £6 million, although it is believed to have made a trading loss. It is however the Gibraltar licence that makes the business so valuable.
Gibraltar government policy has been to restrict the number of betting licences it issues. There are seven in operation. The chief minister Peter Caruana is on record as saying that the government’s policy is one of ‘pick and choose’ to try and attract only the better bookmakers.
The restrictive policy however increases the price prospective buyers would be expected to pay, in what can become a speculative environment.
If there are no controls on bookmakers being able to sell, the government policy ends up having a loophole and literally anyone can get in by buying a licence.
There is increasing speculation that Britain will abolish betting duty in its March budget. “It would offer the Chancellor a way to prevent the loss of millions of pounds in betting revenue as punters switch to internet accounts and bookies in Ireland and elsewhere who offer much lower tax rates,” said a report in the Daily Mail.
As PANORAMA reported last week, British bookmakers who fled oversas are to hold a meeting with the UK’s tax people about the conditions that would make them return to Britain and scrap their overseas operations. (15.01.01 )

Frontier delay: EU to decide action against Spain this week

The European Commission is to receive a report this week about the advisability or not of starting infraction proceedings against Spain because of the frontier delays.
Justice and Interior commissioner Antonio Vitorino is expected to conclude this week his study of counter-allegations made by Spain following the UK move about the frontier delays.
The Spanish government submitted a 20-page report on 20 December which largely justifies its action on Gibraltar on the basis that it is not part of the customs union and Britain not having joined Schengen in respect of frontier controls.
The Commissioner will now have to decide if Spain’s arguments can justify the disproportionate delays at the frontier, which affect free movement, or whether the severity of Spanish controls are effectively seen to be politically motivated.
Spansh officials have on occasions suggested that the controls are of a political nature.
Many observers think that Spain uses the frontier to apply political pressure to try and advance its sovereignty claim on Gibraltar, which she ceded to Britain in 1713 to be “enjoyed for ever”.
On a previous occasion in 1999, commissioner Mario Monti got the ball rolling but matters did not prosper.
The weight of complants from people of different nationalities is one of the reasons that has made Brussels take preliminary action against Spain. If the decision from the justice commissioner is to proceed, it will then go before the European Commission as a whole which will have to give it its final go-ahead. (15.01.01)

'300 would die' in Tireless accident, says Greenpeace

In the event of a hypothetical accident on Tireless, there could be an immediate death toll of 300 people, claims Greenpeace.
The nearest places to the submarine, much as Gibraltar, La Linea, San Roque and Algeciras would suffer the more serious effects, which could increase depending on wind direction and other weather conditions.
Greenpeace adds that if an immediate evacuation is not possible, the number of victims would be in their thousands, affected by cancer.
Their conclusions are based on a study by a Madrid University and Environmental Consultants Ainco-Interocean about the consequences of a nuclear accident, much as a fire in the reactor of a nuclear vessel. (15.01.01 )

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