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Storm over Guardia Civil incursions
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A storm has been blowing in Spain following the advice of the Gibraltar Government to boat owners following "further incidents of unlawful encroachments by the Guardia Civil over the week-end."
As we published yesterday, the Government reminded all users of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters that no Spanish law enforcement agency or other entity has the power or authority to exercise any form of jurisdiction in Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Accordingly, all requests by Spanish authorities within BGTW to board vessels, to produce documentation, to answer questions of any nature or to seek to enforce legislation on any subject, especially fishing and environmental laws, should be refused.
Boatowners accosted in this way "should immediately radio or telephone the RGP or fire off a distress flare which will result in the immediate deployment of the RGP or other Gibraltar Government maritime resources," said the Government.
The reaction in Spain has been prompt. Both Campo MPs De La Encina and Landaluce, the former of the PSOE and the latter of the PP, do not think Spanish foreign minister Moratinos should visit Gibraltar next week, given the prevailing atmosphere.
Socialist senator Carracao spoke of Caruana's lack of courage, while others were saying that what Caruana wanted was for Moratinos to give up on the waters.
Campo radio has been leading with this story, with Spanish politicians and others having their say against Caruana.
The national daily El Pais said that Caruana's action could create an 'explosive situation', as it seeks an act of disobedience to the Guardia Civil, or worse, a confrontation between them and the Gibraltar police.
Diplomatic sources said that the attitude of the Gibraltarian authorities made it very difficult, if not impossible, for the ministerial meeting under the tripartite forum to take place.
Of course, what Caruana has been saying is that the Spaniards have no right to interfere in Gibraltar's territorial waters.
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