A new local movement ‘Gibraltar Struggle Against Spanish Nationalistic Oppression’ (GSSNO) has organised for tomorrow Saturday a simultaneous protest in London and the other at the same time in Gibraltar.
The principal aims of the protests are the same, in that the group wants to highlight the bullying tactics of the Spanish government towards Gibraltar and its people, this new movement considers both protests as the first few steps in getting the peoples’ voices heard!
The UK protest is headed by local Gareth Gingell, and will take place as from 10 a.m. outside Downing Street where a letter explaining the group’s aims and reasons for the protests being handed over to a 10 Downing Street official.
At the same time in Gibraltar Mrs Anne-Marie Struggles who is heading the Gibraltar demo end, will also be congregating local supporters also before 11 a.m. (UK time difference) at the Convent and similarly arrangements have been made for a letter to be handed over to a Convent official.
The Time Has Come For People to Speak!
When asked about the group by Panorama, Mrs Struggles said that the aims of the GSSNO were mainly four-fold they included:
1. To get our message out to the world by capitalising on all forms of media and through demonstrations – this includes newspapers, TV, Radio and the virtual world.
2. To lobby national, international and global organisations to support our cause – this is to be summarised by the fact that Spain has a population of 47 million, Gibraltar a population of 30,000. They must respect our wishes, rights and sovereignty in the modern world. The world cannot stand by while Spain bullies us into submission.
3. To challenge Spain to take any outstanding sovereignty and territorial claims to an independent and international tribunal
4. To stand united with one voice against oppression – we the Gibraltarian people are a beacon to those who continue to fight oppression in all its forms. The struggle has been arduous and it is not yet over, but we believe that a consolidated push can bring us to the finishing line. To that end, the movement is above local party politics. We believe in democracy and the universal rights to which all humanity inherits.
Mrs. Struggles went on to say “We are a group of people who believe that the time has come for us as a people to speak out and be heard. We have for a month now been writing letters, emails, tweets and speaking out verbally to all those in govt in the UK. We believe that not enough is being done to protect us as a people or a nation. We are an honest nation striving to survive and provide to its people! ”We want to let our voices be heard about the truth of everyday bullying tactics from Spain. We are fed up of the lies that are said about our people and our government and our land”.
They also say that we also want to be able to live in peace with our neighbours without fear of further intimidation or to be pressured to give up our identity. We have gone to the referendum twice in less than 100 years to prove to the world that it is not the government that are saying we want to be British but rather that it is US the people who want to remain British. We believe our land belongs to US the people on it. We want to proclaim that we DO NOT WANT TO BE SPANISH! This does not mean we do not like Spain as a country or we do not like the people! we want to have the same freedom as others have elsewhere without the cost of our nationality and of who we are, they say. And they add: We are very passionate in what we believe but we are very forgiving which is why we have so much peace in our diversity of cultures and religions in Gibraltar. We are very family orientated! Yes we have different opinions politically but that does not change who we are just like our religions do not state who we are!
We are not smugglers and trouble makers! We are Gibraltarians who only wish to continue to be free and respected! The land belongs to the people! They call on the many friends of Gibraltar that are all over the world to support us in our protest on Saturday. ”Our movement has only just begun but believe me that we are here to stay and will put actions to our words. Remember that!” they say.
22-06-12
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