This is another instance where Gibraltar law is flouted with utter disdain. Two fishing boats in British Waters, violating Gibraltar's territorial waters and breaking Gibraltar law.
And all this was happening just a couple of days before there is a meeting with the fishermen as a result of the initiative taken by the Chief Minister. But will any agreement that may be possible be adhered to by the Spanish?
In this latest incident the fishermen were again fishing as if they were in Spanish territorial waters, and the agents of the Spanish state, the Guardia Civil, were supporting them in breaking the law. A Conservative MEP calls in our letters page today for stronger action.
The question must be asked: Has the Foreign Office lost all pride in being British?
At the time of the recent arrest of two Gibraltarians out fishing, the Gibraltar government issued a statement and asked: "The United Kingdom needs to ask itself how it would act if these events had been perpetrated by Argentine paramilitary forces in the oil and fish rich waters around the Falkland Islands or in the areas around the coast of the British Isles"
Already, we have been reading how the Royal Navy stopped, boarded and arrested two Spanish fishing boats in UK waters, with the English courts imposing a fine equivalent to 2 million euros.
How will Britain act in defending the Falkland's territorial waters? If Gibraltar is anything to go by, they will do nothing. No doubt the potential investors that are so necessary to exploit the waters of the Falklands may think twice before investing their money for fear that the Foreign Office will let them down, in the same way that they were let down in sending wrong signals to Argentina in 1982 which led to the invasion and the conflict that followed.
What a carry on!
02-08-12
What do YOU think?
 Have your say in Facebook
|
