"Maybe, just maybe, Gibraltar would prosper as part of Spain"
A comment on the 5th of August.
The measures that Spain has taken on the frontier have affected, financially, in one way or another, approximately 250,000 people living in the Campo de Gibraltar, the area around Gibraltar that includes towns such as La Linea, San Roque, Los Barrios, Algeciras, Jimena de La Frontera etc. The Chairman of the Assoc.of Spanish Workers in Gibraltar says without Gibraltar La Linea is nothing. The Mayoress of La Linea says the Madrid is the enemy and Gibraltar is the friend. The Association of Municipalities of the C de G (La Mancomunidad), say that Gibraltar is "the factory" of the area, the only place where wealth and work is being created. Most Spaniards agree that Gibraltar falling into Spanish hands would be an economic disaster for the area.
The concrete blocks positioned on the sea bed are not any old concrete blocks. They are of Spanish design and are approved by Greenpeace España and Verdemar 2 organisations whose aim is to protect the environment. The blocks have holes in them where sea grass is planted, the aim being to create a breeding ground for fish where the stock is virtually exhausted. The self same blocks have been positioned in many places in Andalucia by the Junta. Greanpeace and Verdemar have expressed their satisfaction with what Gibraltar has done.
Spain argues that Spanish fishermen are being prevented from fishing as the blocks make it impossible to fish, It's true, they are designed for that purpose. As usual the situation is not simple. Gibraltar and the UK say the blocks are in Gibraltar waters. Spain says Gibraltar does not have any territorial waters. Meanwhile Dr. Jesús Verdú, Spain's leading expert in international law says of course Gibraltar has waters due to Spain and the UK having signed the Treaty of Montego Bay in 1982. Jesus says the Spanish government are in the wrong, he has arbitrated for the UN all over the world but the Spanish government don't listen to him.
The fishermen, in reality it seems to be a question of a single fisherman, Sr. Goméz, owner of the Divina Providencia operating out of La Linea. He has a wife and two adult sons who are both out of work. He admits that he trawls for shell fish, a practice that is illegal in Spain and say that he has no other source of income. In the Daily Telegraph he was reported as saying that he feels "used" by the government for political purposes. The rightwing newspaper ABC which is attacking the UK on all fronts at the moment with about 4 articles on the go at the same time tells a different story.
The Spanish government are racking up the pressure against the UK and Gibraltar by the hour, there is talk of imposing a 50€ charge for crossing the frontier, 100€ for a return trip and it is reported in the Spanish press that the Foreign Minister, Margallo of the Partido Popular is going to Buenos Aires in the near future with a view to organising a joint campaign with Argentina to regain control of the Falklands and Gibraltar.
Many Spaniards are becoming extremely worried about the line that the government is taking against a fellow member of the EU, a NATO ally and major trading partner. All parties other than the PP are demanding that Rajoy, the President present himself in Parliament to explain his policy, and his own party in La Linea are strongly criticising him. People are starting to recall the days of Franco.
I would be a liar if I said I don't find this situation worrying, I find it very worrying. I'm married to a Spanish lady from La Linea, I have lots of local knowledge about what is going on and the fact is that a quarter of a million Spaniards are extremely angry with their government. The Guardia Civil on the frontier are doing their job whilst not being in total agreement with what they are being instructed to do. They are seeing their own friends and in some cases family members badly affected by the very dubious action of the Government. There is an enormous groundswell of resentment building up.
So what next? Well, despite being well informed I don't have a crystal ball. We will have to wait and see.
Anyone wanting to check the situation on the frontier can do so here: http://www.frontierqueue.gi/frontiercamera.aspx
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 11/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 12/08/2013.
This message was last edited by ehw on 12/08/2013.