GUARDIA CIVIL IGNORE ROYAL NAVY WARNING

The Guardia Civil are going to provoke a serious incident if they continue to interfere with military movements by sea in and out of Gibraltar in such a carefree and cavalier fashion. Their continuing incursions make it all the more important that the territorial waters of Gibraltar are fully protected and our jurisdiction enforced at all times, says the Opposition.

 Adding that the latest reported incident between a Guardia Civil launch and the Royal Navy happened recently during the call of the Los Angeles class United States Submarine Providence. It will be recalled that the US vessel was in Gibraltar just days after being involved in the military operations off Lybia. When it was leaving Gibraltar, it was shadowed by a Guardia Civil launch which appeared to be photographing or filming it. The Royal Navy warned the Guardia Civil by radio that they were too close to the submarine. The Guardia Civil continued in their approach and when they moved closer to the submarine, their path had to be physically blocked by the Royal Navy vessels.

  The Opposition consider that it is dangerous and irresponsible for the Guardia Civil to behave in this way. Incidents of this nature and very serious and they raise safety concerns as well as issues of sovereignty, jurisdiction and control over Gibraltar’s territorial sea.

  This is not the first time that this kind of situation has happened. It will be recalled that during an exercise near Gibraltar, a British Royal Navy frigate nearly fired on an oncoming Guardia Civil launch after the latter refused to identify itself or to answer radio communications. It was only when one of the Gibraltar Squadron vessels which accompanied the warship recognised the Guardia Civil that the incident was defused. More recently, the Guardia Civil also interfered with a military exercise inside Gibraltar waters when they entered the exercise area where parachutists jumping from an RAF plane into the sea.

  It is obvious that the behaviour of the Guardia Civil is in line with the policy of the Spanish Government which is designed to make life as difficult as possible for any military units that want to make use of Gibraltar. The Opposition considers that it is only a matter of time before there is another serious incident. It is incredible that they should behave in such a reckless manner in the presence of an American nuclear submarine and its escorts when heightened security measures mean that they risk being shot at. They have no right to interfere with military or any other vessels inside Gibraltar’s territorial sea.

 

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