Plans announced for invasion of Gibraltar

A trade union in Andalusia says it plans to stage an “occupation” of Gibraltar on August 29.

The Andalusian Workers Union has urged it 20,000 members to join in.

The plans to “reclaim” Gibraltar for the people of Andalusia were announced by union spokesman Diego Canamero who said: “It is a well-known tax haven, that is our principle reason to occupy it in protest.”

“We also want to reinstate Gibraltar’s Andalusian sovereignty, dismantle the British military base and protect small-scale fishing in those waters,” he added.

The union has a reputation for radical anti-capitalism.

It has previously carried out Robin Hood-style activities including supermarket raids for the poor to and the “expropriation” of a disused luxury hotel. Last summer is demanded food and school supplies from supermarkets for families in poverty.

Its members have also “expropriated” several properties around Andalusia from landowners in order for the unemployed to grow food there.

The tiny territory of Gibraltar was ceded to Britain by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

Gibraltar laid down an artificial reef off its coast with further fanned the flames of ire in Spain.

Last week the European Union rejected Spanish demands that Gibraltar dismantle the artificial reef on environmental grounds ruling that no environmental regulations had been violated.

Comments  

+2 #9 Peter Booker 2014-07-30 10:53

James seems to have a bee in his bonnet about the Ultimatum. It was certainly a shock to the Portuguese establishment at the time. In a sense, however, Portugal earned a slap in the face from Britain because Portugal negotiated in 1886 about Southern Africa with both France and Germany, but ignored the British. But even after the Berlin Conference of 1884, Portugal was assigned far more territory than it actually controlled. Yes, Portuguese children are filled with nationalist claptrap about the Ultimatum, but when you analyse the ability of Portugal to control and develop Mozambique and Angola, it becomes obvious that they did not have the resources necessary even for the territory they held.

+2 #8 Peter Booker 2014-07-30 10:52

If Harriet by Terra Nullis means Terra Nullius, she should be disabused. The crown of Castile expended considerable effort to conquer the Rock, and would not recognise this description; nor did Admiral Rooke conquer a barren piece of land in 1704. To find foreigners speaking only their own language in Portugal, you could try the British or the Spanish. `A long history of collaboration´ between Portuguese and Spanish would not explain the continuous suspicion and continual wars between the two nations from 1140 onwards. Such a phrase must be ironic.

+2 #7 Harriet. 2014-07-29 17:06

It it is obvious that the annexation of Olivença and Hispanicisation is of no interest for a Portuguese today when you realise that the....

Spanish own tens of thousands of hectares of excellent Portuguese farmland, factories and Portuguese herdades and quintas.

And bringing over their own managers and workers in preference to Portuguese and communicating ONLY in Spanish to any Portuguese they meet - who in any case fully understands what is said.

Also - due to their long history of collaboration, only being artificially kept apart over the centuries by those 'damned British' wanting a safe coast to sail down .... these two Iberian cultures are virtually indistinguishable compared to the gulf between the British and Spanish cultures.

Remembing always that Gibraltar was Terra Nullis until we arrived.

+3 #6 James. 2014-07-29 11:25

Its classically misleading for Portuguese to divert attention away from The Pink Maps, 1890 British Ultimatums and Berlin Conferences. Much of which – like Napoleonic invasions, gets blamed on us, the British.

Although not a problem for those Brits finally settled safe in their legalised properties – those many not so fortunate should be aware of the 'RELATIVE WEIGHT' given to events connected to the land around the world that Portugal had thought was theirs up until the mid 1700 to 1800's. Which they have always thought was 'unfairly' taken from them by the 'big fellas' in Europe.

At least half a standard Portuguese school history book is given over to these matters …. about the annexation of Olivença is minimal. Go on – try looking for it !

This minor squabble with their Spanish cousins is just a laugh to younger Portuguese today .… slapping the British, as many of us now painfully know - isn't !

+4 #5 Klarissa. 2014-07-29 09:54

I happen to know that there is a mini British Scout Jamboree planned for late August on Gibraltar.

Mrs Trumpington-Smythe (yes, really) senior Akela of the combined Devon and Dorset Brownies with her gals - should be enough to see these Spaniards off. Along with elements of the Cornwall Rangers and Guides for skirmishing.

Any serious pockets of resistance would be cleaned out by the Lancashire Venture Scouts, put ashore by the Scarborough Sea Scouts. Held in reserve for tieing up prisoners could be those regular national Knot craft champions from Birmingham - the 14th Solihull Scouts.

Bring it on ... Diego !

Or whatever Hispanic subterfuge you will be using on the day ... Jacob, jacobo, James, Jaime, Hamish, Giacomo, Diego, Santiago, Yago, Jacques, Jaume,...

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/102160/what-is-the-engilsh-translation-for-the-spanish-name-diego

0 #4 Peter Booker 2014-07-29 08:59

The closest Portuguese parallel to the situation at Gibraltar is that of Olivença, annexed by Spain in 1801, and never returned, despite Spanish promises to do so at the Treaty of Vienna. In the nineteenth century, Spain followed a course of forced Hispanicisation of the Olivença territory. Britain has not necessarily adhered to all of the conditions at the Treaty of Utrecht, but has never contemplated in treaty or any other form the restitution of the territory of Gibraltar to Spain. Gibraltar has been British longer (301 years) than it was under the crown of Spain (251 years).
Canamero does have a point about tax havens, though. Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Caymans, British Virgins, Belize, Turks and Caicos etc etc. They are all British, and all centres for tax evasion. Rather embarrassing?

+2 #3 Mike Towl 2014-07-29 07:21

Perhaps they should be forced to wear yellow jackets so visitors don't mistake them for Barbary Apes and start tossing them a few peanuts.

+3 #2 James. 2014-07-28 21:34

Far too few Brits are remotely aware of how much pain is still felt by Portugal's Gibraltar angst ...

the 1890 Pink Map / British Ultimatum.

The event - and those related to Portuguese colonialism - fills many pages in Portuguese school text books.

Yet it rarely featues in any discussion amongst Brits when asking each other ...'How did it all go so wrong ?'

Read up on it guys ... don't suffer in total ignorance !

And tell other Brits so they don't either ...

+3 #1 Mr Hoover 2014-07-28 19:30

The Spanish seem to conveniently forget their enclaves in North Africa not too far away from Gibraltar.

Refresh comments list

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.