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Vol. 3 Issue 58 www.gibraltarolivepress.com November 22nd - December 5th 2017
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Respect democracy! “SPAIN has a problem with democracy,” claimed Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell. The long-time friend of Gibraltar is now calling on Madrid to respect the wishes of its region Catalunya, as well as those of its neighbours on the Rock. The 51-year-old vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gibraltar insisted Madrid should take heed of referendums ‘instead of bludgeoing the people and bullying them into submission.’
Problem
“I’m afraid that Spain does have a problem with the concept of democracy,” said the MP for Romford. “For more than 300 years, Gibraltar has wanted to stay attached to the UK and not attached to Spain. Geographically, it may be attached to Spain but in terms of every other sense, they want to stay British. “Gibraltar has made its views known in two referendums, but the Spanish seem to never accept this. “We’re seeing a similar thing in Catalunya, it’s for the Catalan people to determine what constitutional status they want.”
FRIEND: Rosindell
November 22nd - December 5th 2017
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Olive Press meets GSD rivals in the forthcoming battle for leadership race See Page 7
Troubled waters
Spain must do more as migrant numbers triple across the straits
been imprisoned en route with no food or water, assaulted or forced to work in the sex industry and traded like slaves. Oumar Diallo, 23, from Senegal told the Gibraltar Olive Press how Morocco was considered a much safer place for departure. “In Libya, so many Africans go missing and they never turn up again. I know so many of our women who have been raped and forced to work on the streets.
By Joe Wallen
MIGRANTS crossing the Gibraltar straits have increased threefold this year, it has been revealed. A staggering 15,000 people have been rescued in what is now the fastest growing route for those fleeing war or seeking a better way of life. The number of migrants and refugees rescued in the straits has increased by 338% on last year’s totals as conflicts in Syria and the Middle East have worsened. The number of migrants crossing the Straits has grown from 3,323 people in 2012 to 14,557 people in 2017. The number of boats meanwhile, has increased by five times from 104, in 2012, to 617 so far this year. One migrant, Aboubacar Sylla, from Mali told the Gibraltar Olive Press he had recently arrived near Algeciras aboard an inflatable dinghy. The 34-year-old took the 14km crossing from Morocco to
Safer
INADEQUATE: Spanish authorities have been criticised for not doing enough Spain’s southern coast in September, a route that has tripled in popularity this year, and which has so far killed at least 156. “There were ten of us on this tiny rubber boat meant for maybe two people,” said Aboubacar. “We each put in €10 for the total cost of the boat which was €100 and then spent 16 hours paddling across from Morocco.
“I can’t believe I am here, that I am alive, but we made it.” The Spanish authorities have been criticized by the UN for allocating inadequate resources to the route. “The state isn’t prepared and there aren’t even the resources and the means to deal with the flow of people arriving by sea,” spokeswoman María Jesús Vega said.
Concerns are also growing over the rise of unaccompanied children and women making the crossing. They are particularly vulnerable to human traffickers en route and once in Spain. The route from Morocco has gained in popularity largely because Libya is now considered too lawless to escape via Italy. Thousands of migrants have
“Morocco is definitely safer and we are mostly left alone unless we are caught stealing or something,” he says. Many sub-Saharan Africans like Oumar have also benefitted from King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s political overture to West Africa, as prospective Spanish migrants can now travel into Morocco directly from countries like Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Senegal without needing a visa. Due to the proximity of Gibraltar – the distance is a mere 14km – migrants can also organise the journeys themselves, cutting out dangerous people smugglers. “The Spanish authorities must respond urgently to this situation,” said Estrella Galán, head of Spain’s refugee watchdog (CEAR). Opinion Page 6
FISHING ROW HEATS UP
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A TENSE stand-off between the Royal Gibraltar Police and Spain’s Guardia Civil has broken out over fishing rights. Officers from both organisations were called after the Environmental Protection and Research Unit boarded notorious Spanishowned Virgen Carmen Primero last week, while fishing illegally in Gibraltar. While the situation was resolved peacefully this time, it shows how easily fishing rights could lead to conflict, as reported in our last issue. Despite heightened surveillance from the Gibraltarian authorities, the captain of the Virgen Carmen Primero (right) remained resolute in his actions when we spoke to him this week. Fisherman’s Fiend, page 6