25,000 Attend Gibraltar Sovereignty Demonstration

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

20 March 2002

Gibraltar was the focus of much international attention on Monday, when over 80% of the population of the Rock gathered to express their views on Anglo-Spanish talks over sovereignty of the territory.

According to police estimates, over 25,000 Gibraltarians (out of a possible 28-29,000 population) gathered for the demonstration, with schools and businesses shutting for the afternoon, and Ministry of Defence and Government workers taking leave in order to attend.

Chief Minister Peter Caruana called on the UK to cease the 'done deal' negotiations with Spain over the jurisdiction's future, and gave a prepared speech to the assembled crowd.

'The future of Gibraltar, both in practice and in principle, including our sovereignty, can only be decided by the people of Gibraltar in exercise of our right to self-determination,' he announced, to cheers and applause from the demonstrators.

Although the results of any agreement between the United Kingdom and Spain are likely to be put to the Gibraltarian population via a referendum there are very real concerns that, even if the jurisdiction rejects Spanish rule, the agreement will remain as the model for all future discussions on the subject.

The mood on Monday was intensified by revelations in the UK media over the weekend that the European Union is set to offer the region a £32 million 'bribe' if it accedes to Spanish and British demands. However, the proposal was angrily rejected by the Government of Gibraltar, as reported here yesterday.

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