Spanish Ecologists challenge Royal Navy on future nuclear submarine repairs in Gibraltar
Montedeoca rejects the British announcement
Using quite provocative and inflamatory language, a spokesman for Spanish ecologist group Verdemar, Antonio Muñoz, warned yesterday that the group is prepared to “peacefully occupy Gibraltar” in the event of future repairs of nuclear submarines in Gibraltar.
The spokesman for the Campo de Gibraltar ecology group was commenting on the arrival last Thursday, of “yet another” US ‘Los Angeles’ class nuclear powered submarine in the “Bay of Algeciras” (sic) “which on this occassion, only transferred food and supplies and did not approach the harbour, departing at 14:30 that afternoon”. Mr Munoz added:
“We will continue our fight, organising protests and campaigning against this practice in the British colony.â€
Mr Munoz also commented on the statement last week by Commander British Forces Gibraltar, Commodore Allan Adair, “that the ‘British Navy’ will continue sending nuclear submarines to Gibraltar and does not discard that these may carry ‘ballistic missiles’ whilst being repaired “in the military installations of the colony”.
Antonio Muñoz, recalls that the Royal Navy already made an announcement in similar circumstances when the nuclear submarine HMS Turbulent arrived on the Rock, adding that the Mancomunidad de Municipios of the Campo de Gibraltar, the area’s ‘ayuntamientos’ or local councils, associations and the Diputación de Cádiz “have signed agreements opposing arrivals and repairs of nuclear submarines here”.
In a surprising declaration, Mr Munoz “challenged the Royal Navy to continue to do so” referring to the possible future arrival and reparation of nuclear submarines in Gibraltar, adding:
“They will not be able to repair even one single submarine again.
This is purely a political attempt on their part at intimidating us and continue to act as they have always done, like veritable pirates!
If they wish to put us to the test, let them try it! However much of an ‘iron gate’ there is (referring to the Frontier’s ‘verja’) , we shall tear it down! “
Mr Munoz continued, adding that “Gibraltar is only allowed to receive nuclear submarines for victualling purposes and not for reparations.”
“Let them be sent to Buckingham Palace, because if they continue to bring them here, we have the power to stop them! We are waiting for them!”
Meanwhile, the President of the Mancomunidad de Municipios, Juan Montedeoca, declared his own “strong opposition and rejection” to nuclear submarine repairs in the British colony, warning “that they should bear his opposition in mind”. He added that he “also regrets that whenever there is the possibility of an agreement between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, the ‘English Armada’ attempts to ‘tighten the cord’ and take matters in a different direction”.
From Europa Sur - Campo de Gibraltar edition of Spanish Press Agency
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