martes, 27 de agosto de 2013

Gibraltar Anger Over Facebook Invasion Image - Sky News

A Spanish mayor has upset people in Gibraltar by posting a mocked-up picture showing the rock brought under Spanish rule on his Facebook page.

Francisco Perez Trigueros used the photoshopped image - showing Spanish jets flying over the top of the British territory - as his cover image on his public site.

It also features a red and yellow Spanish flag and a black bull silhouette placed on top of the rock. Troops from the nation's army appear to be marching in front.

The picture was posted as efforts were being made to reduce tensions between Spain and Gibraltar over fishing rights claimed by both sides.

It provoked a furious response, with critics attacking the ruling People's Party politician, who is mayor of the small town of Callosa de Segura near Alicante.

Ernest Romero told Mr Trigueros to "go to hell" on the website of an activist group that brought the mayor's use of the image to light, according to the Daily Telegraph

Another, Gibraltar internet forum member Joe Jackson, was quoted in the Guardian as saying: "This image reminds me of the Argentines strolling through Port Stanley. It would be a very short and bloody conflict with Spain being the loser."

Cloud partially covers Rock of the British territory of Gibraltar at sunrise before Spanish fishermen take part in a protest in Algeciras bay
Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in 1713

The posting emerged after Gibraltar said there had been a "serious incursion" into its waters by divers from Spain's Guardia Civil, who were seen in videos exploring an artificial reef at the heart of the latest dispute.

Spain has complained that Gibraltar, which is a British Overseas Territory but has its own government, did not have a right to create the reef by dumping blocks of concrete into the sea without consultation.

The spiralling tensions have led to delays of up to eight hours at Gibraltar's border, as Spain has imposed strict controls in retaliation for the reef.

Spain has long demanded that Gibraltar be returned, despite the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which ceded the rock to Britain.

It also claims that the treaty did not say anything about territorial waters, but the British claim that international agreements have since created a three-mile limit around the rock by default.

European Union observers are to be sent to monitor the border next month in an effort to determine whether Spain has been acting against EU law.

Mr Trigueros was previously in trouble after last month suggesting Spain builds a 10ft wall around the province of Catalonia.

His comments, which led to him being branded a fascist, came in response to booing by Catalan nationalists at the opening of the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona.

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