Gibraltarians campaign for sovereignty, 2002-2004

Gibraltar is a small piece of land on the southwestern tip of Spain, yet has been the territory of Britain since the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Spain has been attempting to get Gibraltar back since then, causing tension between the two countries.  Gibraltar wished to remain British.

On February 4, 2002, Gibraltar labor leader Joe Bassardo called a protest at the Spanish Gibraltar border fence. The assembled demonstration coincided with a meeting between the British foreign secretary and the Spanish foreign minister near the border. Protesters chanted and held banners with slogans such as “Spanish Gibraltar- never.”

At the Barcelona summit on March 16, 2002, Britain and Spain pledged to reconcile their differences by the summer. They offered Gibraltar money to help smooth over the process.

On March 18, 2002, Gibraltarians lined the Piazza on the main street in protest against sovereignty talks between Britain and Spain. The Gibraltar government called for the protest, which was supported by all political, trade union, and business organizations. They feared that Britain would sign an agreement with Spain for joint sovereignty before ceding Gibraltar to Spain, even if the colony refuted the idea in referendum. Protesters supported the declaration made by Chief Minister Peter Caruana that they would resist the signing of any such agreement. The demonstration was organized by the Council of Representative Bodies, a coalition of interest groups, which made sure that as many people as possible could attend the protest. Schools, offices and government departments closed early so that people could join the demonstration. Only essential workers and the Ministry of Defense were not given a half day. The Council also hired buses to bring people from retirement homes and made special provisions for the disabled. 24,000 of the 30,000-person population participated. Flags of Britain and Gibraltar were carried by many protesters and draped across buildings. Participants carried banners with slogans such as “no in principle to concessions against our wishes. Yes to reasonable dialogue” and “Blair, stuff your bribe.”

In 2002, Gibraltar held an unofficial referendum in which 99% of the population opposed joint rule between Britain and Spain.

In May 2002, British sympathizers held a protest rally at Casemates. They gathered over 15,000 signatures and 30,000 petitions supporting Gibraltar’s desire to remain British. Fifty protesters bussed to London to meet the cross party delegation and a Gibraltar government official. Similarly, the British Plymouth Delegation held a demonstration outside of the Spanish Embassy and distributed leaflets.

On August 4, 2004, twelve thousand Gibraltar residents formed a human chain around the Rock of Gibraltar. They feared a secret deal between the British and Spanish governments, and that Gibraltarians would not be involved in deciding their own future.

Gibraltar remains a British territory and has finally been recognized as a separate entity by Spain and invited to join the table for discussions regarding sovereignty.