Spain shoots at jet skiers.... ?

Well, with over 250 incursions this year it is clear that they do not respect the Territorial restrictions.

However, I am more interested to know why this apparently innocent jetskier was selected, pursued, harassed and fired upon.

Did the Guardi Civil Captain just wake up that morning thinking 'Oh, I believe I will go out and spark an international incident in broad daylight by firing live munitions at an innocent jetskier'?

It just does not stack up; no matter what your views on the Spanish, their Government and their Police.
 
capnsensible said:
http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=29825


A Guardia Civil office has stated to the Royal Gibraltar Police that he fired 4 baton rounds at the jetskier.

For those unaware, the video shows a foreign paramilitary vessel in British waters firing at a British citizen.

Draw your own conclusions.

I write this some 700 yards from where the incident occurred.
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Sorry, but I can't see where it says that the Spanish have admitted that they had fired 4 rubber bullets.
 
chinita said:
Well, with over 250 incursions this year it is clear that they do not respect the Territorial restrictions.

However, I am more interested to know why this apparently innocent jetskier was selected, pursued, harassed and fired upon.

Did the Guardi Civil Captain just wake up that morning thinking 'Oh, I believe I will go out and spark an international incident in broad daylight by firing live munitions at an innocent jetskier'?

It just does not stack up; no matter what your views on the Spanish, their Government and their Police.
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Try the 7th article down, taking in that its the rider talking, so suitable pinch of salt added?



http://www.panorama.gi/
 
My personal view?

Not drugs, tobacco. There is a massive amount of cigs smuggled every day over the border by mostly Spanish people. There is a lot of money to be made by an increasingly desperate local population. There are constant incidents involving both police forces by land and sea.

Just possibly, the Guardia may have thought they were on to a cig smuggler who has turned out to be innocent.

A few days ago I was on the way in to Marina bay. A jetskier was clearly receiving a package of some sort from a person on the breakwater. The 2 new RGP jetskis appeared and the rider shot off, narrowly missing us. The RGP gave chase but they cant physically stop the guy. Effectively they escorted him at speed to the border!

Dunno really, just a guess but so many incidents occur over cig smuggling it does hang a bit. If you go over by foot, there are people who will offer you a few bob to take a sleeve with you. A lot of this goes on under the noses of the Guardia, they stop a token few or go for the big loads in cars.

Another reason to quit smoking really.......
 
capnsensible said:
There are lots of articles on the links I have provided. Try this one:

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=29822
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Sorry, but to me it is all a bit vague and by no means proven. Some unamed "sources" apparantly claim that a Spaniard confirmed it all to them. A jet skier claims he has been fired upon.....though how he would know that is beyond me.

As I said before, I would be inclined to wait until a full response comes from the Spanish. It may have happened. It may not.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
Sorry, but to me it is all a bit vague and by no means proven. Some unamed "sources" apparantly claim that a Spaniard confirmed it all to them. A jet skier claims he has been fired upon.....though how he would know that is beyond me.

As I said before, I would be inclined to wait until a full response comes from the Spanish. It may have happened. It may not.
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Fortunately, the RGP, Gibraltar Government, UK Government and the Prime Minister were convinced. As were the witnesses and the video cameraman.

You can take a horse to water......:rolleyes:
 
Rigger Mortice said:
Sorry, but to me it is all a bit vague and by no means proven. Some unamed "sources" apparantly claim that a Spaniard confirmed it all to them. A jet skier claims he has been fired upon.....though how he would know that is beyond me.

As I said before, I would be inclined to wait until a full response comes from the Spanish. It may have happened. It may not.
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You would have to wait an excessively long time to hear an admission of the truth from the Spanish side, Teapot, such a long time that the waiting would certainly outlive you.
However, as you seem to be in a hurry, and pounce on everything you know little or nothing about, any full response from them might satisfy you, but it will not necessarily be the truth, based on their track record which we Gibraltarians have been observing for more than three centuries. It is the weight of local knowledge, recorded history and experience against your impulsive two minute wonder.:rolleyes:
 
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So far we have seen some long distance video of a jetskier apparently being pursued by a Guardia Civil launch in Gibraltar territorial waters.

What we do not know, apart from the testimony of the innocent jetskier, is what was happening in the previous five to ten minutes before the video was shot.

For all we know, the jetskier could have been 'buzzing' La Linea - thus provoking the subsequent Guardia Civil actions.

Just a thought.
 
chinita said:
So far we have seen some long distance video of a jetskier apparently being pursued by a Guardia Civil launch in Gibraltar territorial waters.

What we do not know, apart from the testimony of the innocent jetskier, is what was happening in the previous five to ten minutes before the video was shot.

For all we know, the jetskier could have been 'buzzing' La Linea - thus provoking the subsequent Guardia Civil actions.

Just a thought.
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Ummm....

1. I don't think the guardia civil boat should have been there in the first place as they are not authorised to operate in gibraltar ran waters

2. Jet ski's 'buzz' everything but don't normally get shot at (much as this appeals as a reasonable response)

Can you imagine the uproar if a Royal Navy ship had shot at a jet ski in Portsmouth because it 'buzzed' them
 
chinita said:
So far we have seen some long distance video of a jetskier apparently being pursued by a Guardia Civil launch in Gibraltar territorial waters.

What we do not know, apart from the testimony of the innocent jetskier, is what was happening in the previous five to ten minutes before the video was shot.

For all we know, the jetskier could have been 'buzzing' La Linea - thus provoking the subsequent Guardia Civil actions.

Just a thought.
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'We' don't but the Royal Gibraltar Police did. That's the trouble with internet speculation.

For example, buzzing La Linea. Well the skier is in an open box with Gibraltar Western Beach behind him, a solid breakwater to the right and a runway to the left. He is nowhere near able to 'buzz' La Linea.

Clearly the weight of evidence to support a British complaint is there or, er, they wouldn't have.

I believe someone once mentioned on these forums that he made a favourable comment on some equipment he had used. He mentioned that he was told that he was all wrong by someone who admitted they had never used the gear themselves........

I will admit to being admonished by my wife for a low key rendition of the old 10cc hit 'Rubber Bullets' whilst passing through the Guardia checkpoint at the border Thursday evening. :cool:
 
SeamanStaines said:
Ummm....

1. I don't think the guardia civil boat should have been there in the first place as they are not authorised to operate in gibraltar ran waters

2. Jet ski's 'buzz' everything but don't normally get shot at (much as this appeals as a reasonable response)

Can you imagine the uproar if a Royal Navy ship had shot at a jet ski in Portsmouth because it 'buzzed' them
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How do you know it was 'there in the first place'?

All I am saying is that nobody seems to know the full story. Personally, I find it difficult to believe that a Guardia Civil launch deliberately stationed itself inside Gibraltar waters on the off chance that they could engage, with live munition, an innocent Gibraltarian jetskier - thus provoking an international incident.

As I have suggested, it just does not stack up.
 
chinita said:
How do you know it was 'there in the first place'?

All I am saying is that nobody seems to know the full story. Personally, I find it difficult to believe that a Guardia Civil launch deliberately stationed itself inside Gibraltar waters on the off chance that they could engage, with live munition, an innocent Gibraltarian jetskier - thus provoking an international incident.

As I have suggested, it just does not stack up.
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Its on video as there (ever so slight exasperation at again stating the obvious). The Guardia intrude into Gibraltar waters constantly. They believe British Gibraltar Territorial waters do not exist. They are not there on an off chance, they are there constantly!

If you care to search back through the Gib Chronicle a few years ago you will find another more serious incident that was kept low key. A guardia vessel chased presumed smugglers on a boat into Gib Harbour. The Smugglers landed who were persued ashore by a couple of officers. Who Fired At the suspects with handguns. Don't believe it? Do a bit of research.
 
Yes, I know it is on the video. I can see that.

Do you have a video of the previous 10 minutes before the incident?

How do you know - as a fact - that the GC boat was there and did not chase the jetskier from Spanish, into, Gib waters?

And the €64,000 question - why open fire on an 'innocent' jetskier in full public view? Do you REALLY believe it is all as simple as you imply?
 
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