Today, 16th December 2006, has unfortunately proved to me that we no longer live in a Democratic country. Dictatorship seems to be what presently prevails in Gibraltar.
Following the first landing of a Spanish aircraft after 30 years of restrictions which were imposed by General Franco. I, in order to express my opinion decided to display a banner.
Whilst standing on my own in the public highway I was approached by a police vehicle and three police officers stepped out and requested that I did not display the banner.
I did explain that I had in the past displayed the same banner in Gibraltar National Day and the police officer agreed that he had seen me before in other demonstrations
I also explained to the police officer that this was not a public demonstration, it was merely a banner which expressed my opinion, but he insisted that on this day no banners or public demonstrations were allowed.
Due to the fact that I was on my own I decided it was best to walk back home with the banner, as failure to do so would have simply meant being arrested.
I can therefore categorically say that under the present, so called, democratic government, such a thing as Freedom of Expression is non existent in Gibraltar.
Article 19. of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Not applicable to Gibraltar).
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.
