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The Fight for Self - Determination Joe Bossano National Day
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Public Address on National Day
We have today given the lie to the idea that we
are hostile to anybody; that we are against talking
to our neighbours, or that we have no friends in
Parliament. Both Houses of Parliament, both
British political parties stand solidly with the
people of Gibraltar today as they stood 30 years
ago. But we have clearly to take this battle to
every comer. We have to enlist the support of
friends in Catalunya. We have to get the support
of our friends in Portugal, our neighbours. We
have to fight our corner ourselves. Our friends
are there to support our fight. But the credibility
must come from us standing up ourselves and
shouting without fear what we feel in our hearts.
Let me tell you something important about today, something probably most of you have
forgotten and many of you may not even know. When we had the Self-Determination Group
choosing the 10th of September on the first national day before your Government declared
it a public holiday, it was on the 25th Anniversary of the Referendum. That was an important
day in Gibraltar's history, because it was the first time in our history that we had been given
the opportunity to express our wishes.
But it is also an important day because 30 years ago today, on the 10th of September 1964,
we had the first elections in Gibraltar for the first Chief Minister in Gibraltar. 30 years ago
we had a new Constitution in Gibraltar which for the first time in history produced a transfer
from the Colonial Government to the Elected Government. 30 years ago the elected
representatives produced a booklet signed by every elected member which stated:
"The soil of Gibraltar should belong to no one but the people of Gibraltar and the people of
Gibraltar do not desire to be united with Spain."
We have been saying this for 30 years, not one day, 30 years. We are not going to be
manipulated. We are not going to be blackmailed. We are not going to be frightened to say
what we are entitled to say, to achieve what we are entitled to achieve. To get the respect for
our right that everybody else in the world has. We are not asking for special treatment. We
are asking for equal treatment.
You know that the rally last year was of enormous help to me in my presentation in the
United Nations. I will be appearing again before the Fourth Committee, in your name, as
your representative, knowing that the whole of Gibraltar is united on this issue. I will keep
on going back until the UN says "yes" to us."
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