The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland today expressed its continuing,
rock-solid support for the people of Gibraltar following the
referendum in which almost 99% of the colonys residents
voted to reject a shared sovereignty deal with Spain.
There are obvious parallels between Gibraltar and Northern
Ireland said George Patton, Executive Officer of the
Orange Order. The people of Gibraltar have made their
desire to remain British crystal-clear. For either Britain
or Spain to ignore their feelings now would be a travesty
of democracy and the right to self-determination.
Only a few years ago, the UK Government actually went
to war to protect the rights of the British colonists on the
Falkland Islands when they were invaded by Argentina. We call
on the government to take an equally firm stand over the future
of Gibraltar.
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