The Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC) has once again blamed the skipper of the dinghy for the tragedy that occurred in December in the waters of Lanzarote, where at least one immigrant died and six others disappeared. In this way, the civil guard collective has continued to maintain its position regarding who was to blame in this shipwreck, after a video made public by a national radio station revealed that it was the Civil Guard's boat that rammed the dinghy.
Despite this, the Unified Association of Civil Guards has assured that the skipper "in addition to forcing all the occupants" of the dinghy "not to carry any type of lighting that would make it easier for the police patrol boat to locate them", decided to "irresponsibly start the escape knowing the enormous risk that this entailed for the boat and its occupants". Likewise, it has insisted that the location of this dinghy was already "very difficult in the nautical environment during the night hours".
This association wanted to remember now in a statement that the Civil Guard has been participating for 20 years in the interception and rescue of these "fragile boats", "with more than 50,000 people saved at sea". However, it has admitted that the boats of this Civil Guard service "have a handicap against them", which has been denounced by this group on "repeated occasions".
Thus, the association itself has recognized that the patrol boats available to the Civil Guard "are not suitable for this type of rescue, which due to their special characteristics are very complicated". "It is impossible that with patrol boats with the gunwale more than two meters above sea level, a safe rescue can be carried out for both the castaways and the civil guards", this group has admitted, which has assured that "the protocol of action makes it clear that it is up to Maritime Rescue to carry out this type of function".
"However, and whatever the reasons, it is the Civil Guard, and in very difficult conditions, that is usually called upon to carry out rescue work when dinghies are sighted or shipwrecks occur", this group has insisted. In this sense, the association has assured that the "regrettable" accident that occurred on December 13 a mile from Lanzarote "was a consequence of what was stated in this statement, with the tragic balance that involves the cost of a life and the disappearance of at least six other people". "We cannot forget that we are talking about human beings, regardless of the color of their skin or their social situation", this group has stated.
The association wanted to make it clear that society, public opinion and the authorities "cannot forget who is truly responsible for the tragic event", despite the publication of this video showing how the patrol boat collided with the dinghy. "Behind each dinghy that tries to reach our coasts is neither the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard, nor Maritime Rescue, but organized mafias that seek their benefit at the cost of exploiting people who only want to achieve their dream of a better life", it has indicated.
