Moves towards democracy set back in Spain

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33960, 29 September 1975, Page 17

Moves towards democracy set back in Spain

(By N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent ERNESTO MENDOZA)

MADRID. September 28

Guerrilla violence and Government reprisals are setting back moves towards a democratic Spain and the postFranco era.

Eleven urban guerrillas have been sentenced to death in three weeks, which has resulted in foreign reaction almost as hostile as that which Spain endured in its worst days of isolation after the 1936-39 Civil War. Opposition politicians fear that a Right-wing backlash [will wipe away the slight [gains made towards a West-!ern-stvle democracy after

nearly 40 years of authoritarian rule by General Franco.

While there is speculation about the possible retirement of the General, who is 82, and of important political changes, the facts of life are harsher than they were last year, when he fell seriously ill and handed power temporarily to Prince Juan Carlos, his chosen heir.

250 detained

The development that has angered the Opposition and frightened the Spanish press is the tough antiterrorist law decreed by Genera! Franco a month ago. It makes the death penalty mandatory for killers of policemen, gives the police

wide powers of search and arrest, and muzzles- any censure of police action and the law itself.

The decree, according to Opposition groups, amounts to imposing a state of emergency over the whole of Spain. Nearly 250 people have been detained under it. The Government maintains that strong measures are required to combat guerrilla violence, which has claimed the lives of 12 policemen so far this year. But the question being asked is whether the Gov-; ernment has not over-reacted; to a situation it could have; controlled by less • drastic measures.

I These gusts of violence have blown off course a policy of gradual liberalisation initiated by the Prime Minister (Mr Carlos Arias Navarro), who took office in January of last year after the assassination of General Franco’s right-hand man, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco. General Franco’s sister, Miss Dona Pilar Franco, said recently she believed that her brother would hand his powers to Prince Juan Carlos soon, perhaps as early as October 12. In an interview with the weekly magazine, “Blanco y Negro,” she said: “Nothing is sure in politics, but it seems possible to me that October 12 may be an important date. The day that the Prince will rule is very near, and I am convinced that my brother will hand over power during his lifetime.”

Wage unrest General Franco himself aroused speculation of important political changes when he conferred with Prince Juan Carlos at the general’s summer retreat in his home province of Galicia last month.

However, political observers say that the spate of guerrilla violence and the international uproar aroused by the death sentences may have persuaded General Franco to shelve any plans he may have had of retiring. His relatives and close aides have repeatedly said that General Franco will step down only if he is satisfied there are no serious problems to trouble Prince Carlos.

Wage negotiations soon affecting about 1.8 million workers are expected to stir up more unrest.

Already, the anti-terrorist law has had the effect of bringing more closely together Spain’s two main Opposition groups, the Social-ist-dominated Democratic Platform and the Communistled Democratic Junta, which hitherto distrusted each other as much as they opposed General Franco. In their first joint statement, the two groups said

that the anti-terrorist law dispelled any illusions of a reformist and Centrist Government, and made a complete break with the regime necessary to achieve democracy and freedom. Both groups signed an undertaking for united action to bring about political and trade union liberties.

Succession call

Spanish bishops have [called for an end to the vio- ! lence, but, at the same time, [ they have indirectly criti- ; cised the emergency meas- ! ures, and have alleged ill- ; treatment of prisoners. More than 1000 priests ; wrote a letter, saying that i their sermons could in future I come under the anti-terrorist law. “We, like so many citizens in this country,; believe that we are threatened,” they said. Even politicans associated with the regime have come forward, not only with a clemency plea for the condemned but with a call for the immediate succession of General Franco by Prince) Juan Carlos. This call was made by the Spanish Social Reform Association, a Centre group formed with Goverment approval to prepare for the post-Franco era.

For several months it has been clear that Mr Arias Navarro was encountering increasing resistance in his reform programme from extreme Rightists, some of whom are close to General Franco. Faced with the revolution in neighbouring Portugal, he had seen the need to provide legal channels for political forces in Spain after a longstanding ban on political parties, but his project to allow fledgling political parties was toned down under ultra-Rightist pressure, and only political associations subscribing to the regime’s aims were allowed. Last June, General Franco appointed a trusted collaborator and veteran regime politician, Mr Jose Solis, to be Minister Secretary-General of the National Movement, an alliance of political forces. In this post, Mr Solis can see to it that the political associations begun by Mr Arias do not overstep the line. But to the Opposition, the changes begun by Mr Arias were too little and too late. Frustration set in as General Franco, recovered from his illness, took a firmer grip on State affairs.

The Government showed in May that it would take an increasingly tougher line when it imposed a threemonth state of emergency on the northern Basque provinces of Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya after several policemen had been killed, allegedly by guerrillas of the Basque nationalist guerrilla organisation, E.T.A.

Fear gripped the Basque country as the police made mass detentions, and Rightwing extremists, apparently unhindered by the police, machine-gunned the homes, i shops, and offices of suspected E.T.A. sympathisers. Officers detained France accused Spanish police of waging an undercover war against Basque nationalists on French soil, Using bombs and machineguns.

There have been signs of unrest even in the Spanish armed forces. Nine officers were detained in July, apparently for engaging in politics.

Informed sources said they were members of a group called the “Democratic Military Union,” which met periodically to discuss current events and were known to advocate an early transfer of power by General Franco to Prince Juan Caries.