ONE hundred years Spanish general rode his horse into the Spanish parliament, announced and rode OUT returning country to the rule of the landowners.
Monday February 6.22om two hundred motorevcle con from three companies Guard, led by Colonel Tejero, arrived at the parliament building in school during the vote Ior ine new president, Calvo Sotelo.
They burst bullets from their hips, and ordered the trigntened deputies to he on the floor and wait for the proclamation of General Milans del Bosch.
At 7.15 Milans del Bosch, general of the Third Military Region, duly occupied the city of Valencia with tanks and armoured cars. claimed himself the supreme chief of the country, answering only to the King. Outlawed Once decorated by Hilter for his service on the Russian front in the Second World War, Milans del Bosch issuca une proclamalon promiscu vy Tes, tra de unions and galerings or and gatherings more than four people; announced a nine o'clock curtew; the population of Valencia to several of military music.
At 7.45 an army unit occupied the TV and radio buildings in Madrid. At the same time president Suarez the leaders of the Socialist and Communist parties, Felipe Gonzalez and Santiago Carrillo, were leaving Manuel Fraga leader of the rightist Alianza Popular, claimed by Tejero to be the only 'non-traitor' in parliaMutinies Meanwhile the plane walling to tly him out of the country. The King refused Senor dony officers, some of whon now figure in the list of those arresLCu were busv both negotlating with Tejero and aborting mutinies in their own regions The coup attempt has presented as an isolated incident involving only lunauc Inges or the almy and police. But dozen top ranking generals have beer charged many Spaniards are wondering what exactly happened in the six hours before the King appeared to put an end to the coup.
Originally the coup was planned for 21 March, codename Operation Almond Trees. But something forced the hand of the conspirators. A notice was placed in the fascist magazine El Spic on 23 February reading: sure that I'm going to try and make a coup on Además, no sé! (the number of letters in the spanish words gave the time of the coup - 6.22pm).
Socialist Challenge 9 April 1981 ago a dissolution, the of the Civil fired rounds of captain and subjected The coup presidency.
and veniently out of time.
removed for his successor, suspect Arregui in the police officials their underlings met his up. of a to go. crisis (particularly welfare);
que autonomy; the been divorce. now that two enthusiasm fact movermeil you know.
who traditionally I'm not LICo Spanish generals en route for parliament: next time might be the real thing came shortly after Suarez sudden resignation trom the Speculation is now rife that he was tipped off about the coup attempt, certainly his family was con- ed the country at the Suarez was having difficulty in parlament Calvo Sotelo. The police torture and murder of ETA Carabanchel prison had sparked off mass demos and strikes against the police, leading to the resignation of six top ranking "in solidarity' ship based on a strengthened police apparatus.
It seems that the plotters were victims of their notions that Spain need'hard man' and their military aspirations. The coup tempt served both as a blunder tarnishing the military and boosting the domestic and international prestige of the King, as well as a full dress rehearsal for another attempt.
There were massive demonstrations in the wake of the coup, cluding one and a half million people sions along the route. Yet the Basque country was almost trozen In suence own The night at- ot Basoue SuCCess. leaders ducked out of their office for secret destinations.
While elsewhere wild demonstrain- tions in favour of the King and the tionalist the receives classes parties, Basque retused lo demonstrate ll support of a constitution that has imKing and Civil Guard in their territory Like another planet the Basaur continues to make political orbit twice as fast as the rest of the Spanish state Certainly there have been arrests, including of generals who breathe the same air as the King, but hundreds more officials were implicated in the But only the contingents on Inf mass demonstration called for a purging of the armed forces and police. The SP and CP both failed to make such a call or to lead a general strike against the coun attemot This leaves the Spanish workers sinking feeling that next time, if the coup is better planned and the approval of the ruling Franco's chosen Kins choose to take that plane and hanc over power to the generals.
By contrast, the military showed