Facists hold party in Guardia Civil barracks celebrating failed 1981 coup

[Perikles]

Tejero, the Guardia Civil officer who was sentenced to 30 years prison for the failed coup attempt, was present at a party held in his honour by his son, a high-ranking Guardia Civil officer, to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the event.



The Interior Minister was not amused.

[Guanche]

Whats slightly worrying is that the son of this man is not only in the Gaurdia Civil in the first place, but has reached a very high rank. Even more worrying is that the son thought it right and proper to hold a 'celebration' about the failed coup.

[El Profesor]

In principal I don't see why the son should be discredited for his father's criimes. Why shouldn't he have a glittering career in the Guardia Civil?

But that is in principal . . . .  because then it get surrealist Spanish style . . . . the Home Office didn't find out for a month - "because nobody told us"  .
Then his other son claimed victimisation when the "shameless" Home Secretary sacked his brother . . . because "it was only a group of friends" (brother had given an order that no record be kept of his guests  ).

You see the Guardia Civil was part of the deal  . . . . the "transition" to democracy, the big lie . . . . they were allowed to continue existing.

They let them carry on wearing their military style uniform and they gave them motorways and mountains to police.
They are no more than anachronistic clowns . . . so that might explain how a nasty piece of work like this can work his way up that high without anyone really caring.

The real police are very different, more intelligent and more professional.

[Guanche]

Well this party cost the man dearly. He's lost his rank and whilst has not been sacked yet he's no doubt on his way out. All the cost of this celebration came from public money and three officers who were supposed to be on duty were detailed to make the paella. One of the guests was an Argentian Capt, who Argentina are presently trying to extradite for crimes committed under the military junta. A real motley crowd.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

 

Democracy, transparency and good governance in Spain.

[Guanche]

I have to say I find it beyond belief that this mans superior's didn't know about his obvious leanings. I don't think even in Spain one gets to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by what you pick out of the lucky dip.
Just to slightly contradict Profs post every one I know here, given the choice between the Police National, Police Local and the Guardia will pick the Guardia.

[El Profesor]

That might be because after the transition they were stripped of any effective power and they were left policing motorways, mountains and the countryside (maybe a bit of border administration too). Nobody has really taken them that seriously since then, they have become anachronistic. And don't forget that they are military; a force of military police from the years of the dictatorship and so I suppose they are expected to be a bit reactionary. Traffic police with a dark history. Perhaps a symbol of much of what is wrong with Spain.

The opinion of the locals around where you are is understandable because you live in a little village in the mountains, a farming community. Try asking the same question in the capital.
In fact the whole of Tenerife was considered a backwater until relatively recently . . . . I remember the kerfuffle when The "Nationals" first arrived in Las Americas . . . "Oh shit – these guys are serious, I won't be able to get away with passing a bag of coke to cousin Ramón anymore". That was only about 1990. I would suggest that some of the elderly consider them young whippersnappers.

I do not even rate the Policia Local as police . . . not as we understand the term. Council administrators and traffic wardens.

The only "resemblance" of an intelligent professional police force in Spain is the Policia Nacional.

[Perikles]

More fuss over the "Pro-golpista paella". Critics are saying that losing his post was insufficient punishment for the son, but the Interior Minister claims that it is a severe blow and sufficient. A glimpse into how these types in the Guardia behave themselves: The son allegedly behaved like a despot, ordered 3 guardia civil officers not only to stop their daily tasks and make paella, but also act as waiters and set out an exhibition of material relating to the attempted coup. When asked why they didn't file a complaint against their boss, they replied that you would have to be insane to do that. That I can believe.

Por su parte, la Unión de Guardias Civiles, la segunda en número de afiliados, calificó de "déspota" al teniente coronel destituido y ha recordado que este se valió de agentes de servicio para su particular conmemoración. "Los cocineros que hicieron la paella son guardias que estaban en su jornada laboral, pero que recibieron órdenes para que dejaran sus quehaceres policiales. Su nueva orden era hacer la paella. Los que actuaron de camareros, igualmente. Incluso se hizo una exhibición de material para mayor gloria de estos golpistas, detrayendo agentes de sus funciones policiales", recuerda. ¿Por qué no denunciaron a su jefe? "En la Guardia Civil ningún agente está tan loco como para hacer eso. Sabe a lo que se arriesga y no le compensa", argumenta dicha asociación.

[Guanche]

I think this man epitomizes the arrogance of most if not all the ruling elite in Spain.

[Perikles]

A follow-up article about the extent of the involvement of the family in the higher echelons of the Guardia Civil. The whole family seems involved somehow. Especially weird is the established practice of high ranking Guardia officers to use those lower down the heap as part-time servants such as barbers, cooks and gardeners and cleaners.

It seems that the son is a particularly nasty example of the despotic behaviour. There are 70 vacant posts in his division, which indicates that nobody wants him for a boss.

Tejero era conocido por un carácter despótico entre sus hombres, a los que ponía en labores de jardinería, comedor o limpieza los fines de semana. Habían llegado quejas de una utilización perversa de las concentraciones para castigar a los agentes (no ir significa no percibir dietas) y de que enviaba en algunas operaciones los vehículos viejos para dejar los nuevos en el parking del destacamento. En su unidad hay 70 vacantes sin cubrir, hecho que se explica porque se ha ganado fama de que no es un destino envidiable.

En Valdemoro, Tejero actuaba como un mando absolutista. Utilizaba La Fragua para recibir visitas, a las que honraba con desfiles o demostración de armamento.