A Spanish general has suggested that the armed forces should consider
invading Catalonia if the region attempts to break away from the rest
of the country. Juan Antonio Chicharro, a general in the marine
reserve, warned that patriotic sentiment would take precedence over
democratic rules in the face of a "separatist-secessionist offensive"
by the northeastern region.
'The fatherland'
"The fatherland is above and more important than democracy," he said.
"Patriotism is a feeling and the constitution is just a law." He made
his comments at a conference in Madrid in early February, but they
only came to light when El País newspaper published details of the
event on Wednesday. The conference was titled "Armed Forces and
Constitutional Order" and several respected academic and judicial
figures were present.
The defence ministry opened an investigation yesterday to decide
whether to sanction Gen Chicharro.
Nationalists governing Catalonia want to hold a referendum there on
independence in 2014. However, the central government in Madrid
insists such a move would be illegal and has vowed to oppose the
staging of the vote through constitutional means. But in his speech,
Gen Chicharro warned that problems will arise "if the mechanisms of
defence of the constitutional order do not behave as their duties
require". Asked what the armed forces should do in such a situation,
he made it clear he favoured some form of physical response.
Rhetorical questions
Most of his most provocative assertions were presented as rhetorical
questions or possible scenarios, but those present clapped and cheered
when he finished speaking. This is not the first time a member of the
armed forces has backed military intervention to stop Catalan
independence plans. In September, Col Francisco Alamán said the
military will defend Spain's unity "with our lives".
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2013/0301/1224330654203.html
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