War, What War?

Strange piece from the Farrell Family . I mistakenly imagined that it was from Henry since my eyes are now weak and I have difficulty seeing in the dark : sorry Maria. They paint a very disturbing picture of what is happening right now here in Spain. I only have one problem: it doesn't fit with the reality I see around me which is one of the PP supporters on the defensive on all fronts. Of course, this will become a bit clearer after the elections on May 25. Just in case in my 'non-political' cocoon I was missing something, I asked a friend of mine who is a long standing neighbourhood activist round here, and would surely be one of the first to be arraigned before any nascent 'military tribunal'. He was very surprised to hear of the report, but did pass the wry if interesting observation that, since Aznar is in fact denying at full volume that Spain has been participating in any recent military conflicts, it would be hard to incarcerate anyone for opposing one. Spain, after all, is not Poland. Of course, I'm posting this just in case there is any danger.

The latest developments are domestic rather than international, but they're even more sinister. Yet again, it's Statewatch which has the story. They report on a draft change to the Spanish military criminal code, which proposes that participation in public acts opposing military intervention, in a situation of armed conflict, could lead to prison sentences of between one and six years for the people involved, if they're convicted of "defeatism."

Even more frightening; "Civilians could find themselves before military courts." For a country which emerged from a fascist dictatorship in recent memory, this is scary - and all too familiar - stuff. Of course, it's not only the Spanish who are opportunistically trying to lump legitimate protest in with terrorism and serious crime. The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council's proposed definition of terrorism last year was broad enough to include anti-globalisation protests. Very few people think that this was due to sloppy drafting. The right wing rump of the Spanish government isn't just showing its teeth; it's looking to use them. Already, El Mundo reports that there are serious threats to use existing legislation to prosecute the people behind No a la Guerra.
Source: Gallowglass
LINK