Spanish Coup Cou

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As: members of the while armed police were of the most acute being the reported to have surrounded the continuing success of the Spanish Cortes (Parliament) buildina and coaled off annroach Reagan AT THE very point when the Thatcher government was executing its U-turn on pit closures, Ronald Reagan, the American Thatcher, was unveil. ing a savage, militarist budget.

Cuts in income tax of 10% in each of the next three years and increased arms spending are to be financed by public spending cuts of £2,000 million this year and £22,000 million next year.

Main victims on all counts are the US working classemployed and unemployedwho face cuts in wellare, job creation programmes; medicaid and transport subsidies. Government cuts will also increase still further the already high level of were preparing to take a vote of confidence on Prime Minister designate Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, members of the para-military … Civil Guard stormed into the Chamber, ordered MPs to lie down on the floor and fired warning shots into the air.

The situation as we go to press on Monday evening remains confused. Leading politicians including Felipe Gonzalez, leader of the Socialist Party and Santiago Carrillo, leader of the Communist Partyboth of whom were in the chamber at the time of the attack-are reported to have been taken away by Civil Guards to an unknown. destination, along with other leading politicians. • Hundreds of Civil Guards quickly moved , into position inside the Parliament building; roads.

The Civil Guard, which are part of the army, were refusing the police permission to enter the building.

In Valencia, the local army commander, was reported to have immediately instituted martial law, imposed a curfew, taken control of the radio station and banned all political activity.

He claimed to be awaiting orders from King Juan Carlos who was at nis palace but nad not issued any statement other than to say that "everything was under control"

With the army chiefs of staff in emergency session, it remains unclear whether this action by the Civil Guards is a coup supported by the army generals.

There has been an increasing danger of such a coup as the UCD government has failed to resolve many of the problems facing Spanish capitalism-one of the most acute being the continuing Success of the Basque nationalist forces of natinnalict: fnreac of ETA in its armed struggle against the Spanish police and army..

The political crisis created by the resignation of UCD Prime Minister Adolpho Suarez and the difficulty in constructing a viable government led by Calvo Sotelo coincided with the most serious crisis yet in Euskadi (the Basque region).

The massive reaction to the police murder of ETA suspect, Jose Arregui, forced the hated Francoist police into a desperate attempt to provoke a right wing coup.

In the face of some of the biggest strikes and protests even the Basque country has ever seen, the government arrested the five police interrogators who tortured Arregui to death and suspended: the Madrid police chief and leading police doctor.

In response to this attack ón police authority as a concession to mass protest in the Basque