- The Special Reserve, composed of members of the National Police and Civil Guard, and
- The Special Operations (G.E.O.S.) composed of members of the army, Civil Guard, and National Police.
This file is a mirror of EUSKAL HERRIA JOURNAL by Basque Red Net.
POST-FRANCOISM "REFORM":
MUCH OF FRANCO'S SECURITY FORCES
AND JUDICIARY WAS MAINTAINED
Security Forces
Under Franco, Spain had three levels of security forces:
National Police
Guardia Civil
Party secret police
Parliamentary monarchy maintained the three levels of security forces:
National Police
Civil Guard
Secret Police
Spain maintains three levels of security forces. The National Police are responsible for nationwide investigations, security in urban areas, traffic control, and hostage rescue. The Civil Guard polices rural areas and controls borders and highways. Autonomous police forces have taken over many of the duties of the Civil Guard in Galicia, Catalonia, and three of the four Basque provinces under Spanish administration. The parliamentary monarchy created two special brigades:
Under Franco, the National Police and the Civil Guard were militarized. That is, their members belonged to the Spanish Army. This is a Franquist innovation maintained by the current system.
The Intelligence Apparatus
Franco's SECED was renamed CESID and still depends from the Ministry of Defense. The two intelligence services of the Civil Guard and Police are still in existance. Members of the former Socio-Politico Brigade were transferred to the information brigades of the Civil Guard and the National Police. In May 1982, of the thirteen chiefs of police, eight were former members of Franco's Socio-Politico Brigade.
The civil governor, which under Franco was the "political chief" of every province, remains to this day. Since 1979 the civil governor is appointed by the party in office and continues to be the government's political figure in every province.
The New Political System Integrated Former Members of the Francoist Regime
Juan Manuel Fanjul Sedeno, vice-counselor of the Spanish Falange and Franquist Youths became state general prosecutor in 1981;
Manuel Fraga Iribarne, former Franco's minister of Information and Censure, was named minister of Interior in 1977. During his term, a workers demonstration in Gasteiz (Araba) was broken up by the police. Six workers were killed by police fire;
General Llaneras was special assistant to Franco and former chief of the Civil Guar's IV Military Region in Barcelona. From 1987 to 1994, General Llaneras was special assistant to Luis Roldan, former director of the Civil Guard, who was charged in 1995 with having embezzeled $17 million pesetas in anti-terrorism funds and Civil Guard construction and supply contracts.
In 1971 Jesus Martinez was member of Franco's Socio-Politico Brigade. He became information commissioner for the Ministry of Interior in 1985.
Amedo Fouce was member of the Socio-Politico Brigade since 1969. In 1985 he became Bilbo's deputy police commissioner. In 1991 Amedo Fouce was sentenced to 108 years imprisonment for his involvement with the GAL death squads. Three years after, he was pardoned by the Spanish government.
Chiefs of the Military Staff (JUJEM) Appointed in 1982
Alvaro Lacalle Leloup: he joined Franco's army in 1937, and became director of the Treasury. In 1980 he was named chief of the military division of Valladolid, and in 1982, president of JUJEM.
Ramon Ascanio Togores: he was military governor of Tenerife during the 1970s, then director of the army's secret corps. In 1982 he became lieutenant general.
Saturnino Suances de la Hidalga: joined the navy in 1938, became lieutenant in 1944, rear-admiral in 1969, and vice-admiral in 1982.
The Judiciary: The National Court
Franco's Tribunal of Public Order became the National Court in December 1976. The National Court just as the Public Order Tribunal (TOP) has jurisdiction over the entire Spanish territory as well as the same functions, including the investigation and trial of cases linked to drug trafficking, crimes committed outside the Spanish territory, counterfeiting, fraude, and crimes in connection with armed groups. TOP was established in December 1963 by the Franquist regime to replace the military courts, which existed until 1963.
Former members of Franco's Tribunal of Public Order joined the new "democratic" system:
Antonio Torres Dulce, former TOP magistrate, became president of Madrid's Provincial Court.
Antonio Gonzalez Cuellar, former TOP chief prosecutor from 1963 to 1965, became member of the Judicial Council in 1985.
Felix Hernandez Gil, former TOP prosecutor, was promoted to chief prosecutor in post-Franquism.
Luis Manuel Poyatos Bernaldez, former TOP prosecutor from 1966 to 1968, was named prosecutor of the National Court in April 1988.
Fernando Cid Fontan, former TOP magistrate, became president of the National Court in 1991.
Luis Beneytez Merino, former TOP magistrate, was named prosecutor of the Supreme Court in 1992;
Jesus Silva Porto, former TOP prosecutor, was named chief prosecutor of the National Court in 1992;
These are only some of the many former members of Franco's forces who were appointed to new posts in the new Spanish democratic system.
Source: Basque League for the Rights and Freedom of People, Impunity and violation of Human Rights in Euskadi (1994)
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