Montejurra
Encyclopedia
The Montejurra Incidents took place on May 9, 1976, when two men were killed at the annual Carlist Party
celebration that was held in Montejurra
.
, had divided between its more traditional, counter-revolutionary, Ancien Regime, Catholic, anti-capitalistic, anti-socialistic, pro-legitimate monarchist adherents and the new confederal, socialist, autogestionary
movement modeled after Titoist ideology. The new Titoist half of the movement was the target of a violent incident organized by Franco's supporters, informally known as the bunker, who still controlled the State apparatus, allegedly as part of the international anti-leftist Operation GLADIO. Ricardo García Pellejero and Aniano Jiménez Santo, two supporters of Carlist pretender Carlos-Hugo de Borbón-Parma, were murdered by far-right gunmen. At the time of the events, the British magazine The Economist
speculated about possible Government involvement in the events:
Among the perpetrators of the crime were Gladio
operative Stefano Delle Chiaie
and fifteen former members of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance (Triple A), including Rodolfo Almirón
, who later became Manuel Fraga's chief of personal security . Jean Pierre Cherid
, former member of the French OAS and then of the Batallón Vasco Español
and GAL
death squads, was also present . The Spanish intelligence agency SECED brought far-right members to the Montejurra celebrations, while other extremist organizations such as the Guerrilleros de Cristo Rey
, Fuerza Nueva
and others contacted members of the Italian International Fascists and of the Triple A. Augusto Canchi, wanted by Italian justice for his role in the 1980 Bologna massacre
, was also there.
There were claims that the attack was organized with the help of Carlos-Hugo's younger brother, Sixto Enrique de Borbón
, who opposed Carlos Hugo's alteration of Carlism from an ultra-traditionalist political movement into a socialist movement.
It is commonly accepted that high-rank Guardia Civil officials, as well as the SECED (CESID
's predecessor), supported the conspiracy (code-named "Operación Reconquista"). Founded by Carrero Blanco
, SECED was directed at this moment by general Juan Valverde. Funding was provided by Antonio María de Oriol de Urquijo, one of the leaders of the far right-wing Carlists. According to General Sáenz de Santa María memoirs, the conspiracy was organized in the office of the general director of the Guardia Civil, General Juan Campano. Sáenz de Santamaría tells how Campano stated that Arias Navarro
, the Prime Minister, and Fraga, the minister of Interior, approved the operation.
Although the murders took place in close proximity to the location of security forces, no one was arrested nor their weapons seized. Even though there was photographic evidence of one of the right-wing terrorists taking part of the events, he was not brought to trial.
On November 11, 2003, after various failures, one of the Carlist Party's motions led to the recognition by the Spanish high court of the two dead Carlists as victims of terrorism, therefore allowing their families to claim compensation from the Spanish Government.
In the name of the victims of the Montejurra events, Spanish lawyer José Angel Pérez Nievas pressed charges in January 2007 for the leader of the Triple A, Rodolfo Almirón
, to be put on trial for his alleged actions during the Montejurra events. He had been apprehended in Spain in December 2006, following an arrest warrant
and extradition request issued by a judge from his home country.
Carlist Party
The Carlist Party is a Spanish political party that considers itself as a successor to the historical tradition of Carlism. The party was founded in 1969, although it remained illegal until 1977, following the death of the dictator Franco and the democratisation of Spain.The secretary-general of...
celebration that was held in Montejurra
Montejurra
The Montejurra Incidents took place on May 9, 1976, when two men were killed at the annual Carlist Party celebration that was held in Montejurra.- The incidents :...
.
The incidents
The Carlists, a counter-revolutionary movement which had joined the alliance of Nationalists supporting Franco in the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, had divided between its more traditional, counter-revolutionary, Ancien Regime, Catholic, anti-capitalistic, anti-socialistic, pro-legitimate monarchist adherents and the new confederal, socialist, autogestionary
Workers' self-management
Worker self-management is a form of workplace decision-making in which the workers themselves agree on choices instead of an owner or traditional supervisor telling workers what to do, how to do it and where to do it...
movement modeled after Titoist ideology. The new Titoist half of the movement was the target of a violent incident organized by Franco's supporters, informally known as the bunker, who still controlled the State apparatus, allegedly as part of the international anti-leftist Operation GLADIO. Ricardo García Pellejero and Aniano Jiménez Santo, two supporters of Carlist pretender Carlos-Hugo de Borbón-Parma, were murdered by far-right gunmen. At the time of the events, the British magazine The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
speculated about possible Government involvement in the events:
"The region is so tightly policed that opposition parties find it difficult to hold even small private meetings. Yet somehow on a hilltop surrounded by civil guards, more than 50 gunmen could establish themselves for 24 hours, set up an ambush, open fire and make their getaway without attracting official attention."
Among the perpetrators of the crime were Gladio
Operation Gladio
Operation Gladio is the codename for a clandestine NATO "stay-behind" operation in Italy after World War II. Its purpose was to continue anti-communist actions in the event of a shift to a Communist party led government...
operative Stefano Delle Chiaie
Stefano Delle Chiaie
Stefano Delle Chiaie is a neofascist Italian activist . He went on to become a wanted man worldwide, suspect to be involved in Italy's strategy of tension, but was acquitted. He was a friend of Licio Gelli, grandmaster of P2 masonic lodge...
and fifteen former members of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance (Triple A), including Rodolfo Almirón
Rodolfo Almirón
Rodolfo Almirón Sena was a former Argentine police officer and a leader of an extreme right-wing death squad known as the Triple A, operating in Argentina during the mid-1970s...
, who later became Manuel Fraga's chief of personal security . Jean Pierre Cherid
Jean Pierre Cherid
Jean-Pierre Cherid was a far right French activist and later mercenary of Moroccan descent. A former French paratrooper, he first became a member of the Organisation de l'armée secrète during the Algerian War .Afterwards, Cherid appeared in Spain in 1976...
, former member of the French OAS and then of the Batallón Vasco Español
Batallón Vasco Español
The Batallón Vasco Español was a Spanish Basque right-wing paramilitary group active from 1975 to 1981, primarily in French Basque Country.The BVE employed violence mainly against Basque separatist groups....
and GAL
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación were death squads established illegally by officials of the Spanish government to fight ETA, the principal Basque separatist militant group. They were active from 1983 until 1987, under Spanish Socialist Workers Party -led governments...
death squads, was also present . The Spanish intelligence agency SECED brought far-right members to the Montejurra celebrations, while other extremist organizations such as the Guerrilleros de Cristo Rey
Guerrilleros de Cristo Rey
Guerrilleros de Cristo Rey was a Spanish paramilitary group that operated in the late 1970s.They emerged at a time of factionism within the Carlist movement. Historically Carlism was a traditionalist, legitimist and Catholic movement, supporting a different monarchial line to the one occupying the...
, Fuerza Nueva
Fuerza Nueva
New Force was the name of a succession of far-right political parties in Spain founded by Blas Piñar, the son of one of the defenders of the Alcázar of Toledo and director of the Institute of Hispanic Culture during the Francoist period...
and others contacted members of the Italian International Fascists and of the Triple A. Augusto Canchi, wanted by Italian justice for his role in the 1980 Bologna massacre
Bologna massacre
The Bologna massacre was a terrorist bombing of the Central Station at Bologna, Italy, on the morning of Saturday, 2 August 1980, which killed 85 people and wounded more than 200. The attack has been materially attributed to the neo-fascist terrorist organization Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari...
, was also there.
There were claims that the attack was organized with the help of Carlos-Hugo's younger brother, Sixto Enrique de Borbón
Sixto Enrique de Borbón
Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma is considered Regent of Spain by some Carlists who accord him the titles Duke of Aranjuez, Infante of Spain, and Standard-bearer of Tradition.-Early life:...
, who opposed Carlos Hugo's alteration of Carlism from an ultra-traditionalist political movement into a socialist movement.
It is commonly accepted that high-rank Guardia Civil officials, as well as the SECED (CESID
Centro Superior de Información de la Defensa
Centro Superior de Información de la Defensa was the Spanish intelligence agency before the current Centro Nacional de Inteligencia took over as its successor in 2002.-History:...
's predecessor), supported the conspiracy (code-named "Operación Reconquista"). Founded by Carrero Blanco
Luis Carrero Blanco
Don Luis Carrero Blanco, 1st Duke of Carrero Blanco, Grandee of Spain was a Spanish admiral and long-time confidant of dictator Francisco Franco.- Biography :...
, SECED was directed at this moment by general Juan Valverde. Funding was provided by Antonio María de Oriol de Urquijo, one of the leaders of the far right-wing Carlists. According to General Sáenz de Santa María memoirs, the conspiracy was organized in the office of the general director of the Guardia Civil, General Juan Campano. Sáenz de Santamaría tells how Campano stated that Arias Navarro
Carlos Arias Navarro
Don Carlos Arias-Navarro, 1st Marquis of Arias-Navarro, Grandee of Spain, born Carlos Arias y Navarro was one of the best known Spanish politicians during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco....
, the Prime Minister, and Fraga, the minister of Interior, approved the operation.
Although the murders took place in close proximity to the location of security forces, no one was arrested nor their weapons seized. Even though there was photographic evidence of one of the right-wing terrorists taking part of the events, he was not brought to trial.
Consequences
Following the requests of the Carlist Party, two Spanish citizens, José Luis Marín García Verde and Hermenegildo García Llorente, were indicted with murder. They were released without trial as part of a blanket amnesty for "political prisoners" in March 1977.On November 11, 2003, after various failures, one of the Carlist Party's motions led to the recognition by the Spanish high court of the two dead Carlists as victims of terrorism, therefore allowing their families to claim compensation from the Spanish Government.
In the name of the victims of the Montejurra events, Spanish lawyer José Angel Pérez Nievas pressed charges in January 2007 for the leader of the Triple A, Rodolfo Almirón
Rodolfo Almirón
Rodolfo Almirón Sena was a former Argentine police officer and a leader of an extreme right-wing death squad known as the Triple A, operating in Argentina during the mid-1970s...
, to be put on trial for his alleged actions during the Montejurra events. He had been apprehended in Spain in December 2006, following an arrest warrant
Arrest warrant
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual.-Canada:Arrest warrants are issued by a judge or justice of the peace under the Criminal Code of Canada....
and extradition request issued by a judge from his home country.
See also
- CarlismCarlismCarlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
- Partido Carlista (Carlist Party article in Spanish wikipedia)
- 1973 Ezeiza massacre1973 Ezeiza massacreThe Ezeiza massacre took place on June 20, 1973 near the Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Peronist masses, including many young people, had gathered there to acclaim Juan Perón's definitive return from an 18-year exile in Spain. The police counted three and a half million...
(similar modus operandi, in Buenos Aires) - Operation GladioOperation GladioOperation Gladio is the codename for a clandestine NATO "stay-behind" operation in Italy after World War II. Its purpose was to continue anti-communist actions in the event of a shift to a Communist party led government...
Further reading
- Onrubia Revuelta, Javier (et al.). Montejurra: 1976-2006. Biblioteca popular carlista, 13. Moraleja de Enmedio: Arcos Ediciones, 2006. ISBN 84-95735-25-3
- Llopis de la Torre, Felipe. Montejurra: tradición contra revolución. Buenos Aires: Editorial Rioplatense, 1976.
- Clemente, José Carlos, and Carles S. Costa. Montejurra 76: encrucijada politica. Barcelona: Editorial La Gaya Ciencia, 1976. ISBN 84-7080-907-5