Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BARCELONA40
2009-03-26 12:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Barcelona
Cable title:  

REGIONAL PRESIDENT WEIGHS FIRING TOP SECURITY ADVISORS OVER

Tags:  PGOV ASEC SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1114
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1074
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 1294
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BARCELONA 000040 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (SAMSON/ZERDECKI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SP
SUBJECT: REGIONAL PRESIDENT WEIGHS FIRING TOP SECURITY ADVISORS OVER
AGGRESSIVE POLICE DURING STUDENT PROTESTS

BARCELONA 00000040 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BARCELONA 000040

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (SAMSON/ZERDECKI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SP
SUBJECT: REGIONAL PRESIDENT WEIGHS FIRING TOP SECURITY ADVISORS OVER
AGGRESSIVE POLICE DURING STUDENT PROTESTS

BARCELONA 00000040 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: Scores were injured - many of them police
and journalists - March 18 after the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan
regional police) broke up a student protest at the University of
Barcelona. An investigation is underway to determine how and
why the incident turned violent. The students were protesting
implementation of a European-wide higher education system also
known as the "Bologna Plan". Counselor for the Interior
(Minister-equivalent) Joan Saura and Mossos Director Rafael
Olmos declared officers generally followed the correct
procedures, but some mistakes were made. Both Saura and Olmos,
could lose their jobs over the incidents, which one university
professor labeled, "Franco Era" tactics. Opposition party
leaders blamed Saura, a Green Party member, for not leading the
police properly. Rank and file officers within the force blamed
him for sending them mixed signals of support. This is not the
first time the Mossos have been accused of over aggressive
behavior, and they will have little time to recover as students
expect to continue their protests in the coming days. End
Summary.



Protest Breaking Up




2. (SBU) At least 60 people, including police and journalists,
were injured March 18 when Catalonia's regional police, Mossos
d'Esquadra, entered the University of Barcelona campus to remove
more than 50 student protestors. The students had been holed up
on campus for months protesting the Spanish government's plan to
implement a European-wide higher education system, the so-called
"Bologna Plan". The students were being removed because they
had reportedly violated an agreement made with the University's
director that they would not block other students from returning
to class.




3. (SBU) The removal of the protestors began smoothly, however,
the situation turned later turned violent when the protestors
returned with a so-called "radical minority" of more aggressive
students. According to reports, the police "disproportionately"
responded; hitting students with clubs in an effort to disperse
the increasingly agitated crowd. Several journalists were also
injured during the violent outbreak. According to witnesses,
several students were seen throwing bottles and chairs at
police, "to defend themselves". Counselor for the Interior
(Minister-equivalent) and Green Party member, Joan Saura, told
reporters there were 56 injuries, 32 of which were suffered by
police. The director of the Mossos, Rafael Olmos, accepted full
responsibility for what had happened. He noted that changes
would be made to police protocol to ensure that this kind of
thing would not happen again. Despite assurances several months
ago by Saura that Mossos officers would be required to display
identification numbers, none did, making it difficult to
identify individual officers who had behaved inappropriately.



Answer Demanded




4. (SBU) Opposition party and police labor union officials
called on regional president Jose Montilla to either fire Saura
or, at least take responsibility for security issues away from
him. Police labor union officials also complained that Saura
did not adequately defend its rank and file members in his
statements to the press. So far, Montilla is standing by his
man. In a statement he said he would have preferred that the
removal of the students not turn out the way it had. He did
agree, however, to pursue and investigation into the matter.
One University of Barcelona professor said that the actions
taken by the Mossos reminded him of Franco era police actions.




5. (SBU) Comment: Allegations of heavy-handedness, or worse,
abuse, by the police is not new in Catalonia. Last summer, the
Mossos were forced to put security cameras in one of its most
heavily trafficked police stations, and police were still caught
abusing suspected criminals prompting charges and suspensions.
It is clear authorities are finding it hard to walk the line
between an appropriate response and being overly aggressive. As

BARCELONA 00000040 002.2 OF 002


a result, protestors have gone out of their way to provoke
violence. Still, even as students called for another round of
protests, there are signs that unity within their ranks is
cracking. A group wanting to attend classes confronted the
more radical protestors calling for them to allow access to the
university. This could offer city and police authorities the
cover they need to end the standoff peacefully. Meanwhile,
opposition party leaders, who have never been happy with Saura
at the helm, continue to put the pressure on Montilla to fire
him. Saura is rumored to have agreed to sacrifice Olmos,
instead. There is little doubt that greater scrutiny of police
procedures will result no matter what action Montilla takes.
End Comment.
ROBINSON