CATALAN COPS IN A BIND OVER SEPARATIST PUSH
Regional police fear being ordered to go against citizens
CATALONIA’S police force faces a dilemma — obey caretaker bosses imposed by Madrid, or stay loyal to the deposed regional government?
As Spain imposes direct rule on the semi-autonomous region after an independence declaration by Catalan lawmakers, with its Interior Ministry taking control of the Mossos d’Esquadra, the force’s roughly 16,000 members are in turmoil.
“There’s a lot of tension. There is a lot of fear and anxiety in the entire force, regardless of whether people back independence or oppose it – as in my case,” said Vicente, a Mossos officer.
“The force is split pretty much down the middle,” added Manel, a colleague with over a decade of experience.
“Some are delighted that Madrid takes control, but others are worried. The atmosphere is difficult. There are arguments, shouting, very tense situations between colleagues,” said Vicente.
Besides the Mossos, the only armed force that fell directly under the region’s control before it was taken over, some 6,000 members of the national police are based permanently in Catalonia.
Since the beginning of the standoff between Madrid and Catalonia over an unauthorised independence referendum on Oct 1, that number has been boosted by about 10,000 — also including members of the Guardia Civil police force.
In his attempt to quash the breakaway bid, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy fired Mossos chief Josep Lluis Trapero.
Trapero, who became chief in April, is seen as an ally of Catalonia’s separatist leaders.
Nothing underscores how much Madrid needs the Mossos on its side more than the chaos that erupted during the outlawed Oct 1 ballot.
The regional force was tasked with stopping the ballot, which had been deemed illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
But senior Mossos officers issued orders not to use force, and agents steered clear of clashes with activists.
Members of the national police intervened instead, seizing ballot boxes in a clampdown marred by violence against civilians.
The Mossos, whose origins date back to 18th century citizen militias, was reinvented as a modern police force in 1983 after Catalonia recovered the autonomy it had lost under the 19391975 rule of Francisco Franco.
On Saturday, for the first time since his dictatorship, the force was placed under central control, albeit temporarily.
Many are nervous about what will happen if separatists carry out threats to resist direct rule from Madrid, pitting Catalan civilians against their own police.
Independence activists have vowed peaceful resistance in the form of protests and strikes.
In an internal circular, the Mossos police command has called on its agents to stay neutral, which the Interior Ministry said was “a good sign”. But doubt has infiltrated the ranks.
“Most officers won’t be affected, but riot police will feel it most,” said a Mossos officer.
“In situations where before they might have been told to ‘Hang on’, perhaps now they will be told to ‘Charge’.”
An officer who disobeys orders can have his salary docked, be dismissed, or even face criminal penalties. Still, some officers are not sure how it will all play out.
“I don’t think there will be a rebellion,” said Manel.
“But if we start to get extreme orders for police to confront people, many agents will hesitate to implement them.” AFP