Welcome to the tuSPAIN weekly review of the Spanish media. Cristina Marquez Arroyo de Camihort has selected a wide range of articles covering general news about Spain, politics, business and culture. We also invite you to view the latest news from Spain (in Spanish) at the web sites of El Pais, El Mundo, ABC and El Periodico
NEWS REVIEW
25 May - 1 June, 1997
Pinochet Stand Rejected
The Chilean government has rejected the stand made by Spain against General Augusto Pinochet and others in
command of the Chilean armed forces in relation to the disappearance of Spanish citizens during Pinochet's
dictatorship. In an official communique received in Madrid, the Chilean government states that it does not
recognise the competence of other governments to judge deeds in its territory.
Increased Security for the Law
The Interior Ministry has ordered an increase in security for magistrates of the Supreme Court against possible ETA terrorist attacks. Sources from the Ministry, directed by Jaime Mayor Oreja said after the accusation against the State by Herri Batasuna, accusing the judges and the police of repressive action against the Basque Movement for Independence signalled that ETA had the Magistrates of the Supreme Council as potential targets. Señor Oreja himself declared Batasuna's threats intolerable. He made this statement before attending the presentation of a book entitled "Contra la barbarie" by Jose Maria Calleja, a journalist who has been threatened by ETA and who exposed the question of ETA terrorism from the point of view ot the almost 800 victims.
Invitation to Democracy
Federico Trillo, president of the Congress of Ministers, has extended a "cordial and passionate" invitation
to Cuba to become a democracy as soon as possible and to join the forthcoming conferences of "Iberamericano"
Parliamentary Presidents. Trillo made the statement in the closing speech of their eighth conference which closed on
Thursday, in Madrid. Trillo also urged that members should exercise an active solidarity against any risk to
Iberian/American democratic systesms.
Death Penalty for Spaniard
Amnesty International has stated that it will investigate the case of 25 year old Joaquin Jose Martinez and
try to avoid the carrying out of the death sentence to which he has been condemned. Martinez was found guilty
this week of a double murder two years ago in Tampa, Florida and he could become the first Spaniard to die
in the electric chair. He was born in Ecuador to a Spanish father and has lived most of his life in the United States, visiting Spain on a couple of occasions. However, he still maintains his Spansh passport and the US authorities consider him to be a Spanish citizen. According to testimony, he went to the house of a colleague to reclaim a debt and the
encounter ended in an argument and shots being fired. Martinez supposedly shot the husband and, on catching the wife who was trying to escape, punched her to death. He was convicted to life imprisonment for the first murder but the
judge deemed the second to merit the death penalty.
Festival of Health Coming to a Close
The 1997 Cordobes Feria has been the longest in its history and was entitled La Feria de la Salud (Festival of Health). It is now in its final days and thousands of people will have visited and partaken of the music, dance, wine and sheer enjoyment provided by the 180 "casetas" (stands). These included a funfare for disabled children which was organised and run by ONCE. This Feria has also seen some of the highest temperatures in its history, so much so, that the Mayor has promised that next year's will be shaded by sunshades. But as the sun goes down on Cordoba's 1997 extravaganza, it too has had its dark side. Sadly the Feria director for livestock was tragically drowned as he tried to cross the river Guadalquivir on horseback. His funeral was on Thursday. There were also more than a hundred cases of salmonella poisoning contracted from tortillas which were already contaminated before freezing.
National Health Service in Trouble
Spain has the largest number of people qualified in medicine and pharmacy in the European Union and, paradoxically
the least number of hospital beds per head of population. The average per capita expenditure exceeds 100.000 pesetas.
The serious increase in public health expenditure is due to several factors. On the one hand the increase in the aged population is said to incease health expenditure but, on the other hand, the average inhabitant has become accustomed
to seek national health care and treatment for minor complaints and, in some cases, these are no more than placebos.
It is a matter of urgent concern for the government who wish to learn from the privatiisation mistakes of other nations but who also need to urgently find alternative funding to maintain the service.
Last week´s news...
