Members of the Spanish armed forces - crew of the aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I which docked in the port of Tarragona last Friday to coincide with the Mediterranean Games - have not limited their activities to giving support to the sporting event. During the "open ship" session allowing public visits to the naval vessel over the weekend, they also showed off their weapons and equipment. Images show them demonstrating the machinery of war to young children.
This can be seen in the images shared on Twitter by Edgar Fernández, Reus city councillor for the CUP party. Fernández protested that that the Spanish sailors in Tarragona “were fostering the culture of war to boys and girls”, and criticised Tarragona mayor Josep Fèlix Ballesteros for “having bought the idea that child indoctrination is something that Catalan schools do”.
Translation: Spanish military personnel in Tarragona encouraging the culture of war among boys and girls. Tarragona mayor @pfballesteros has bought the idea that child indoctrination is something which Catalan schools do. — Edgar Fdz
Translation: Occupying forces, get out! Spanish army, get out of the Catalan countries! Not in Tarragona and not anywhere! — Edgar Fdz
The aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, flag bearer for the Spanish navy, arrived at the port of Tarragona last Friday to provide support during the Mediterranean Games. On Saturday and Sunday it "put down its gangway" to allow visits from people interested in getting a close look at the Spanish armed forces.
The Tarragona city council had distanced itself from the visit at the last moment, and mayor Ballesteros himself had said that the docking of the aircraft carrier was not directly related to the Games, but the navy's Admiral Juan Rodríguez denied this, saying that the presence of the military vessel was an “express request made by the mayor” two years ago. According to Rodríguez, the original request was for a visit by the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano, but this was impossible due to the latter ship's "complex voyage programme".
Since last December, Spanish nationalist exaltation has been a part of life in Tarragona, and has been made tangible in particular through the presence of the Spanish army. As part of the Mediterranean Games, there have been air displays from the Spanish air force's Eagle Patrol, parachutists opening out huge Spanish flags as they land in the opening ceremony and the arrival last Friday of the navy's Juan Carlos I.
Many of these military exhibitions by the Spanish army are part of the "cultural programme" of the Mediterranean Games, prepared by the municipal government, under city councillor Elisa Vedrina (PP).