The Strange Case Of The Muro Bullfight Protest

I have had cause to mention protests on many an occasion. Apart from the large protests, those connected with major strikes or the "indignados", there have been more local affairs. Recently, and just to take one example, there was a protest in Puerto Alcúdia against the new beach path.

The Spanish Constitution defends the right to protest, but Spanish law places certain limits on this right, these limits being not dissimilar to other countries. A plan to stage a protest has to be given in advance and permission sought. The minimum period is ten days, the maximum is thirty days. In the case of what is called "emergency", the period can be as short as 24 hours, and I can think of one example of when permission would have been granted very swiftly - the protest against terrorism that followed immediately after the Palmanova bomb and the death of the two Guardia Civil officers.

This permission has to be sought from the government's delegations, so in the case of Mallorca, this means Teresa Palmer and the government's delegation in the Balearics. There are reasons why a demonstration can be refused, and they are pretty obvious ones - incitement to cause crime and the carrying of weapons, the presence of those wearing paramilitary uniforms (so, by implication, extremist groups), and the potential for there to be a risk to members of the public or property.

This sounds perfectly reasonable, but then one comes to protests which, for whatever reason, don't go ahead and to protests which do go ahead but without having complied with requirements. In Muro town, there has been an example of both of these, and they both relate to the town's bullfight.

PACMA is a political party that defends animal rights. It was due, as it has in the past, to have staged a protest in Muro against the bullfight during the recent Sant Joan fiestas. It didn't. As I understand reports (well one, because there has been little obvious other reporting), PACMA cancelled the protest, as opposed to having had it cancelled. I am not entirely sure why it cancelled the demo. Its website and Facebook page seem to make no reference to the Muro bullfight this year, to a protest or to its cancellation. It is said, though, that the original request for the protest was put in as it should have been, i.e. in accordance with the time frame.

For whatever reason, PACMA pulled out, which is something of a mystery. In its stead, another organisation, ICA, decided to stage its own protest. However, it didn't receive permission. Indeed, the day after it did stage a protest, it received notification that the protest had been denied. Because the protest was not approved, the Guardia Civil deemed it to be illegal, took details of four protesters and they will be subject to fines (which will probably be 301 euros; and no, I don't know why it is 301 euros).

There is due to be a music benefit event to raise funds to pay these anticipated fines, assuming they are levied. An example of a 301 euros fine for an unauthorised protest in Mallorca was that handed to the then president of the local television and radio station IB3 in December last year (which is why I know the 301 euros sum).

A number of issues arise from all this. One is why PACMA apparently cancelled its protest. A second is why ICA went ahead with its, knowing it was not authorised. A third is why the protest was subsequently found to have been refused, and a fourth is why fines might be levied. As far as the latter is concerned, well this is the strict letter of the law, but one must ask: have there been other unauthorised protests of a different sort which have escaped sanction? Perhaps there have been, but then one comes to the second point. Did ICA go ahead with its protest expecting what has resulted?

In the past, there has been evidence of different animal-rights groups not singing from the same hymn sheet. This happened, for instance, with a protest in Fornalutx against the bull run. So, might it be that there is some sort of battle between these different groups?

While ICA's protest might, I say might, have been a publicity stunt, one that was undertaken with full knowledge of the consequences, there is still the matter of the government's delegate having refused permission. On what grounds? Yes there have been incidents in the past, amounting to little more than insults being hurled, but could an anti-bullfight protest be truly looked upon as posing a safety risk?

It's a strange one. On the face of it, and despite the lack of authorisation, sanctions against the protesters seem a bit harsh. But otherwise, there is much about the whole affair that doesn't quite make sense.


Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.

MALLORCA TODAY - Inca rejects bullfighting ban

A heated town hall meeting in Inca has rejected a call led by the PSM Mallorcan socialists for the town's bullfight to be banned. The Partido Popular-led administration declared that it was not against the bullfight while the Independents and PSOE at the council abstained in a vote on a ban.

The bullfight at the summer fiesta last year was initially cancelled owing to lack of money but was eventually staged thanks to private finance.

See more: Diario de Mallorca

MALLORCA TODAY - Alcúdia bullfight promoter fined

The promoter of the Alcúdia bullfight during the Sant Jaume fiestas has been fined 6,001 euros for allowing under-16s to attend the bullfight. A fine has also been issued for the same reason in respect of the Palma bullfight.

See more: Ultima Hora

MALLORCA TODAY - Inca drops its bullfight through lack of money

Inca town hall, forced to make savage cuts to budgets for its patron saints fiestas at the end of this month, has decided to ditch the bullfight. With a budget of only 40,000 euros this year, town hall is relying on private finance to assist in staging events at the fiestas.

See more: Diario de Mallorca

MALLORCA TODAY - Muro bullfight: the match report

Despite the protesters, Muro's Sant Joan bullfight still brings the crowds in, and the crowds were not disappointed, the star of the show having been the new "El Cordobés". Matador Esaú Fernández made a promising debut and "El Fandi" was given an ovation. The score: 3-0.

See more: Diario de Mallorca

MALLORCA TODAY - Protests at Muro's bullfight

As is traditional at Muro's traditional annual bullfight as part of the town's Sant Joan fiestas, animal-rights protesters (some one hundred or so) gathered by the gates of the bullring this evening to voice their opposition to the bullfight.

MALLORCA TODAY - Inca bullfight controversy

The annual bullfight in Inca, staged on 31 July, has caused a major storm. Exactly what happened in the lead-up to what created this storm is a little unclear, but it seems that the fifth bull of the event broke the lance of a picador and the matador did not appear. The consequence of this was that the bull would not meet its end. However, the bullfight promoter came into the arena and took it upon himself to stab the bull twice, the second wound proving decisive.

His actions have been denounced as illegal as participants can only be those announced, i.e. the list of matadors. Furthermore, the whole event has been denounced because of the presence of young children and the inaction of police.

The video here shows some of what happened with the arrival of the promoter, Manuel Martín, who can also be seen taunting the bull from the terraces, coming into the arena. The text commentary is in Spanish and at one point it warns you as to what is to come, which is the gruesome end of the bull.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZvvGn1cJ5s

A Load Of Bull (Ducks And Parties): Fiesta peculiarities

The power of Facebook. Possibly.

Some weeks after one Facebook group in Can Picafort emerged, comes another. The first was concerned with what used to be the "Auba" party that took place on the beach, but which was moved to the sports centre three years ago. The second has to do with another tradition that used to occur during the Can Picafort summer fiesta - the tossing of live ducks into the sea. Both groups want a return to the traditions.

In the case of the second Facebook group, anyone joining it should be slightly wary. The miscreants who have released live ducks, in defiance of the ban these past three years, have never been identified. The police are likely to be taking an interest in this group. As for the first group, this might also attract some attention from the forces of the law; an unofficial party in the dunes is being talked about.

While the aims of the two groups are different, there might well be common cause: the night party and the live ducks were the soul of the fiestas in Can Picafort. The move to the sports centre has done much to strip the party of its atmosphere, while the rubber duck substitutes are just plain daft. There is another aspect to be taken account of where the party is concerned, and that is money. It is doubtful that the organisers could stretch to a Carl Cox again in the current circumstances. But this shouldn't necessarily be an obstacle to what once was the biggest and most anticipated of the fiesta parties. If Puerto Pollensa - Puerto Pollensa, for God's sake - can have a party on the beach, why shouldn't Can Picafort?

The Facebook group promoting the return of the live ducks makes precisely the point that I have - here and in HOT! - that by comparison with genuine acts of cruelty to animals, the release of ducks is not in the same league. It isn't really in a league at all. The ducks were a soft target; unlike bulls and all the passion that they arouse on both sides of the argument. Bull traditions, in particular the bullfight, are far more deep-rooted in Mallorcan and Spanish society than those involving ducks, and one might also argue that they are not without Francoist connotations. El Caudillo was greatly in favour of the bullfight, given its "Spanishness" and suggestions of nobility.

The annual bullfight during Muro's Sant Joan fiestas, due to be staged on 20 June, had looked as though it might not go ahead, owing to the need for certain improvements to be made to the bullring and its facilities. These have been made. The town hall, in addition to the nearly half a million euros it paid to acquire the bullring, has forked out a further 30 grand to effect the improvements, using, it says, money that was held over from last year. The equivalent of the RSPCA is none too impressed with the town hall. It has been denounced to the ministry of the interior on the grounds that it has, in effect, financially supported the bullfight, which seemingly is in contravention of a law that disbars it from doing so. The society has also made reference to the demonstration against the bullfight that occurred last year.

The bullfight will go ahead. Even before final sign-off, due to be given today by technicians, doctors and vets, the programme for the fiestas had been published, with the bullfight and the matadors listed. Meanwhile fiesta organisers in Can Picafort will be arranging the acquisition of rubber ducks.

Something isn't quite right.


Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.