On Sunday 13 December 2009 about 2.500 Spanish soldiers demonstrated close to the premises of the Ministry of Defence to show their discontent  about their current professional situation.

A new law on military personnel was approved by the Parliament in 2007.  This law suddenly changed the military career system and its current effects prove that the government has  been mistaken. It has been modified three times after entering into force and  has mainly been developped throughout 2009.  The unconstructive consequences of its implementation are considerably felt by the soldiers this year.

Since the very beginning, AUME has worked on the draft law suggesting changes to be taken into account in order to avoid the damaging effects which are nowadays confirmed. This is the result of a lacking participation and an unproductive communication between the professional associations and the drafters. The general dissatisfation is so great that almost no one is unconcerned.

For that reason AUME has organized different events to make its voice heard. Amongst the actions undertaken were letters and e-mails to the members of the Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and official requests to the Ministry of Defence that have in most cases not been answered.

AUME has thus come to the conclusion that it is time to take a qualitative step forward by mobilizing an important number of comrades for a demonstration. So far AUME had been organizing such events on a small scale.

Under the slogan “Dignidad y Derechos” (dignity and rights), we gathered on 13 December in the street to call for a legal frame to recognize professional associations in the armed forces as well as for the modification of the inappropriate military career law. The demonstration has been supported by several non-governmental organizations, trade-unions and politicians and we can proudly say that the event was a complete success in terms of participation and fairness.

We expect to get the response of the Ministry of Defense very soon. However, we can already consider at this stage that our aim has been achieved: on the one hand, the Ministry of Defence is aware about our mobiliziation force and on the other hand, it is the breaking-up of a certain military mindset and equally the beginning of new legal and constitutional opportunities.

By Miguel Lopez, International Affairs Officer of the United Association of Spanish Servicemen and Women (AUME)