The anniversary passed almost unnoticed, but the dictator exposes the contradictions of the country; the State retains its pharaonic mausoleum
MADRID never lacking fresh flowers on the grave of Francisco Franco. Much less the day he met his death 40 years, when processions discrete relatives and supporters approached the Pharaonic tomb of Valley of the Fallen.
It was an uncomfortable day for Spain. The government and the big parties tiptoed the anniversary of the day they finally opened the way to freedom after four decades of dictatorship. There were no acts or manifestations, but for nostalgic meetings glorifying Falangists Franco.
The memory of the historic 20-D Spain exposed the contradictions of democracy. Franco is still buried in a national monument sustained by the state, his daughter Maria del Carmen enjoys the title of Duchess King Juan Carlos I awarded him in 1975 and survives a foundation dedicated to exalt the legacy of the generalissimo.
Meanwhile, thousands of victims of Franco remain buried in mass graves without their families get support to exhume the bodies. The Civil War and the subsequent regime barely mentioned in school curricula and there is no public space to commemorate these fundamental facts in the history of the twentieth century.
Why Spain costing both deal with last? Responds historian Jose Alvarez Junco:… “The transition was not complete operation was made what could at that time, when Franco had their power intact apparatus seems to me a success, because democracy was achieved What It happens is to be followed by “.
amnesty law prevented from investigating crimes of the dictatorship and now defy civic groups with a complaint in Argentina was passed in the transition, in the federal court Maria Servini de Cubria. Mariano Rajoy’s government dismissed all orders of the judge.
Over the years crystallized oblivion without an official condemnation of Franco occurred. The Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the grandson of a Republican shot, would reinstate the debate with a historical memory law that is primarily intended to find the dead unburied.
Four years ago that this rule does not run, denounce human rights activists. “My grandfather was murdered and took away everything I had. Now I’m paying my taxes Franco’s tomb,” sums Emilio Silva, president of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory.
It refers to the Valley of the Fallen, 52 kilometers from Madrid, crowned by the largest cross of Christianity (150 meters). It was built between 1940 and 1959 with political prisoners as laborers. The regime moved there the remains of 33,000 people, mostly Republicans, without the consent of their relatives. Is aimed at providing a space of “reconciliation”, but without giving the fascist symbols.
Even today shields with eagle carved in stone persist. And greets visitors (paying nine euros) membership. “Francisco Franco, leader of Spain, patron and founder, opened this monument on 1 April 1959″
The only tombs are identified that of Franco and Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange, also died on the 20th of November. Lie glued to the altar of the basilica, at the end of the tunnel of 262 meters excavated on the rock. Yesterday was held there a Mass in honor of them.
A group of lawyers headed by former judge Baltasar Garzon recorded this week petitioned the government for the remains of Franco and Primo de Rivera are transferred to where I have family and the Valley of the Fallen become a memory space, regardless of sides.
“Nobody could imagine that in Germany persisted a state monument Nazism. What we ask is resignificar there, as with the former Auschwitz or ESMA “Garzón claims.
Likewise councilors can work -the ruling force Madrid to rename hundreds of streets to pay homage to Franco and find other uses for spaces exaltation of the regime, such as the Arch of Victory Moncloa neighborhood.
To all this the Francisco Franco Foundation opposes. “It’s part of history and must be respected,” says Jaime Alonso, his vice president.
The anniversary passed almost unnoticed even in the publishing world. One of the titles that aroused most attention is The Civil War told the young , the novelist Arturo Perez-Reverte. A didactic text, without political positioning, with which seeks to promote the teaching of that painful but crucial period in the history of Spain.
“We believe that hiding the reality we protect children, and what we do He is to leave them defenseless complaint-. Hide tragedy is even worse than contárselas wrong. “
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