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UN recommends Spain to overturn 1977 amnesty law that ‘forgets’ Franco’s era crimes

Wednesday, October 2nd 2013 - 08:12 UTC
Full article 17 comments

United Nations has called for Spain to overturn a 1977 amnesty law that pardons crimes committed during the 36-year dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Hundreds of thousands of people died or disappeared during Spain's civil war and subsequent dictatorship, but the crimes have been shielded under an amnesty law passed two years after Franco's death, protecting former members of the regime. Read full article

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  • Mr Ed

    Not so much the United Nations as a bunch of people who have found themselves on a trip to Spain and who work for the UN.

    The uncomfortable truth is that a large part of the Spanish political landscape was filled with murderous fanatics on both sides. The crimes of the Communists and Anarchists and the NKVD-backed Republican government should be looked at, not only those of the Nationalists, but this should be funded by charitable donations, Spain is bust and cannot afford any more bureaucrats, they have enough 'work' on their hands with the Spanish State harassing Gibraltar and people who simply wish to work.

    This might be a good time for Moscow to hand back Spain's stolen gold.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 09:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gonzo22

    @ 1 The Spaniard faking the British nationality.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    The UN is, in this respect, a toothless pussy.

    In Spain's tottering state such a 'retribution tribunal' would be the straw that broke Spain into a dozen warring regional entities.
    Forget it; it is not the time and it is much too late.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @1
    I agree.
    Let sleeping dogs lie.
    What can be gained by opening up old wounds?

    The Spanish arrived at a solution that allowed them to move on. The “UN” day trippers should not meddle.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Sergio Vega

    1 & 4 @ I agree too.....
    The UN have other serious dramas to put its hands on.....as poverty and famine in a lot of parts of the world...
    That is a Spanish problem that be solve by the Spanish in the Spanish way......

    If they start with the recommendation of the UN will finish like Chile where after 43 and more years of human rights abuses by the Unidad Popular Gvt. before and Military Gvt. after, we stay with a divided country like those bad times because the hate and persecution have kept us with irreconcilable extremes that stayed living in the past....
    The idea is to learn from the past to never repeat the errors and move on to a future where never the political parties reach a breakdown that implies other ways to solve the situation different from the democratic ones......
    Strangely, none has asked for investigation of the lesa humanity crimes under the communist Gvts. in the East Europe and USSR where millions were killed and tortured by state´s agents......
    Are human rights for the followers of one side, only..?? Have human rights those civilians suffering from the extremist gangs with or without state support...??? Something to think about, at least.....

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    I DON'T agree. A crime is a crime. For obvious reasons, there is no time limit on war crimes. Why has the People's Party allotted no funds? Because a lot of them are war criminals. Time to close this matter is in 2140. Until then, find 'em, shoot 'em. But, if their crimes seem particularly nasty, garotte 'em. Slowly. How about an execution lasting 3 hours? Perhaps the executioner could have a siesta part way through!

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 01:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    I think what should be considered 1st is what do the people of Spain want? Just what would they benefit by overturning this law?

    If they want to get rid of the amnesty law and prosecute those who allegedly committed crime (those that are still alive that is), then fine. But if they prefer this to be a case of forgiving all sides in order to allow the country to move forwards then so be it.

    Forgiving but not forgetting maybe the way forwards here. But only the Spanish people should be able to make this decision.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 01:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GFace

    It's the same problem with Spain, Argentina, Chile and the rest. You have a country full of Little Eichmanns (yes, its a very inflammatory term but the shoe fits here) who during their respective regime, drew perks and settled big and petty scores and now are terrified of facing their survivors and the survivors finding out it was them, the smiling neighbor, who dropped the dime -- and make no mistake they know each other to this day and cover for each other. Time doesn't bury old wounds when there is no closure or resolution or questions answered and the people who put these rules to save their own necks in were gambling on that lie and have spent their lives looking over their shoulders (to which I say good -- but not enough). What frustrates me is that when countries go back on these bogus amnesty agreements it's years late and dollars short (and are too often done to settle more recent scores and clear the way for their political pals).

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mr Ed

    @2 Are you suggesting that I am Spanish? Your turn of phrase suggests to me that you do not have a sufficient grasp of the English language to pass for a native speaker in the written word.

    We have seen signs that old hatreds are being whipped up in Spain, which would only end badly.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    Sergio and LEP
    Good comments.

    I have learned to believe that South Africa's Truth and *Reconciliation* Commission shows a very special and very civilised way forward.
    Closure.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    *6 maybe we should start by arresting all the British Military brass who killed innocent civilians in NorthernIreland (sunday bloody sunday)..remember that one??

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 04:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (4) Condorito

    You say...:
    “What can be gained by opening up old wounds?”

    I say..:
    Justice?

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 04:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Casper

    @1

    Agreed, they SHOULD return that stolen gold.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @12 Think

    Yesterday you applaud Piñera's record, today you agree with Conq! Oh times they are a changin' ... your old road is an agin'.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbMlHGEICuY

    @ Geoff
    “I have learned to believe that South Africa's Truth and *Reconciliation* Commission shows a very special and very civilised way forward.”

    Eco compadre.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 06:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    Ah , Gface ... countries full of little eichmanns you say.

    I remember when Britain opened up an old wound in N.Ireland called bloody Sunday.

    The result was as follows :
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGI1qOMQE-o

    ....yet no prosecutions. hmmm.

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    *6 or maybe we should start arresting all the British Military brass who were involved in the bombing of the German city of Dresden.Where the 722 RAF and the USAF bombers attacked the city with 2,431 tons of high explosives bombs and 1,475 tons of incendiaries converting the city into a firestorm killing from 22,000 to 26,000 civilians .......yet no prosecutions.
    www.britisharmykillings.org.uk

    Oct 02nd, 2013 - 10:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    WALOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Must do better, stay behind after school.

    Oct 03rd, 2013 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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