MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UN recommends Spain to overturn 1977 amnesty law that ‘forgets’ Franco’s era crimes
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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Disclaimer & comment rulesNot 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.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 09:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0The 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.
@ 1 The Spaniard faking the British nationality.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0The UN is, in this respect, a toothless pussy.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0In 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.
@1
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 11:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0I 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.
1 & 4 @ I agree too.....
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The 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.....
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 0I think what should be considered 1st is what do the people of Spain want? Just what would they benefit by overturning this law?
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 01:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If 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.
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@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.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We have seen signs that old hatreds are being whipped up in Spain, which would only end badly.
Sergio and LEP
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good comments.
I have learned to believe that South Africa's Truth and *Reconciliation* Commission shows a very special and very civilised way forward.
Closure.
*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(4) Condorito
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 04:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You say...:
“What can be gained by opening up old wounds?”
I say..:
Justice?
@1
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed, they SHOULD return that stolen gold.
@12 Think
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 06:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yesterday 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.
Ah , Gface ... countries full of little eichmanns you say.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I 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.
*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.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 10:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0www.britisharmykillings.org.uk
WALOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 03rd, 2013 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Must do better, stay behind after school.
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