SPAIN: Right-wing protest in support of charges against controversial judge

Record ID: 731722

  • Title: SPAIN: Right-wing protest in support of charges against controversial judge
  • Date: 25th April 2010
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (APRIL 24, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING IN ALONSO MARTINEZ IN CENTRAL MADRID WITH SPANISH FLAGS, FRANCO ERA FLAGS AND FALANGE PARTY FLAGS FALANGE PARTY MEMBER SHOUTING IN SPANISH: "Up Spain and long live General Franco!" AT FEMALE PASSERBY AS ANOTHER PROTESTER SHOUTS: "Viva! Go away!" IN SPANISH BEFORE THE FEMALE PASSERBY SHOUTS IN SPANISH: "
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA8EKBYEFPFRRT3JTCJRDJJ7OLZ
  • Story Text: Hundreds of right wing protestors gather in central Madrid against perceived inequalities in the Spanish justice system as the polemic surrounding Judge Baltasar Garzon continues.
    Hundreds right wing protesters took to the streets in Madrid on Saturday (April 24) claiming unfair treatment by Spain´s most famous judge Baltasar Garzon, who they accuse of improperly investigating alleged human rights crimes carried out under the dictatorship of Spain's Francisco Franco while ignoring similar crimes by Franco's opponents.
    Carrying Franco-era flags and anti-Garzon banners, the demonstrators gatherered in the centre of Madrid before marching to the Spanish High Court. Although a largely peaceful protest, with feelings running high over what is a highly sensitive issue in Spain, some strong words exchanged with more than one passerby as pro-Franco flags were unfurled towards the start of the protest.
    The protesters came from all age-groups but were united by what they see as unequal treatment by Garzon, who they claim selectively investigates Franco-era crimes to the detriment of far-right groups, specifically citing the alleged killing of thousands of Franco's supporters by the communist Santiago Carrillo Solares in Paracuellas de Jarama near Madrid during the Spanish Civil War.
    "For 8000/12000 killed in Paracuellos de Jarama. We also ask that they punish those crimes against humanity," said 79-year-old Antonio Feijoo, a provincial Adjutant to Franco's Guard.
    Members of Spain's right-wing Falange party also took exception to what they see as the attempted distorsion of history by Garzon, who they say has selectively uncovered past crimes for his own agenda.
    "Garzon is dedicated to trying to change history and trying to blame us for what happened and trying to dig up the dead but not to find them and return them to their families but in order to change the story of what happened," said Falange member Martin Ynestrillas.
    Garzon who, won fame for his attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for human rights abuses, could go on trial himself after the Supreme Court ruled he had likely abused his judicial powers.
    "Above all, this is against the persecution that the Falange has been suffering over the last few days because of the accusaton thay have made against Judge Garzon. But I don't know if he has done anything wrong or not. Let the judges decide," said 19 year old Falange provincial secretary Jesus Hermosillo, who had travelled from nearby Guadalajara for the protest.
    In 2008, Garzon ordered an investigation into an estimated 100,000 people who were shot and buried in mass graves during Spain's 1936-39 Civil War and Franco's ensuing rule.
    Suspects may not be tried in Spain for crimes committed more than 30 years ago. Franco died in 1975, and the crimes under investigation were perpetrated in the 1930s and 1940s.
    Garzon dropped his investigation after a month following criticism by state prosecutors, but passed responsibility for exhuming mass graves to regional courts.
    Garzon's attempt to extradite Pinochet from Britain in 1998 to face charges of human rights abuses following his bloody 1973 coup set a precedent for the principal that crimes against humanity could be investigated anywhere.
    He is also known for attempting to bring action against Israeli officials for a 2002 attack in the Gaza Strip and Bush administration officials for alleged torture at the U.S. military prison on Guantanamo Bay.
    But Garzon is a divisive figure in Spain, praised by the descendants of civil war victims and members of the left for his attempt to investigate the crimes of Franco, but derided by conservatives as a publicity-seeking tool of the governing Socialists.
    Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero recently praised Garzon for his moves against armed Basque separatist group ETA. His supporters accuse the right of a campaign of revenge to end his career.
    Garzon faces two other Supreme Court enquiries: one for bugging corruption suspects linked to the opposition Popular Party, and another for dropping an investigation into the head of Banco Santander after receiving payments for giving courses sponsored by the bank in New York.
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