Respect the denied dignity
The Dual sculpture, placed on Ijentea Street, was inaugurated on May 31, 2014 in tribute to the 400 Donostiarras executed by the Franco regime during the coup d'état of 36 and the subsequent war. It was an emotional act, simple, but full of meaning. There they were relatives and several associations that are working to recover that part of the story that still wants to be hidden and that worked to make that project a reality.
It emerged from a popular initiative and we work with the utmost respect, sensitivity and finesse. As mayor at that time, I remember well the contributions, ideas and proposals of each person who collaborated, as well as tears and smiles. I do not forget the words of the families who came to thank warmly for this step, nor those of those who worked enthusiastically from the City Hall and the associations.
It was not a spontaneous initiative, but worked with the months of tireless and illusory work. It takes us a while to identify the executed people, to search for and find the direct relatives. We talked, debated, agreed on the project, correcting the errors that had the original idea (for example, talk about those executed and not about those shot, who were killed through the ‘vile garrote’). And we managed to get it unanimously adopted by all political parties.
They thanked the family members who got in touch and the people there for listening to them and acknowledging them for the first time. That day came the pain that had been preserved for decades. Many of these families were offered a place of reference to remember these people in the absence of graves.
Some try to undermine the meaning of the 'Dual' sculpture with malevolent interpretations and proposals that re-punish the victims of Franco and his relatives
To those who visit us we also wanted to make known this part of our history, which does not appear in the postcards or in the idyllic stories. Because it was and is Donostia, too.
The inauguration was one of the many initiatives that took place in relation to the historical memory of our city. The aim of all of them was to restore, in part, thousands of people and their families the dignity they have taken away for years. Repairing that concealment, forgetfulness and contempt they suffered for decades. The prisoners, the retaliated municipal staff, the destroyed patrimony, the important events… were protagonists through different initiatives: plates, monuments, books, tributes, official acts for the return of unjust punishments…
Today, some intend to undermine the meaning of sculpture with malicious interpretations and proposals that re-punish the victims of Franco and his family. The pp has taken an initiative to the Human Rights Commission of the City of Donostia-San Sebastián, which has joined a personal request of some twenty people.
We cannot allow that space born of consensus and with a clear objective to become a topic of debate and controversy. I find it disrespectful, insolent and, of course, absolutely unacceptable.
It is up to us to respond firmly to these provocative proposals in defence of the Donostiarras who were unjustly executed by the Franco regime. We have a historic debt to all those who have been underestimated and marginalised and to their families.
I hope that this absurdity will remain in nothing and the City Hall will be able to respond to it with sufficient firmness.
Juan Karlos Izagirre Hortelano, former mayor of Donostia and municipal spokesperson of EH Bildu
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