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
Bidali zure iritzi artikuluak iritzia@argia.eus helbide elektronikora
ARGIAk ez du zertan bat etorri artikuluen edukiarekin. Idatzien gehienezko luzera 4.500 karakterekoa da (espazioak barne). Idazkera aldetik gutxieneko zuzentasun bat beharrezkoa da: batetik, ARGIAk ezin du hartu zuzenketa sakona egiteko lanik; bestetik, egitekotan edukia nahi gabe aldatzeko arriskua dago. ARGIAk azaleko zuzenketak edo moldaketak egingo dizkie artikuluei, behar izanez gero.
To be honest, I don't know why I'm writing this. In today’s hostile environment, opinions of this kind are not well received. Perhaps LUZ will not publish this because it does not correspond to the opinions they have published so far (but if they have finally decided to publish... [+]
On January 15, the techno-business lobby called Cedarios presented its 6th report, Euskadi and the European Union, the shared destiny of prosperity and competitiveness. This neoliberal Think Tank, made up of eminent experts drawn from the world of finance, presented a magical... [+]
We Basques move our feet behind the witness of Korrika to proclaim that we want to survive as a Basque people in favor of our language, with the aim of the Basque Country we desire.
The tipi-tapa is the first step taken by a migrant person who leaves his homeland in Africa,... [+]
And for another year, the unions have organized prefabricated strikes for us. And we, individually, will decide whether or not to join the strike, without the need for any assembly at the school.
The strike model that I was taught is no longer in vogue, it seems. In my... [+]
Today, January 21, is a day to remember and reflect on an interesting ephemeris of our recent history. It is 50 years since the lockdown of 47 workers from Potase in Navarre. This lockdown, which lasted fifteen days, caused a general strike in Navarre, the Department of the... [+]
A couple of weeks ago, a number of data from Norway was published. In this country of Northern Europe electric cars have predominated, being the Tesla brand the most sold, with 90% of recyclable energy consumed there. On the contrary, Norwegian public enterprises have no problem... [+]
.jpg)
These were my last words when we left, held hand in your deep breathing sleep. Your heart stayed forever without a special, simple, dignified pain. As you want and demand. How we want and respect.
Already a month before the arrival of winter, the last days of the longest night,... [+]
Today, the voices of women and children remain within a culture that delegitimizes their voices, silencing their experiences, within a system aimed at minimizing or ignoring their basic rights and needs. A media example of this problem is the case of Juana Rivas, but her story... [+]
On Tuesday, the sentence was released against five young people from Lapurdi, convicted of belonging to Segi. Fifteen months in prison for reversal to two young people, with a fine of EUR 500 each; 140 hours of forced labour and EUR 500 fine to two other young people; and,... [+]
The other day, as I was walking through the famous television series The Wire, there came a scene that reminded me of despair. There, the management of the newspaper The Baltimore Sun brought together the workers and alerted them to the changes that are coming, i.e. redundancies... [+]
The consumerist culture we live in sends every user to an unreasonable enjoyment. As Slavoj Zize says, Enjoy your fetish, it has become the rude mandate of hypermodernity. Current enjoyment is carried out through existing technological devices to occupy the place of fetish. But... [+]
A ghost crosses the kitchens: The ghosts of Carlos.
Karlos has not been presented to the Master Chef Celebrity. After analyzing its culinary heritage, it is very clear that it will not overcome the selection of its opponents. In fact, the Academy of Gastronomy and the media... [+]
The achievement of the Euskadi Selection has undoubtedly been a historic achievement. But if you stick to that, for many Basques – I too, because I am Navarro – it will be the darkest and saddest day. After enjoying the joy and warmth of the first few days, let's go back to... [+]
Hearing and language teachers (PDI) and speech therapists are specialist teachers who work in both the public and the concerted school. Among its functions is the direct attention to students with language and communication difficulties, but also the establishment of incremental... [+]