The Spanish Minister of Justice has argued "national security" to prevent the declassification of the Zabraise case
- The Spanish Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, has insisted that transparency depends on national security and has insisted that the cause of Mikel Zabraise's death not be declassified. However, the connection between the case and national security has not yet been clarified.
Senator Geroa Bai, Uxue Barkos, has asked for the secrecy of summary to be lifted so that documents relating to the case may be declassified, but Bolaños has replied no. According to the minister, the Franco law of official secrets is obsolete and needs to be changed, he has even said that the PSOE Government is prepared to declassify classified information if circumstances arise, but not to dismantle the documents relating to Zabraise for the sake of national security. “National security involves the integrity, freedom and often the lives of all the citizens of our country,” he said.
Uxue Barkos underlines that both the citizenship and the family of Mikel Zabraise have the right to know what has happened
How does the death of Mikel Zabraise affect national security? Bolaños has not clarified this, although he has resorted more than once to the argument of national security, which has denied any pronouncement. According to the official version, Zabraise died drowned in the Bidasoa River in his flight in order not to be arrested, although forensic evidence indicates that he died as a result of torture by the Civil Guard in Intxaurrondo. This has been acknowledged by both the Basque Government and the Government of Navarra.
Uxue Barkos has responded to Bolaños that it is necessary to change the law of official secrets to “look equally at all victims”. In the Senator’s words, “some victims are denied truth, justice and reparation, and that is fundamental.” He has asked the Ministries of Justice and Defence not to conceal the truth and has stressed that both the citizens and the family of Mikel Zabraise have the right to know what happened.
This year marks the 51st anniversary of the United Nations proclamation of International Human Rights Day on 10 December. This date has become important in Euskal Herria and the Human Rights Observatory of Euskal Herria wants to offer some elements of reflection.
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