The complaints are in addition to the more than 100 already filed for crimes against humanity committed during Franco's dictatorship.
From the hand of CEAQUA, Xosé María Brañas y Manuel Reboiras have filed two new complaints for crimes against humanity in the Courts of Instruction of A Coruña and Vigo, denouncing the torture, humiliation and ill-treatment they suffered at the hands of agents of the Police Headquarters and the Civil Guard during their arrests in 1975 and 1976, respectively. Both were arrested for political reasons, as they were members of the Unión do Povo Galego (UPG) party in a context of brutal repression and persecution of social, political and trade union movements opposed to the Franco regime.
The Sira Centre has acted as an expert witness in both cases, providing evidence that proves the veracity of the facts and assesses the psychological and moral impact that the torture inflicted by the Francoist police has left on the plaintiffs.
Brañas filed a complaint against seven officers of the Regional Social Investigation Brigade of the A Coruña Police Headquarters and of the Local Social Investigation Section attached to the Lugo Police Headquarters for his arrest on 11 August 1975 in Guntín (Lugo), where he was detained for 72 hours, during which time he was beaten and humiliated. He was detained there for 72 hours, during which time he was subjected to all kinds of beatings and humiliation.
For his part, Manuel Reboiras Noia filed a complaint against nine officers of the Local Social Investigation Section of the Vigo Police Headquarters in connection with his arrest on 18 June 1976 on Castro Hill (Vigo). In addition to the consequences of his own arrest, in his particular case, there were the after-effects of the murder of his brother Moncho Reboiras, one of the leaders of left-wing Galician nationalism, at the hands of Franco's police.
Rally in support of the plaintiffs, Julio Pacheco and Rosa García. Sira Centre
The Brañas and Reboiras lawsuits are in addition to the more than 100 cases filed in Spanish courts throughout Spain for crimes against humanity, all of which have been closed. Since the entry into force of the Democratic Memory Law two years ago, More than 10 complaints have been filed for crimes committed under Franco's regime, all of which have been filed or dismissed.