Within the Argentine lawsuit, the only open case against Francoist crimes in the world, I was able to tell my story. They took note of my statement, and it was recorded in the court. Finally!
ROSA GARCIA | Member of the Presxs Commune
The secretary of the Federal Criminal and Correctional Court No. 1 of the Argentine Republic took my statement on the day March 19, 2024. Although I had already stated this before as a witness in the case of Julio Pacheco, In Madrid, this time it was my turn to tell what happened in 1975. To talk about when I was arrested, tortured and imprisoned.
Within the Argentine lawsuit, the only open case against the Francoist crimes around the world, I was able to explain the reasons that had led me to become a member of the FUDE; I explained that I was arrested during a period of heightened repression against groups fighting against the dictatorship. They took note of my statement, and it was recorded in the court. At last!
Almost 39 years since those events And I had to go all the way to Argentina to be able to speak about my case, because it wasn't possible in Spain. In 2018, it was rejected. my complaint against the torturer Antonio González Pacheco, alias Billy the Kid, And the Constitutional Court did not protect me due to the lack of effective judicial protection, a basic right.
”"It is possible, without a doubt, to face the worst with courage and firmness. They showed us this and we must follow their example.".
The trip has been a wonderful personal, political, and organizational experience. Those of us who are part of the delegation of experts and activists from CEAQUA When we traveled to Argentina, we formed a group of exceptional human qualities and impressive political courage. I was able to learn a great deal from my colleagues in All stolen children are also my children, of exhumations of mass graves and DNA determination, by hand Archaeoantho; or on expert reports based on the Istanbul Protocol, together with Gabriela López from the Sira Center.
Sister organizations showed us and explained places like the Memorial Park or the “clandestine” center of torture and extermination of the ESMA. These spaces, besides causing me profound pain – as is only natural – also gave me hope that in the Spanish State we too may one day achieve recognition of our places of memory: the former General Directorate of Security in Madrid in the Puerta del Sol or the police station of Via Laietana in Barcelona, Detention and torture centers, which are just some of the many scattered throughout the territory.
During our stay in Argentina, we also shared the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo March, whose struggle is universally known. I was struck by how long they have persevered without giving up. It can be done., It can certainly be done, To face the worst with courage and resolve. They showed us this, and we must follow their example. I take with me their experience, their fighting spirit, the courage and energy they exude.
”"It is necessary to maintain the fight for memory and against forgetting and, now more than ever, against denialism and the historical distortion of far-right groups.".
This strength and this security is what I want to convey To the rest. Here, the road has been far too long, and we still have much to achieve, but we started from scratch, and now we have managed to get that need recognized, albeit with great difficulty. We have achieved a lot, and that is why we must continue to press the issue. The importance that our demands have acquired is demonstrated, among other things, by the fact that they are being so heavily persecuted by the far right.
It is important that memorial and human rights organizations work together as much as possible, since the two are interconnected. It is necessary to maintain the struggle for... memory and against the forgot and, now more than ever, against the denialism and the historical distortion From the far-right groups: PP and Vox. As the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo say: “The only fight that is lost is the one that is abandoned.”.
I believe it is very necessary to unite and group struggles for common objectives and strengthen the organizations that carry them out so that innovative, democratic, social, human ideas continue to flow... and so that what we fought for in our youth can be realized: a world free of dictatorships, torture, wars, inequalities, racism and sexism. A better world is possible.
”"The road here has been too long and we still have a lot to achieve, but we started from nothing and now we have managed to get that need recognized, even if it's been a bumpy road.".
Rosa García Alcón
Member of the Presxs Commune