Post by account_disabled on Feb 28, 2024 8:21:48 GMT
Last Monday, the former minister of the late Franco governments and the beginning of democracy, Rodolfo Martín Villa, with large doses of cynicism and lack of respect for the victims, acknowledged that “he could have been politically and criminally responsible for the acts that occurred in this country in the 70s” when he was Minister of the Interior, later the Interior. Specifically, the events of January , or the Sanfermines 78. Without meaning to, it made us recover a part of our collective historical memory, sometimes too forgotten. Among the various meanings that the RAE points out to us of “memory” I would like to highlight the one that it defines as “relation of some particular events, which are written to illustrate history.” While “forgetting” is “cessation of the memory that one had.” That is why it is so important to maintain memory and thus avoid oblivion as a people, since those who lose it are condemned to repeat it, especially the negative one. Let's use it through this slap that this Francoist gives us, to remember one more year the events that took place in our country years ago, precisely in January and that I experienced firsthand.
At that time he was active in the PCE and in Workers' Commissions; at the University of Madrid where he studied and in the Graphic Arts sector where he worked. That black January began on Sunday the , when a far-right group murdered the young anti-fascist Arturo Ruiz, in a pro-amnesty demonstration at the back of Gran Vía (then José Antonio Avenue) in Madrid. The next day, sociology student María Luz Nájera dies from the impact of the canister of smoke she receives at the demonstration protesting Arturo's Malta Phone Number death. He received the blow on the corner of Gran Vía and Calle de Libreros, also close to where he was. In the afternoon, Atocha's lawyers are murdered in their office. Shocked by these events, the entire anti-Franco left is shocked. Precisely on that terrible January 24, we had planned to meet the PCE of Graphic Arts in the office of the labor lawyers of Atocha, a place that we alternated with that of Españoleto, but they called us to suspend it because there was another more important one, that of Transportation, which at that time was on strike. Our democracy was in danger then and despite the satisfaction of having a left-wing government it could be now 45 years later. We replaced it with a mini meeting at my house, which we also used to use at specific times. There were black clouds, and something was suspected, but despite the anger and indignation, the PCE leadership recommended calm and control of anger, so after the debate we had we decided to abide by that decision.
At midnight my house phone rang. A comrade, Eugenio, informed me about Atocha. Enrique, Sauquillo, ...six in total murdered and Lola, Alejandro seriously injured... I thought it could have been us. Then a whirlwind of meetings, assemblies, contacts, and above all a clear message: we must remain calm, not respond to provocation. Despite this suppressed rage for our murdered comrades, we gritted our teeth and swallowed the toad. We were communists and therefore we had a greater responsibility, even more so in the complex moments that we had to live through since we had just entered a complex Transition to democracy, after 40 years of brutal dictatorship. Then the impressive funeral in which I actively participated in the “service of order”, with the feeling of living historical moments. Then, over time, I understood that that call for calm from my party was key to achieving the situation we currently enjoy. Because the PCE was the main architect, together with Adolfo Suarez, to achieve that desired democracy, with all its imperfections but democracy. We are in another time, but this winter morning the regrettable words of who was then Minister of the Interior brings back the memory of those moments, those days, those people, my fallen comrades, with very deep sensations and emotions.
At that time he was active in the PCE and in Workers' Commissions; at the University of Madrid where he studied and in the Graphic Arts sector where he worked. That black January began on Sunday the , when a far-right group murdered the young anti-fascist Arturo Ruiz, in a pro-amnesty demonstration at the back of Gran Vía (then José Antonio Avenue) in Madrid. The next day, sociology student María Luz Nájera dies from the impact of the canister of smoke she receives at the demonstration protesting Arturo's Malta Phone Number death. He received the blow on the corner of Gran Vía and Calle de Libreros, also close to where he was. In the afternoon, Atocha's lawyers are murdered in their office. Shocked by these events, the entire anti-Franco left is shocked. Precisely on that terrible January 24, we had planned to meet the PCE of Graphic Arts in the office of the labor lawyers of Atocha, a place that we alternated with that of Españoleto, but they called us to suspend it because there was another more important one, that of Transportation, which at that time was on strike. Our democracy was in danger then and despite the satisfaction of having a left-wing government it could be now 45 years later. We replaced it with a mini meeting at my house, which we also used to use at specific times. There were black clouds, and something was suspected, but despite the anger and indignation, the PCE leadership recommended calm and control of anger, so after the debate we had we decided to abide by that decision.
At midnight my house phone rang. A comrade, Eugenio, informed me about Atocha. Enrique, Sauquillo, ...six in total murdered and Lola, Alejandro seriously injured... I thought it could have been us. Then a whirlwind of meetings, assemblies, contacts, and above all a clear message: we must remain calm, not respond to provocation. Despite this suppressed rage for our murdered comrades, we gritted our teeth and swallowed the toad. We were communists and therefore we had a greater responsibility, even more so in the complex moments that we had to live through since we had just entered a complex Transition to democracy, after 40 years of brutal dictatorship. Then the impressive funeral in which I actively participated in the “service of order”, with the feeling of living historical moments. Then, over time, I understood that that call for calm from my party was key to achieving the situation we currently enjoy. Because the PCE was the main architect, together with Adolfo Suarez, to achieve that desired democracy, with all its imperfections but democracy. We are in another time, but this winter morning the regrettable words of who was then Minister of the Interior brings back the memory of those moments, those days, those people, my fallen comrades, with very deep sensations and emotions.