Democratic Memory

Today, 10 December, International Human Rights Day, 11 a.m., we are opening the Ezhoi Plenary, which has been convened.

INSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION

86 years ago, a failed coup d'état against the legality of the republic gave way to a terrible war that resulted in thousands of casualties. After the war came dictatorship and then decades of oblivion and impunity.

Some lost their lives and all their freedom. Overcoming tragedy cannot be done by concealing the truth. Without that there is no justice or reparation.

To begin with, we must acknowledge the truth that our land was, throughout the conflict, a backward zone, and that hundreds of people were arrested, tortured or killed in isolated places or after a farce of trials, without a minimum of procedural guarantees because of their legitimate political convictions, their involvement in democratic processes, or simply their failure to cooperate in military insurrection.

Today, in 2022, the Labastida City Council intends to take a decisive step, and with this tribute it wishes to make the necessary institutional reparation to the victims of the Civil War in our municipality, and to express our appreciation and affection for them and their families.

These victims, as well as their families, have been silent and ashamed for years, and we need to fix that. Today, Bastida and her City Hall, with their legitimate representatives here, want to receive our most sincere recognition and our homage to those who were in that place before us and took their lives.

For all these reasons, the plenary of the Labastida City Council held an extraordinary session today.

FIRST. - We commit ourselves to the right of truth, justice, and reparation for all those who were murdered, including those who suffered serious violations of human rights during the war and dictatorship. To lift the veil of silence that has covered the murders and serious violations of human rights in our territory during the Civil War.

SECOND. - We symbolically look at the good name and dignity of all our fellow citizens.

THIRD. - Publicly manifest the solidarity of the people of Labastida to all the victims and family members. His pain, suffering and mourning are from the people of Labastida.

FOURTH.- For this reason, and knowing that many were retaliated against and many families were affected, we also remember the murdered residents of Labastida:

- Pablo Arroyo García, 48 years old, pastor. Shot in July 1936. Has not appeared

- Eugenio Ayuso Bravo, 28 years old, day laborer. Shot on February 10, 1937 in Gasteiz.

- Sixto Barrón Martínez, 35 years old. "Walked" and shot on August 28, 1936. It has NOT appeared.

- José Antonio Barrón Martínez, 20 years old, farmer. "Walked" and shot on September 7, 1936. He has not appeared.

- Eloy Lanzos García, 36 years old, farmer. Republican councilor "walked" and shot on October 29, 1936 in Pancorbo.

- Lorenzo Lanzos García, "walked" and shot on October 29, 1936 in Pancorbo.

- Amos Madrid Villalonga. Murdered in Irún

- José Martínez López, 38 years old, bracero. "Walked" and shot on October 29, 1936. It has NOT appeared.

- Félix Ochoa González, 54 years old, farmer and bailiff. Assassinated on October 29, 1936 in Labastida.

- Nicolás Ortego Blanco, 42 years old. Assassinated on July 25, 1938 in Labastida.

- José Fidel Ortiz de Anda Guinea, 30 years old, teacher. "walked" and shot on October 27, 1936. He has not appeared.

- Laureano Quintana Martínez, 25 years old, bracero. Killed in July 1936. Has not been found.

- Ponciano Quintana Martínez, 59 years old, farmer. Killed July 19, 1936. Has not been found.

- José Rodríguez García, 40 years old. "Walked" and shot on October 8, 1936. He has not appeared.

- Jerónimo Rodríguez Garoña, 34 years old, day laborer. Thrown into the river tied with a stone on October 23, 1936.

- Eluterio Rojas San German. "Walked" and shot on November 22, 1936 in Alto de Briñas.

- Félix San Germán Ruiz, 40 years old, day laborer. "Walked" and shot on November 22, 1936.

-David San Juan Ruiz. Killed in July 1936. Has not been found.

- Serapio Vadillo López, 29 years old, farmer. Assassinated in July 1936 in Lapuebla de Arganzón. Has not appeared.

- Agapito Vadillo López, 54 years old, farmer. Assassinated on August 10, 1936 in Lapuebla de Arganzón. Has not appeared.

We would also like to mention, in addition to these 20 murdered residents, 2 people died of illness while in hiding, 8 people saved for being in hiding for 2 years, 6 people saved in war and in exile and 5 women detained and shaved heads, as well as all the people imprisoned and imprisoned for years.

FIFTH.- We also remember, although we do not name them, all those residents of Labastida who during the Franco dictatorship were fined or persecuted for opposing it or for defending ideas of freedom, justice and social progress.

In the event that, over time, due to the appearance of new documents or historical studies, it is shown that other people suffered the same circumstances that we symbolically repair today, this recognition will be extended to them.

SIXTH.- Publish this statement officially, as well as on the bulletin board of this Hon. City Council, and will also be transferred to the competent institutions. Labastida, on December 10, 2022.

WE PROCEED TO VOTE, VOTES IN FAVOR.

IT IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE 9 COUNCILORS OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF THIS CITY COUNCIL OF LABASTIDA-BASTIDA.

With this approval we conclude this Extraordinary Plenary Session that today, International Human Rights Day, we have convened in homage to all the victims of the Civil War and the Franco Dictatorship in Labastida.

And in them we include both the men who lost their lives or freedom, as well as all their wives, mothers, daughters or sisters who suffered the irreparable loss in one way or another of their husbands, fathers, brothers or sons.

This has been our way of showing all of them our deepest respect, our way of restoring their dignity, and recovering their memory, because we do not want to, nor should we, forget what happened.