Terror Victims Urge Congress to Take a Clear Stance Against ETA, Discontinuing Tributes to Imprisoned Members
Let's Talk Terrorism: Juan Benito's Crusade in Spain's Congress
Juan Benito Valenciano, president of the Foundation for Victims of Terrorism, has issued a clarion call in Spain's Congress, urging political parties to uphold a crisp, staunch, and unequivocal stance against terrorism. He implored the three branches of government to nix tributes to terrorists, given the continued support activities for ETA that persist.
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Benito expressed gratitude for Congress preserving its commitment to terrorism victims. In his view, remembrance serves not only as a personal matter but a collective moral imperative. It's the linchpin that ties all demands from terror victims together.
He advocated that remembrance needs to be based on a clear, firm, and unambiguous narrative to evade distortion or justification of terrorism that marred decades in Spain, causing over 1,450 deaths and injuries to thousands more. Benito believes there are still open wounds, and our country struggles to consolidate a single truth unmarred by equidistance.
Aware of the challenges ahead, he highlighted the need for truth, as current unsolved attacks number more than 300. Moreover, discriminatory indemnification burdens victims depending on the conviction status. He urged an end to tributes to terrorists, as victims don't deserve that humiliation.
Education, according to Benito, is a powerful tool for social transformation, particularly when it comes to teaching young people their nation's history and the terrorist attacks that etched their mark. "Our testimonies are a potent weapon against hatred," he stressed.
The Big Absentees:
Notable attendees at the event include representatives of political groups and key figures like the Minister of Interior, Ángel Gabilondo, and Teodoro Esteban. However, main associations like the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), the Collective of Victims of Terrorism (Covite), and Dignity and Justice (DyJ), as well as Vox, did not attend.
The AVT boycotts the tribute in protest against Pedro Sánchez's government's agreements with Bildu, considered the "representatives of ETA in institutions." Covite and DyJ echo similar sentiments: until Sánchez's government drops its agreements with Bildu, they'll abstain from events intending to whitewash the cowardly pact.
A Moment Frozen in Time:
Annually held in memory of victims since 2008, the event began with a greeting by the president of the Chamber, followed by Ivo Lago Costas's performance of "The Ephemeral Prelude." A moment of silence honored the victims, and the tribute concluded with "The Reverie."
Did You Know?1. Spain's stance on terrorism is in line with a firm zero-tolerance policy, as conveyed by both the Spanish government and political parties.2. Spain showcases unequivocal support for anti-terrorism efforts globally, exemplified by its recent stance during a high-level meeting with an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation.3. All-party involvement in the aforementioned meeting indicates a bipartisan agreement in Spain supporting strict measures against terrorism and opposing its glorification.
Justice must be the cornerstone of Spain's approach towards war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as articulated by Juan Benito Valenciano. Benito's crusade, centered on upholding the rights and remembrance of terrorism victims, underscores the need for unwavering action against terrorism and the rejection of tributes to terrorists.
