The Department of Memory and Coexistence of the Government of Navarra has approved the first recognitions of victims of politically motivated acts by far-right groups or public officials. The Recognition and Repair Commission of the Navarrese Parliament proposed these recognitions with the aim of providing reparations for individuals who have died or been physically and psychologically injured as a result of violent, disproportionate, and illegitimate actions in the victimological context mentioned. Four requests were rejected in this first phase, with experts currently reviewing around sixty cases at various stages of the process. Among the officially recognized victims are Mikel Arregui and Mikel Zabalza, whose cases date back to the late 1970s and 1980s. The government has informed the families of the resolutions without disclosing names but detailing the specific cases of the victims, including individuals who were injured or killed in different incidents of violence.
The victims who have been officially recognized are eligible to receive various forms of support, including healthcare assistance, financial compensation for physical or psychological damages, and material reparations. The economic compensations are calculated according to legal guidelines and are equivalent to those received by victims of ETA terrorism. To fund these compensations, an economic allocation has been included in the General Budget of Navarra for 2024. The cases of the recognized victims span from 1969 to 1994 and include individuals who experienced physical and psychological violence during detention, as well as those injured in attacks claimed by extreme right-wing groups. These recognitions aim to acknowledge and repair the harm suffered by these individuals and their families, providing them with the necessary support and compensation.
Mikel Zabalza, a resident of Orbaiceta, was detained in 1985 and subsequently disappeared, with his body being found in a river shortly after. The commission has now officially recognized Zabalza as a victim of politically motivated violence, attributing his death to actions carried out within a specific timeframe by public officials. The commission also acknowledges that the institutional abuse of power and lack of investigation into the events surrounding his death prevented proper accountability and recognition of the victim. As a result, his family will receive financial compensation as a form of reparations. Similarly, Mikel Arregui, a councilor from Lakuntza, who was shot and killed by the Guardia Civil in 1979, has been posthumously recognized as a victim of politically motivated violence. The commission found that the actions of the public officials involved in his death were abusive and excessive, resulting in a financial compensation for his family.
The Recognition and Repair Commission, responsible for evaluating and approving the twelve cases, is composed of various experts in the fields of forensic science, psychology, and victim support, as well as individuals from academic and social backgrounds. Established within the framework of the Navarrese Foral Law 16/2019, the commission was created to address and acknowledge the victims of politically motivated violence in the region. Despite legal challenges from the central government, the Commission has been deemed compliant with the Constitution. By recognizing and providing reparations to these victims, the government of Navarra seeks to address and redress the injustices and harm caused by past acts of political violence in the region, offering support and recognition to the affected individuals and their families.
