The President of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, from the PP, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in response to a report written by three reporters regarding the repeal of the democratic memory law in his region. The letter contained errors, falsehoods, and inaccuracies. Azcon’s letter criticized the biased information in the UN report, which he claimed was provided by the Spanish government and contained inaccuracies, falsehoods, and omissions. The report focused on the repeal of democratic memory laws in various regions, including Aragon, which has led to the introduction of alternative “concordance” laws in regions like Valencia and Castilla y Leon.
The repealed law in Aragon aimed to acknowledge the crimes and atrocities committed by both sides during the Civil War and sought to protect the rights of victims to seek the truth, protect those who were victims, and provide means for reparation. The law also aimed to recognize human rights violations that occurred in Aragon during the Republican zone and ensure access to basic rights, such as exhumation and identification of those murdered. The previous law linked the current democracy to the II Republic period and the start of the Civil War as a “coup d’état”. Historians have supported this narrative, linking the events of the past to the present democratic system.
The UN report analyzed the actions of several regional governments that have repealed democratic memory laws and introduced alternative laws promoting concordance. The report highlighted inaccuracies in the information provided by the Spanish government and criticized the actions taken by certain regional governments, including Aragon, in repealing existing laws. The report specifically addressed the Aragonese law that was repealed and detailed the effects of the repeal from a human rights perspective.
Azcón’s letter claimed that the previous law sowed division and confrontation among Aragonese citizens. While the law derogated by the PP and Vox coalition referenced victims’ rights and emphasized the importance of seeking truth and justice, it was the subject of controversy due to its connection to historical events. The reference to the United Nations’ principles on human rights in the repealed law aimed to ensure that victims of human rights violations could seek recourse and reparations. The letter from Azcón contradicted the arguments put forth by the PP leadership regarding the UN report, distancing themselves from the findings.
The PP leadership downplayed the significance of the UN report, emphasizing that it was not an official UN document but rather a report from independent experts. They maintained that the report did not accurately represent the situation in Aragon and other regions where memory laws were repealed. The debate surrounding the repeal of democratic memory laws in different regions, including Aragon, Valencia, and Castilla y Leon, has raised concerns about historical accuracy and the impact on victims and their families. The future approval of concordance laws in these regions remains a topic of discussion, with the potential for further political and social implications.
In conclusion, the letter from Azcón to the UN Secretary General highlighted the political tensions surrounding the repeal of democratic memory laws in Aragon and other regions, as well as the criticism of the UN report’s findings. The controversy surrounding the repeal of these laws has sparked discussions about historical interpretation, human rights, and the role of regional governments in addressing past traumas. The implications of the repeal and introduction of alternative laws in regions like Aragon have raised concerns about reconciliation, justice, and the memory of past atrocities. The ongoing debate continues to highlight the complexities of addressing historical memory and ensuring accountability for past injustices.
