Argentina seeks extradition from Spain of Franco-era ministers Rodolfo Martin Villa, Jose Utrera Mol
Argentina seeks extradition from Spain of Franco-era ministers Rodolfo Martin Villa, Jose Utrera Molina
Posted about 5 hours ago
Sat 1 Nov 2014, 7:25pm
An Argentine judge has requested that Spain arrest and extradite 20 former Spanish officials, including two ex-government ministers, suspected of human rights violations in the era of dictator Francisco Franco.
Federal judge Maria Servini de Cubria, who is investigating allegations of torture and other crimes committed in Spain during the Franco era, issued the request on Friday.
The Spaniards included the two former ministers Rodolfo Martin Villa, 79, who was Franco's interior minister, and Jose Utrera Molina, 86, who was housing minister under Franco, Spain's dictator from 1939-1975. Franco ruled Spain from 1939 to his death in 1975, after which it took some years to establish a functioning democracy.
"This is tremendous news for the victims," said Maximo Castex, an attorney for victims of crimes against humanity.
The judge asked Interpol to issue arrest warrants for the suspects so they can be extradited to Argentina for questioning.
"It is historic," said Maria Arcenegui Siemens, spokeswoman for the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, a group supporting victims of Spain's 1936-1939 civil war and the ensuing 36-year dictatorship. "It is a great day for us."
Mr Villa is accused of ordering a police raid on protesting workers sheltering in a church which left five people dead in 1976, according to Judge Servini's ruling.
More:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-02/argentina-orders-elderly-franco-era-ministers-return/5860608
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