Exiles get Spain passport chance

[Adsos Letter]

Source: BBC

About 500,000 people whose families had to flee Spain during the civil war and the subsequent Franco era now have the right to apply for Spanish citizenship.

Spain's new Law of Historical Memory, enacted a year ago, applies to people whose mother or father was Spanish, and the grandchildren of those who fled.

They can start submitting applications for Spanish citizenship on Monday.

Most of those who qualify live in Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico and France.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7801670.stm

[davidinalameda]

1. that is very cool

the Spanish government is a great example of how a government should be

[Captain Needa]

2. It is but a joke

It is not. The Law of Historical Memory does actually condone Franco's genocide, denies investigation on mass graves (which are being discovered on a daily basis, btw), denies recognition for any International Brigades' members who volunteered to fight for the Republic, prevents that top political personalities could be prosecuted for their responsability on the crimes against humanity of the Franco's regime (just google "Manuel Fraga Iribarne", who is actually the President of Honor of the spanish right-wing Partido Popular and the head of the Home Office during the dictatorship, head of the political police, the national police and guilty of the killing of more than a hundred unnarmed workers during the assault to a church in Vitoria where the demonstrators sought refuge from the police gunshots. I have a tape recorded where you can hear the police saying "We are running out of ammo, what should we do?". Denies any reparation for the families of the executed (estimated several hundred thousands) after the war during the systematic terror campaign undertaken by the fascists. In short, it is but whitewashing history without disturbing the nostalgic right wingers who positively supported, cheered and collaborated with the fascism, and there are millions in Spain.

That's all about any spanish governments, even the so-called "socialist" ones from 1982: Big mouthers but also part of the political establishment that allowed the fascist criminals remain in power after Franco's death. Two months ago, spanish magistrate Baltasar Garzon, the guy who prosecuted Pinochet and got it extradited from Britain, sought the prosecution of the aforementioned Manuel Fraga and several other living members of Franco's regime. It was immediately forbidden by the Supreme Court, denied permission to open and start a forensic investigation of the mass graves (which are being discovered and examined by archaeologists and pathologists paid by a private foundation -the Association for the Historical Memory- due to absolute lack of public or government support) and both, the popular party and the socialist party criticised Garzon's initiative because "stirring the past was inappropriated". Historical Memory my ass.

[itcfish]

3. I Thought The Same Way as You.

but if you think it out calmly, there is no other way. Do you realize that most of the criminals of the Civil War are dead and their families would pay the price for the war crimes? Property, money, etc were taken by the Franquistas and the victims would look for retribution. It could be another Civil War. I think the government took the right course for now.

[Captain Needa]

4. There's a huge difference between

honoring the memory of the victims and revenge. Nobody is seeking revenge from the fascists' families, but calling the fascist coup "Uprising" and the terror regime "the previous regime", keeping monuments and street names of notorious fascist murderers, having to watch to revisionist historians in TV justifying the Franco's era in some "excesses" from the republicans is not only disgusting but a funny way to respect the historical memory. There won't be another civil war, and if you think so you're so afraid of disturbing the criminals that you're ready to give truth and your rights up to appease the remaining millions of spanish fascists. Or is it that they are useful to safely keep the status quo?

Gora Euskadi askatuta!
Visca Catalunya Lliure!
Viva Galiza Ceibe!

Salud y República!

[itcfish]

5. I Have Been to Spain Many

Most signs of the Franco years have been erased. There are exceptions of course where Franco is still admired and those communities hold on to the past. Although I may not like it, it is part of freedom of speech and the democratic processes. The evil Franco and his ilk did to Spain can never be repaired. Let us not forget that the Republicans also did their harm but of course they already paid for their sins.

[Billy Burnett]

6. The Spanish consul in Miami is preparing for an onslaught of applications.

Is asking people to get applications and submit them prior to going to the consulate.

Miamicuban exiles are showing up in droves and overcrowding their office.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Miami Cubans support Franco, not the Republic

What's wrong with them?

[Captain Needa]

7. It's an empty gesture

Under spanish law, people from Latin America and other former spanish colonies, have the possibility of the double nationality. Those from spanish origins or descendants from spanish ancestors have also that choice. Even those who wouldn't be elligible can acquire the spanish citizency if they reside for over a year in spanish soil and renounce their former nationality.

[itcfish]

8. If I remember correctly

People from Latin America or former Spanish colonies can become citizens of Spain if their parents or grandparents were actually born in Spain, without renouncing their current citizenship.