The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, called for the commitment of the whole society “to justice, memory and dignity”, assuring that “the stories of the past remain a fundamental pillar to build a more just and democratic future”. He did so in the municipal cemetery of Rubiáns, in Vilagarcía, where the City Council paid an emotional tribute to the victims of Franco's repression, with the discovery and inauguration of a monolith in memory of those killed for defending the freedom "that represents the democratic values that our government defends," he said.
It was an event full of symbolism in which the delegate reaffirmed “the commitment of the Government of Pedro Sánchez to historical memory through laws that ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated”. Thus, he recalled that in recent years the Executive allocated more than half a million euros to democratic memory initiatives in Galicia. However, Pedro Blanco also launched an appeal for “reflection and action in the face of current threats.” "In recent times we see certain sectors trying to deny the validity of these laws, with statements that minimize or even justify repression," he said, warning that "oblivion cannot be imposed because a society that buries its past under silence can never move forward."
The government delegate thanked the commitment of the mayor, Alberto Varela, and the City Council for "an initiative that pays a historical and moral debt that our society has with the victims," in reference to the institutional effort to keep alive the memory of those who suffered the consequences of the repression. “Acts like today’s are fundamental, not only to dignify the victims, but also to strengthen democracy and reject negationism and indifference,” he said.
He also acknowledged the thorough work of the Democratic Memory Group of the University of Santiago, whose work was fundamental to "recover and preserve stories that should not be forgotten." Likewise, he highlighted the appointment of the Agrarian History and Politics of the Rural World Group (Histagra) of the University of Santiago as responsible for preparing the state census of victims of the Civil War and the Dictatorship.
Government action in Galicia
The delegate highlighted the work that is done in Galicia to repair the memory of the victims, with exhumations such as those carried out throughout the territory. This respect, he recalled that the Government financed in Galicia activities such as research, publications and exhumations, among others, for an amount that exceeds half a million euros in recent years.
Specifically, the State Secretariat for Democratic Memory financed activities for more than 435,000 euros, almost 50% through the Xunta in the Sectoral Conferences, “which means an average of 103,000 euros a year for research, publications and exhumations,” said the delegate. This amount must be added to the approximately 80,000 euros in aid for activities related to the recovery of democratic memory directed to associations, foundations and non-profit entities, as well as to universities and public research bodies that have among their objectives those related to the recovery of Democratic Memory and the recognition of the victims of the Civil War and the Dictatorship.