The Secretary of State for Democratic Memory visits the common grave of the Gravera de Barbid

23/09/2020

The Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, Fernando Martínez, has today made a work trip to Valladolid, in which he has visited the grave of the Gravera de Barbid, in Medina del Campo.

Medina del Campo, Valladolid (Spain)

The Secretary of State has been interested in the evolution of the work that is being carried out in this pit. Julio del Olmo, president of the Association for the Recovery of the Historical Memory of Valladolid, has given details to Fernando Martínez about the advances that are being made in the works at this site.

It is a well of water covered by land on a farm in which several murders took place in the region of Medina del Campo. Human remains have been found in the cellar near the well, which is why this well is now being inspected in the expectation that there may be remnants of retaliated people. These types of exhumations are very complex and require highly specialized equipment.

So far in Spain, similar wells have been investigated in Navarre, Extremadura, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands and Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha where remains of the Civil War have been found.

After finishing the visit to this pit, Fernando Martínez has moved to the house-castle of the Rivas Cherif family, in Villalba de los Arcores. This visit is part of the preparation of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the death of Manuel Azaña, since the former president of the Second Republic spent long periods in this house, owned by his wife's family. Among the events planned for this commemoration is the exhibition to be held at the National Library in Madrid under the name Azaña: Intellectual and Statesman. Eighty years after his death in exile.

In the afternoon, the Secretary of State met with organizations of historical memory. In this meeting, Fernando Martínez has had the opportunity to explain the most important aspects of the Preliminary Draft Law on Democratic Memory and has informed them of the call for grants for activities related to the recovery of Democratic Memory and the victims of the Civil War and dictatorship.

This year, this aid totals 750,000 euros, of which 60% is used to finance activities related to the exhumation of people buried in graves. The rest of the aid is intended for studies and research relating to the recovery of democratic memory, as well as the moral recognition of the victims of the Civil War and the dictatorship; publications, courses and actions of a scientific and/or informative nature on democratic memory and to activities of collection, conservation, study and dissemination of the documentary or intellectual heritage of the Civil War and or the Dictatorship.

Medina del Campo, Valladolid (Spain) - 23.9.2020 - 23.9.2020

Secretario de Estado visita fosa en Medina del Campo Valladolid, Medina del Campo 23.9.2020