ARGENTINIAN JUDGE SEEKS EXTRADITION OF SPANISH TORTURERS OF FRANCO REGIME Judge Maria Servini, who directs Argentinas legal campaign against the crimes of the Franco regime, has formally requested the extradition to Argentina of the Francoist torturers for prosecution there, according to The Diario.es. Specifically there are three former members of the Spanish Social Political Police Brigade (Celso Galvan Abascal, José Ignacio Giralte, Juan Antonio González Pacheco, alias Billy El Niño [Billy the Kid]) and an ex- Guardia Civil, Jesus Aguilar Muñecas. The request affects only Aguilar and Pacheco, since Giralte and Abascal have since died. As noted by the same sources, the Argentinian Chancellery must submit this request to the Spanish authoritiies; the Spanish State will then need to decide whether it agrees to the trial of the defendants in Argentina for crimes against humanity . The Diario.es says Servini s request is based on the principle of universal justice, as it understands that the defendants will not be called to account in the Spanish State for their crimes. The crimes are crimes against humanity and in each and every case, trial and punishment are absolutely necessary and those responsible are subject to pursuit under the principle of universal jurisdiction, the Judge said when she requested the arrest of the accused. The four defendants are persons well-known for their participation in the Franco regime. Among them is the ex-Civil Guard Muñecas Aguilar, one of Antonio Tejeros lieutenants during the 1981 coup attempt; he was accused, among others, by the family of Andoni Arrizabalaga, tortured in the Zarautz barracks in 1964 and whose testimony is included in the resolution.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:56:07 +0000