Funding for Historical Memory Exhumation in Fuencaliente

Minister’s Meeting with Historical Memory Association

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, held a meeting on Wednesday on the island with the Association for Historical Memory of La Palma. During this meeting, he reminded attendees that the exhumation of victims of Francoist repression in Fuencaliente will receive state funding, with nearly €100,000 already transferred to the Cabildo of La Palma in June.

Torres expressed his gratitude to the La Palma entity “for the thorough, magnificent, and exemplary work they carry out” and announced the commitment to organise an event on the island in recognition of the families of those who were persecuted, imprisoned, or murdered during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship “for defending democracy.”

Significant Government Initiative

The Minister highlighted that this is the first time the Spanish Government has provided specific funds to island councils for actions related to democratic memory, a move that also extends to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura.

“This is a sum that will have a permanent character,” affirmed Torres, reiterating the Executive’s commitment to truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition. “The democracy we enjoy today was hard-won and must be protected,” he stated.

Institutional Cooperation in the Canary Islands

The Minister for Democratic Memory also emphasised the institutional cooperation in the Canary Islands, noting that the exhumation efforts have involved participation from various political groups, describing this collaboration as “exemplary.”