Punishment of the murderers of Gustau Muñoz: there was a step forward in the fight against Francoist crimes.

Gustau Muñoz, I had 16 years when he was assassinated by the repression deployed in Plaza Sant Jaume and surroundings, during the Day 11 September 1978. From that day until today his relatives, friends and a wide range of activists have called for justice. Nevertheless, the governments and institutions of the 1978 regime have always blocked any attempt to investigate and punish the criminals of Francoism and the transition. In 2018, past 40 years of impunity, the fight has managed to open a research pathway in Argentina, occasion in which the MST of that country was supporting the claim, something that we continue to do in the Spanish State, along with many other organizations. In this days, the Argentine Complaint has taken a step forward, with an important resolution of the Parliament of Catalonia. We talked to Marc Muñoz, Gustav's brother, one of the main promoters of the fight against impunity.

what is the statement about?

Gustau's relatives began the procedures to obtain a resolution from the Parliament of Catalonia because we saw that it had not taken a position on the complaint that we presented. In the course of the previous work of the Chamber and the parties to close the resolution, we expand it. The relatives were looking for a letter of support from the Parliament for the complaint about Gustau and we extended it to the rest of the complaints that were added to the one presented in Argentina against the crimes against humanity of the Franco regime. This is what, roughly, we got the vast majority. Thus, the Parliament of Catalonia joins the claims already made by different institutions in Victoria, Navarre and Pamplona.

What implications does it have for the murder of Gustau?

The fact of involving the country's institutions gives a certain importance to the entire claim process. It is an important fact that the Parliament and the Barcelona City Council give their support. Now the Parliament urges the Generalitat to appear as an accuser in the case of Martín Villa and to support the complaints filed.

How do you evaluate what has been achieved??

It is a very important step in the continuity of the fight against impunity and oblivion. Now the private accusation is pending the resolution of the Supreme Court on whether or not to prosecute Martín Villa. evidently, these presentations, added to those that were made at the time before the Ministry of the Interior, they are an important support that gives strength to the accusation that has to reach the Supreme Court.

How is the Argentine Complaint going??

After two years of the presentation, we received a communication from the Barcelona court in which they acknowledged receipt of all the inquiries requested from Argentina, after which they got to work. They have begun to do some investigative work and have given it a course to Argentina. But we have not yet been able to declare. We are waiting to be able to do it.

How will the claim proceed??

The steps to follow are those marked by the Judge and the lawyers. For us, the most important thing is the procedures that have been initiated from Barcelona, at the request of Argentina, and our statements, that we believe should already be made effective. There's nothing we can do but push a little. We investigated the Government through some questions from CUP and Esquerra Republicana deputies, about the deadline to respond to inquiries, to which they replied that it would be three or four months.

What are the Spanish government and justice doing to investigate and punish Francoist crimes and crimes against humanity??

moment, they are looking at the moon. They do not collaborate. The resolution that came out two years after the presentation in Argentina, They had it since December of last year and the relatives only found out in July of this year. we didn't know anything. Let us think that slowness and obstacles are a constant in the Spanish Justice. It is important to denounce this publicly and internationally, to see what is the role of complicity of the government and the Spanish Justice with the murderers and those responsible for crimes, atrocities and bestialities. It is evident that in Argentina, so many years of mobilizations installed a firm commitment to human rights. diplomatic obstacles, the judicial and political pressure that they put from Spain to close the Complaint, they have been brutal. Nonetheless, he continues his march and we are awaiting some prosecutions. If the process against the farce mounted through violence and repression in the streets is maintained and those responsible are punished, a great example will be given to the world.

How can organizations help??

They are an important part of all the steps of this quest. The solidarity of political organizations and civil society are very important. evidently, it is the human rights organizations that have been working on this issue for many years. It is important that they continue without giving up. It is a bit the sum of all.