Spain has large protests against Franco-era immunity (And for Judge Baltasar Garzon)

[ck4829]

Thousands of demonstrators took to streets across Spain on Saturday to protest against immunity for Civil War crimes and charges against a prominent judge for investigating deaths under Franscico Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorship.

Protesters in support of High Court judge Baltasar Garzon, say charges against him are an assault on judicial independence.

He is accused by far-right parties of abusing his judicial powers by attempting to launch the first comprehensive investigation into Spain's 1936-1939 Civil War.

Garzon came to the world's attention in 1998 when he issued an international arrest warrant for former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for the alleged deaths and torture of Spanish citizens.

(And if you want a interesting, but sickening, piece of irony...)

A falangist demonstration a few blocks away drew a crowd of about 300 carrying a banner reading "Proud of our History." (Which is ironic because falangists charged Garzon with breaking a law that said he couldn't dig up the bodies. Why are they so proud of their history if they want the bodies to stay buried?)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/24/AR2010042401727.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Good News, Sir

Let us hope Judge Garzon and his supporters prevail.