40th anniversary of Franco’s last executions – Day of the Basque Soldier

THE 40th ANNIVERSARY occurred at the weekend of the  last firing squads of Franco’s fascist regime executing three (Revolutionary Anti-fascist Patriotic Front) and two ETA members.

Since then in the Basque Country, 27 September has been marked as “Gudari Eguna” (Day of the Basque Soldier), a date to pay tribute to all those who gave their lives for the cause of Basque freedom.

On Sunday, an event was held in Zarautz to pay homage to Txiki and Otaegi, the Basque fighters shot 40 yearFRAP s ago.

It was organised by Egiari Zor, foundation of victims of the state violence; Ahaztuak, an association of victims of repression from 1936 to 1977; Goldatu, an association of prisoners under Franco’s regime; and Intxorta 1937, an association for the recovery of historical memory.

The Basque Peace Process website provides a translation of Txiki’s last will. His firing squad was witnessed by his own brother, whilst Otaegi’s execution was secret and neither his family or lawyers were allowed to attend. Txiki’s case was especially meaningful as his family had moved to the Basque town of Zarautz from Badajoz, when he was a teenager, and was part of the first generation of migrants who became involved in the struggle for Basque freedom.

● Spain's fascist dictator, General Franco 

Juan Paredes Manot, Txiki (Zalamea de la Serena , Badajoz, 20-02-1954 – Sardañola del Vallés, Barcelona, 27-09-1975) one of the last five activists executed by Franco’s regime:

To the Basque people.

Once again the fascism of Franco is going to spill the blood of the Basque people. 

Probably when this communiqué reaches the people I will have fallen under a firing squad. My intention in writing this communiqué is to once again spotlight the repression that the Basque people suffer and all the people of Spain suffer. We can’t forget our objective: the creation of a Basque socialist state, an objective for which many revolutionary activists have fallen and given their lives, among them the last to have fallen in the Spanish state – Kepa, Nicia, Montxo, Andoni – and they won’t be the last.

You are the ones, the working class and the people in general, who will carry out the struggle until taking down the Francoist regime; then we will have fulfilled our objective and you can build a new society, without classes, where men don’t exploit other men. 

Today they are going to kill me for the simple fact of fighting for my people. This is not a crime for regime of Franco, killing activists of ETA before detaining them, it is also not a crime to kill people in demonstrations, roadblocks, etc. Today we are the ones in the dock but tomorrow it will be them, Franco and all of his gang, and it will be you who give us justice: don’t forget, given that my comrades and I can’t do it.

Believe in yourselves. 

Finally, I want to make known to my companions of the organisation and of our people that while I have been free I have complied as an activist and as a son of the people and given that I haven’t fallen assassinated “legally” as my companions, I have asked as my last and only petition to be shot by a firing squad as one soldier more, remembering all of those who have died for the Basque Country carrying in my mind our Basque flag [Ikurriña], given that I am going to die far away from it.

It is up to you to do justice.

Long live the solidarity of the people!

Gora Euzkadi Askatuta!

Aberria ala hil Euzkadi Zutik!