The Minister of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuela Armas, affirmed yesterday that “the law will surely be applied” of historical memory, in reference to the withdrawal of what is known as the Monument to Franco in Santa Cruz of Tenerife. Manuela Armas, in statements to the media, reiterated that the Francoist evidence of this monument “is so evident that it does not need discussion”, although it is included in the Catalog of Francoist Vestiges in Santa Cruz de Tenerifewhere a rigorous description of this monument is made.
Regarding the reluctance of the mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, to remove this monument, he pointed out that “each one shows himself as he is”, although he insisted that the law must be followed “to repair the wounds”. “I am amazed that at this time public officials still say what they say calmly,” she said, while indicating that if she were mayor of Santa Cruz she would not need to know the vestiges that are in Telde or in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to remove this monument. “We are backed by the law, the rigor of a catalog with a historical foundation,” added the counselor, who admitted that she feels ashamed that this debate is taking place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
María Isabel Navarro, the main researcher of the catalog of Francoist vestiges in the capital of Tenerife, commented that it is a contradiction that Bermúdez in 2018 asked her to take on a job to comply with the law of historical memory and approve it and now she does not want to withdraw the Franco vestiges. “It is not a whim, it is an obligation set by law,” said the researcher, who acknowledged that it is an “uncomfortable” heritage that has nothing to do with factions and must be focused on peace and not war. The researcher pointed out that Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a “propaganda instrument” and the “most emblematic” scenario of Francoism in the Canary Islands, where an “abuse of oblivion” took place.
These declarations took place at the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Government of the Canary Islands and the University of La Laguna, the purpose of which is the development of research related to the application of the law of historical memory of the Canary Islands, works that will make up the catalog of Francoist vestiges of all the islands. This agreement is valid for four years and is endowed with a budget item of 339,510 euros.
The Deputy Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage, Juan Márquez, stressed that compliance with the law “is not debatable” and is not at the will of mayors or deputy councillors. It is “compulsory”, he remarked.
