Controversy Surrounding the Tenerife Peace Monument
The Tenerife Peace Monument, also known as the Victory Monument and popularly referred to as the Franco Monument, is set to return to the courts following the recent decision by the Cultural Heritage Council of the Canary Government. The council rejected its classification as a Cultural Asset of Interest (BIC), effectively leaving the work of artist Juan de Ávalos without legal protection.
Legal Challenges Ahead
The San Miguel Arcángel Association for the Research and Protection of Historical Heritage, which advocates for the monument’s preservation and previously obtained temporary protection through the courts, announced yesterday that they have identified various irregularities in the administrative processing of the government’s file. This includes concerns regarding technical assessments and procedural aspects that could undermine the required guarantees in such heritage proceedings.
Consequently, the association’s legal team is considering contesting the decision, which could delay a final resolution regarding Ávalos’ work by two to three years.
Commitment to Protecting Heritage
President Luis Sosa-Tolosa emphasised, “We will exhaust all available legal avenues” to advocate for the monument’s classification as a BIC based on its artistic, historical, and heritage values. He affirmed his commitment to the defence of the historical heritage of the Canaries, distancing the association from any sectarian or ideological interpretations that may seek to misuse this decision and distort the laws with the sole aim of eradicating a unique work, as supported by various technical reports.
Sosa-Tolosa further clarified that “the resolution from the General Directorate of Culture does not deny the BIC status; it merely lifts a suspension of deadlines and orders the continuation of the file. As long as the procedure remains open, the Cultural Heritage Law of the Canaries (art. 28.2) imposes the same protection regime on the monument as that of a declared BIC.”
Ongoing Protection Despite Controversy
He reminded stakeholders that not being classified as a BIC “does not imply an obligation or appropriateness for its removal, as heritage protection can and should be analysed from multiple historical, artistic, and cultural perspectives, without resorting to its elimination from public space.”
