Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón Real, famous for having Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet arrested in London some years ago, initiated a process of bringing into the open some dark, shameful secrets in the Spanish past that many want to remain secret.

The historic period of shame is that of the Spanish Guerra Civil (1936-39) and the aftermath of its resulting dictatorship which saw thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of victims dead, shot, fusilladed or murdered and often buried in mass pits. Many others have disappeared with their whereabouts unknown. Often the identities of those buried were not known. 

Judge Garzón recently ordered the area near Granada where poet, Federico García Lorca is thought to have been interred in an unmarked grave to be excavated and his remains to be exhumed.

Now, judge Garzón ordered two mass graves in Mallorca to be opened and investigated, one in Calvià, and one in the cemetery in Porreres (shown in my photo).

Needless to say that many Mallorcans are pleased about this initiative, whilst others are opposed to opening up old wounds. I, for one, think that judge Garzón ought to be congratulated on his couragous and brave stand.

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Porreres, Mallorca, Spain. The date: November 1st, 2007. The time was 17:58:31.