Support for Judge Baltasar Garzón

The Spanish-language blog and association La Memoria Viva was first to post information on the following "Manifiesto por la Justicia de Garzón," which I have included in the original Spanish below, along with my English translation in italics, following each paragraph. If you are so inclined, please consider signing the document here as a show of support for Judge Garzón. I would think that the more international support offered, the better.

Manifiesto por la Justicia de Garzón

El juez Baltasar Garzón ha ejercido una justicia de forma continuada y valiente durante veinte años en la Audiencia Nacional, comprometida con la defensa de los derechos humanos en España y en el mundo contra dictadores, terroristas, corruptos y enemigos de la democracia. Judge Baltasar Garzón has pursued justice in a brave, consistent manner for twenty years in the Audiencia Nacional, which is committed to the defense of human rights against dictators, terrorists, corrupt persons and enemies of democracy in Spain and the world.

El juez Baltasar Garzón ha sido uno de los principales promotores del desarrollo en España del principio de Justicia Universal. Judge Baltasar Garzón has been one of the primary proponents in Spain of the principle of Universal Jurisdiction.

El juez Baltasar Garzón es víctima de una campaña promovida por sectores de extrema derecha, Falange Española y Manos Limpias, con una sorprendente connivencia de algunos sectores progresistas. Judge Baltasar Garzón is the victim of a campaign put forth by factions of the extreme right, Spanish Phalangist Party and Manos Limpias [an ultra-right "sindicato," whose name translates as "Clean Hands"], with a surprising complicity among some progressive sectors.

El proceso contra el juez Baltasar Garzón es en realidad un juicio sumario contra los defensores de la Democracia, la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos y a favor de la impunidad de crímenes muy graves de carácter internacional. The action taken against Judge Baltasar Garzón is in actuality a summary judgment against the defenders of Democracy, Justice and Human Rights, one that encourages the impunity of serious international crimes.*

El juez Baltasar Garzón está siendo juzgado por una sala del Tribunal Supremo en la que la mayoría de sus miembros juraron lealtad al Movimiento Nacional del franquismo. Judge Baltasar Garzón is being judged by a tribunal of the Supreme Court, the majority of whose members made an oath of loyalty to the National Movement of Francoism.

Una sentencia adversa al juez Baltasar Garzón, tras agotar las instancias judiciales españolas, acabaría probablemente con una superior sentencia condenatoria del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos contra el Estado español. A sentence in opposition to Judge Baltasar Garzón, upon exhausting all appeals of the Spanish courts, would most likely end with Spain being censured by the European Tribunal of Human Rights.

El juez Baltasar Garzón representa el modelo de justicia basado en la defensa de los Derechos Humanos conforme con su Derecho Internacional que millones de ciudadanos y víctimas reclaman en todo el mundo. Judge Baltasar Garzón represents a justice model based on the defense of Human Rights in accordance with International Law that millions of citizens and victims demand the world over.

Ya en 2008 el Comité de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas recomendó al Estado español la derogación de la preconstitucional Ley de Amnistía de 1977. In 2008, the United Nations Committee on Human Rights recommended that Spain repeal its preconstitutional Amnesty Law of 1977.

Este caso vuelve a demostrar la necesidad de la Justicia Internacional. Incluso España, el país que intentó procesar al dictador Pinochet, es incapaz de juzgar su propia dictadura. Y quien lo intenta, es juzgado por ello. This case again demonstrates the need for Universal Jurisdiction. Even Spain, the country that sought to prosecute dictator Pinochet, is incapable of judging its own dictatorship. He who attempts to do so, is in turn judged for it.

FIRMA EN LA PESTAÑA COMENTARIOS. Deja tu nombre y profesión y/o el nombre de la organización a la que representas. PLEASE SIGN IN THE "COMMENTS" BLANK. Leave your name, profession and/or the name of the organization you represent.

No se publicaran textos que no sean adhesiones al manifiesto. Comments that do not support the manifesto will not be published.

*the phrase "juicio sumario" brings with it for me the notion of a "kangaroo court"

For more on this story in English, please see the following:

"Spain's Super-Judge Closer to Being Charged" (NYT, via AP)