They are demanding that the Generalitat charge all the expenses for Sijena

BarcelonaThe Supreme Court has already determined that the Generalitat She was not the owner of the original artifacts from the Sijena monastery that she had purchased in the 1980s and 90s. The sales were declared null and void because, according to the Spanish courts, the nuns were not authorized to carry out this type of transaction. These works, nearly one hundred in number, were on display at the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia) and the Lleida Museum until the courts ordered their removal. Financial compensation to the Generalitat (Catalan government), which paid approximately 50 million pesetas (300,000 euros) for the purchase, remains pending.

The Dignity Commission has filed a demandinactivity in the Generalitat for "its negligent attitude regarding its obligations in the lawsuits over the Sijena artifacts." According to the memorial organization, the Catalan government must reclaim the 300,000 euros for the purchase of the objects, which was annulled, as well as the expenses incurred in their restoration and conservation until their return. The Commission for Dignity states that this is stipulated in the Civil Code. "If they are returned, the government must reclaim all expenses incurred, as provided by the Civil Code. Failure to do so causes harm to the Generalitat's assets and, therefore, constitutes misappropriation of public funds," the organization asserts.

The Sijena murals were saved in the autumn of 1936 after a vandalistic attempt at destruction by an anarchist column. They were rescued by Catalan technicians with the help of local people, led by the art historian and architect Josep Gudiol. Gudiol worked for the Generalitat's Monuments Service and had secured funding for the operation directly from Regional Minister Ventura Gassol. In this case, there is a recent Supreme Court ruling, pending execution, that mandates their return to Aragon. "In this case, it's not a purchase, but rather a loan agreement signed with the nuns," asserts Josep Cruanyes, president of the Dignity Commission. "If the owner wants to recover an item left in trust, they must pay all the expenses incurred by its custodians," Cruanyes adds. Thus, according to Cruanyes, everything the Catalan government invested in the entire process to save the paintings should be reimbursed, from the initial stages to their restoration and maintenance.

In this regard, the Dignity Commission has also criticized the Generalitat for not more forcefully defending the work carried out. "This negligence and silence in the face of the accusations against Gudiol and Councilor Ventura Gassol, responsible for the rescue operation, demonstrate a disregard for these individuals and their actions in saving Aragon's artistic heritage. It is our duty to defend the dignity and efforts of those who risked their lives to save Catalan and Aragonese heritage." Sources within the Generalitat (Catalan government) indicate that this is a long-standing issue and that legal services are currently analyzing the viability of the lawsuit.