Deaths and vexations in military service reach Congress

The left-wing and pro-independence parliamentary groups in Congress – ERC, Junts, Sumar, EH-Bildu, PNB, BNG, Compromís, and Podem – are calling for the creation of a committee in the lower house to investigate abuses, vexations, and deaths during compulsory military service. The parties signing this demand, which does not include the PSOE's signature, recall that in recent months numerous testimonies have emerged recounting "systematic situations of vexations, mistreatment, harassment, and physical and psychological aggressions suffered by recruits, as well as deaths occurring under not sufficiently clarified circumstances." This is detailed in the documentary They Will Make You a Man, which revealed that "many recruits suffered vexations, mistreatment, and aggressions in an environment that should guarantee their safety and well-being." The parties emphasize that official data from the Ministry of Defence places the number of "documented suicides in the armed forces between 1983 and 2001 at over 300, although various journalistic investigations and family testimonies suggest the figure could be higher, especially if deaths classified at the time as accidental are taken into account." Thus, they recall that "several families have learned years later that the death of their children was a suicide linked to the abuses and vexations suffered during their stay in barracks." In light of this evidence, the parties signing the petition consider that "these events do not correspond to isolated incidents, but rather point to a structural dynamic of impunity and institutional negligence, with devastating consequences for the victims and their surroundings." "The lack of exhaustive investigations, the institutional silence for decades, and the absence of recognition and reparation mechanisms have aggravated the suffering of those affected," they add. Clarifying the facts

Therefore, they believe it is necessary to formally activate institutional mechanisms to contribute to the clarification of facts, the recognition of victims, and the promotion of reparation measures, ensuring that the state-wide scope of the issue is assumed by the competent bodies. The objective of the investigation is to gather data on suicides and deaths in unclear circumstances and the denunciation of warnings linked to compulsory military service. Also, the analysis of possible institutional, political, and military responsibilities, public recognition of victims, the establishment of moral, symbolic, and economic reparation mechanisms, or access to free legal assistance and psychological support for those affected and their families.

A month ago, Parliament already approved a motion urging the Spanish state to open an investigation into the deaths and abuses committed during compulsory military service in the post-Franco era with the votes in favor of Junts, ERC, Comuns, and the CUP.