Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu, the Basque Premier, along with the Chair of the Victims of Terrorism Association-AVT, Maite Araluce, have opened the “Vivir sin miedo, Vivir con memoria” [Living without fear, Living with remembrance] exhibition, organised by that association.
“Vivir sin miedo, Vivir con memoria” seeks to bring society closer to the history of the terrorism that it has suffered for over 50 years and which it continues to do so, not only in Spain but around the world. This exhibition covers the history of terrorism in Spain through some of its most important milestones. Furthermore, the exhibition shows terrorism is a pointless scourge that must not happen and which can neither be ignored.
During his speech, the Lehendakari stressed that the objectives and intention of this exhibition coincided with the lines of work of the Basque Government and Gogora – the Institute of Remembrance. “Remembering is synonymous with freedom, remembering helps to make a conscious decision. Aware, brave and critical remembrance helps us to not repeat what should never have happened,” he pointed out.
The “Vivir sin miedo / Vivir con memoria” seeks to foster educational and social awareness, deradicalization and prevent violence. In that regard, the Lehendakari stressed that prevention of all sorts of violent radicalisation is a work area that has to be prioritised around the world, and he explained that is also true for the Basque Government.
This exhibition also seeks to put the victims of terrorism at the fore. According to the Lehendakari, victims’ testimony is of incalculable value in order to critically look back on the past, education and non-repetition. However, he noted that the most important aspect is that the victims’ testimony not only looks back at the past, but also towards the future and coexistence. “For coexistence based on remembering and not on fear,” he added.
Lehendakari Urkullu acknowledge that it was thanks to the work of the AVT and other victims’ associations that the reality of the victims of terrorism entered in the institutional, political and social agenda; a reality that, according to the Lehendakari, was not sufficiently addressed, considered or acknowledged until well into the 1990s.
The Basque Government’s Minister for Public Governance and Self-Government and its Spokesperson, Josu Erkoreka, the General Secretary for Human Rights, Coexistence and Cooperation, Jonan Fernández, and the Gogora Director, Aintzane Ezenarro.