FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

48 ALBERTO JIMÉNEZ BECERRILL FOUNDATION ASSOCIATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS M aría San Gil received the Al- berto Jiménez-Becerril Foun- dation’s 12th Award Against Terrorism at a ceremony on 26 June in the Salón Colón of Seville City Hall. The Seville-based organisation thereby recognised San Gil’s work defending de- mocratic values and victims of terrorism’s remembrance, dignity and justice. The event was presided over by the Foun- dation’s Honorary President and Mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz, and its President, Alberto Jiménez-Becerril García. Nume- rous civilian andmilitary officials attended, including former Interior Minister Jaime Mayor Oreja; Teresa Jiménez-Becerril, Alberto’s sister and Deputy Ombudsman; Francisco Toscano, the Government’s Re- presentative in Seville; Patricia del Pozo, the Andalusian Government’s Minister of Cul- ture and Sport; and Álvaro Martín, Presi- dent of Seville’s Provincial Court, alongside victims of terrorism and representatives of the state security forces. After a welcome from the Foundation’s manager, Enrique Algar, and a video showing the institution’s main events throughout the year, its President, Alber- to Jiménez-Becerril García, spoke. His address highlighted the award winner’s commitment to society, shaped by her first-hand experience of the murder of her party colleague Gregorio Ordóñez on 23 January 1995: “María San Gil draws on her personal experience as a witness to the history of ETA terrorism to keep the memory of the ‘heroes of democracy’ alive for new generations. It is very im- portant to her that young people know what ETA was and its consequences for Spanish society and thousands of shatte- red lives: those murdered, injured, kid- napped, threatened and forced into exile,” Jiménez-Becerril explained. He used San Gil’s own words to affirm her courage and the reasons for the award: “You cannot be brave about some things and cowardly about others.” Teresa Jiménez-Becerril, who has defen- ded victims of terrorism’s dignity alongsi- de the award winner for many years, also spoke: “The Basque Country would have needed many María San Gils to defend life against ETA’s murderers. We would have been spared much bloodshed and pain if there had been more people like you. Thank you, María, for not giving up amid so much moral misery around you. That is why I know this award could not be in better hands.” After Jiménez-Becerril’s address, the Foundation’s Secretary, Fernando Gó- mez, read the Board of Trustees’ decision to grant the award to María San Gil. She then took the lectern in the Salón Colón to thank the Foundation and speak about Alberto Jiménez-Becerril, “a good son and a committed citizen”. San Gil reca- lled the night of 30 January 1998, when her first thoughts were for Alberto and Ascen’s children. The Alberto Jiménez-Becerril Foundation PRESENTS ITS 12TH AWARD AGAINST TERRORISM TO MARÍA SAN GIL