1,188 Civil War victims buried in 22 mass graves

THERE are more than 22 mass graves on the island of a Mallorca, a study shows. This was revealed in a report by the Balearic Foundation of Democratic Historical Memory and the Historical Memory of Mallorca Association studying mass graves from the Spanish Civil War.

In these at least 1,188 people were buried, of which 522 are yet to be identified.

This is the first part of a study underway to develop a map of the graves that exist in Mallorca, which was submitted by the Regional Minister of Social Affairs, Promotion and Immigration, Fina Santiago.

According to the study, there is a mass grave located in: Alaro, Bunyola, Calvia, Montuïri, Petra, Porreres, Santa Maria, Sencelles, and Santanyi.

There are three in Algaida, seven in Manacor and three in Son Servera.

This is not including the 10 or 11 other graves that are currently still under study and will be added in the second part of the study, which will be completed in about 18 months.

To be included in the second part will be those in Palma, Sa Coma, Son Ferriol, Deia, Llucmajor and Pont de Sant Lluis.

Historians are relying on both documentary and testimonial records to count all the victims of Franco that were buried on the island in these pits.

The president of the Historic Memory Association explained that the study will also serve to evaluate an arqueological study, a necessary step for exhumation of the graves.

The aim of the study is to honour the victims, allowing all the information to be available to the public.

By Nicole Hallett