The Ombudsman assures that the Ministry of the Interior —through the State Security Forces and Bodies— practiced on June 24, during the tragedy of the Melilla fence in which at least 23 people died, 470 returns in hot. That is, rejections at the border “without considering both national and international legal provisions.” This is one of the first conclusions that emerge from the investigation carried out by the body led by Ángel Gabilondo.
The response from the Ministry led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska has not been long in coming. Minutes after the first conclusions were announced, the ministry reported that “all the rejections at the border that occurred were carried out within the strictest legality.”
The Ombudsman recalls that the Constitutional Court establishes that the rejection at the border must take into account the application to individualized entries, full judicial control and compliance with international obligations. Well, after viewing the images received by the institution, it is concluded that in 470 cases the legal provisions were not considered. That day more than 1,500 people tried to cross the border crossing at the height of the Chinatown of the autonomous city.
The Ombudsman does not consider the investigation to have concluded and has asked Marlaska’s number two, the Secretary of State for Security, to send more images from June 24 “that could help clarify some extremes.” Gabilondo traveled to Melilla on July 19 along with a technical team to hear in situ the testimony about what happened from the institutional representatives of the city, the members of the State Security Forces, the entities that work in the area and of those who entered Spanish territory —now in the (CETI)—.
The Ombudsman assures that, within the framework of his powers, he has made several reminders to the Secretary of State for Security so that “the repetition of similar episodes is avoided” at the border crossings of Ceuta and Melilla”. Thus, Gabilondo recommends that the protocols of action that are activated with the Moroccan Security Corps and Forces be reviewed when there are attempts to enter the borders of Ceuta and Melilla irregularly, “so that the need to manage the borders in an appropriate manner is established. integrated, safe and coordinated”.
But it goes further. Several legal reminders are included in a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Security. Among them, that of “applying a rights approach in border management in order to guarantee the right to physical and moral integrity, without anyone being subjected to mistreatment, inhuman or degrading treatment.” And more: “That any abusive, arbitrary or discriminatory practice involving physical or moral violence by the State Security Forces and Corps, in the exercise of their professional performance, be prevented.”
Given this, the Interior has shown its “strongest support” for the work carried out by the State Security Forces and Bodies. And, specifically, by the members of the Civil Guard. In addition to reiterating his solidarity with the more than 50 agents who were injured. “The State Security Forces and Bodies will continue to fulfill their mission of protecting the borders of Spain and the European Union against violent assaults, as they have done up to now,” they explain from the Interior.
