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The Canarian Association of Victims of Terrorism (ACAVITE) has accused Spanish public authorities of neglecting victims of Polisario terrorism, claiming they are «despised and abandoned». The NGO criticizes the low level of financial support they receive compared to what they perceive as generous funding for the Polisario, according to La Razón.
ACAVITE condemns this alleged double standard and lack of respect for victims and their families. They urge the autonomous government to «quickly» allocate a budget dedicated to compensating victims of Polisario terrorist acts committed in the 1970s and 1980s.
The association also criticizes the «silence» of regional and national political parties, claiming they have not adequately addressed the issue of the estimated 300 victims of Polisario terrorism in the Canary Islands. They acknowledge that other groups, such as Basque organization ETA and Canarian independence movement MPAIAC, have also targeted citizens of the archipelago.
Notably, in March 2022, the Canarian Parliament tasked two members of the regional ombudsman with drafting a report on «terrorism without mentioning it by name» – potentially referring to Polisario activities. ACAVITE's president contributed to the inquiry, but the initiative appears to have stalled.
Despite ACAVITE's founding in 2006, only in November 2015 did the Spanish state officially recognize 40 victims of Polisario terrorism.
ACAVITE argues that, unlike victims of attacks by ETA, MPAIAC, or jihadist groups, those targeted by the Polisario receive less sympathy from politicians and media in Spain. However, they point to Law 29/2011, which «pays tribute to the victims of terrorism and expresses its permanent commitment to all those who have suffered or could suffer from it».
