The discredit of the environmental justice
It has taken 10 years of research, nine months of a trial and a sentence that is resolved condemning the old boat captain to close the catastrophe of the “Prestige”. The most serious offense educated in Spain
“A few wisps of clay” as said First Vice President of the Central Government, Mariano Rajoy to 2000 km that were stained black, 11 years ago now, when a tanker with a seniority that exceeded 26 years, in poor condition and loaded with 77,000 tonnes of fuel had an accident off the coast of Muxía.
Although the decision considered impossible to determine the exact cause of the “extraordinary breakdown” it suffered while sailing the vessel. Which is taken for granted that it was a more suitable “structural failure” of a worn boat for the scrapping of fuel for transport.
The cause is not only surprising that it only Apostolos Mangouras convicted, the captain of the ship, of 78 years, but besides completely absolve into Spanish state, through the unique charged with the administration, the former director of Merchant José Luis López-Sors.
Not only didn’t find fault, but that justice is entirely benevolent and even complimentary starring policy with the Prestige crisis. The three judges say (…) shows lack of rigor in the administrative and formal Gestin of crisis. But it was shown that I should have any impact on the worsening catastrophe. And in any case was a responsible government that senior Mr López-Sors to which it had required that “exquisite rigor” in management. Unconvincing that liability did not depend directly from other authorities as better advised that the defendant and the possibility to influence the crisis and its resolution much more quickly and efficiently.
Even the famous conclude that López-Sors order, in which it was ordered away the maximum possible coastal oil only until the boat sank. It was the most “prudent” decision. However no question that the oil was spewing fuel by the Galician coast
A statement that closes with very little success and lack of legal technique, also the most environmentally sensitive largest known catastrophe, which tend to black continuous cause and that questions about judicial organs that instead of maintaining objectivity and independence required, enter rating and praise the management of a government that was publicly condemned by people.
The French, Galician Prosecution, the Xunta Nunca Mais and government, as well as at the last moment the Spanish government have announced that they will appeal the ruling. The first one to understand that this is a crime that should be condemned with much more forceful and demanding criminal liability arising. The last one to avoid ending up paying.
Within a few months we will see how the story ends. We hope that the High Court, on appeal, the judicial response to public opinion cries.
Jordina Freixanet
