Train fury Firework

TWO firework factory workers sustained serious injuries after an explosion in Vilamarxant. The blast happened at a self-contained work hut at Pirotecnia del Mediterraneo.

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

Voted top expat paper in Spain OPINION

Our Duty

IT is the moral duty of any public-serving media outlet in a healthy democracy to expose abuses of power.

At the Olive Press, we stand together with anyone, particularly foreigners, who have been bullied by the authorities.

So when we heard about the alleged police assault on Peruvian Diego Torres, we had an obligation to investigate it fairly and without prejudice.

It is true that when we first spoke to him, his story came as a shock.

But after meeting him and having gathered evidence, while naturally sceptical we could not find evidence that he was dishonest.

The Guardia Civil listened carefully when we explained to them the charges and promised us they will investigate when a complaint is formally filed.

The Olive Press maintains an excellent relationship with the law and order body, which we hope will continue.

Founded in 1844, the Guardia Civil is one of the main pillars of Spanish democracy, playing an essential role in the fight against crime and protecting us all.

‘Firm without violence’ were the words used by the Duke of Ahumada, its founder and first general director.

A motto that the vast majority of agents do follow, and we, as citizens, are thankful to them for taking care of us.

But if there are individuals that deviate from this purpose, and abuse the power vested in them as officers of the law, they must be rooted out.

So we are publishing Diego’s story to speed up the Guardia’s investigation into the issue and ensure that all their officers are on the right side of the law.

Because, if the charges turn out to be true, they probably have done it before, and are likely to do it again.

And if they turn out to be false, we can feel satisfied that we still did our duty to society.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Alberto Lejarraga alberto@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

ADMIN Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es