The exhumation of the body of someone killed during the Spanish Civil War

This year the Law of Historic Memory came into effect in Spain. Passed by the Socialist government, the preamble to the main text condemns the four-decade rule of Francisco Franco, the victor of Spain's brutal civil war, and is the government's attempt to end the political silence on the civil war.

As well as ordering the removal of statues and plaques erected in Franco's honour, the government will commit financial and logistical support to families seeking to identify the remains of fallen loved ones.

For Assignment, Mike Williams travels to Spain to visit an exhumation of some of those killed in the civil war, and speaks to supporters and detractors of Franco and asks them why they think it is so important to keep the memory of those times alive.

First broadcast in August 2008

Listen to the programme (22 mins)