It was more of an impulse than a conscious decision. The urgent need to get away, to get out, to shake off the pressure. It choked him, after weeks of seeing his name tied up in the Democrats' tsunami case, one early morning during the Christmas holidays. That same night, 37-year-old Ruben Wagensberg traveled with his partner and without a suitcase to Switzerland, where another leader of the Esquerra Republicana, Marta Rovira, has lived for six years to avoid the actions of the Spanish justice system. ±ola. Wagensberg doesn't like to talk about escape or exile. He is not a refugee because no one has called him as a witness, but he is one of those under investigation for terrorism before the National Court for his participation in the Democratic Tsunami, the platform that launched the October 2019 protests against the decision of the trial organized. He is on sick leave and is now trying to look after his mental health and join forces with human rights organizations who, like him, believe the terror allegations are “absurd”. He doesn't seem ready to return “yet,” but he regrets leaving his people. “My life has stopped and that is what makes me suffer the most,” he said in an interview via video call from Geneva.
Questions. He says he went to Switzerland because the pressure he felt was too great. You've been there for two months, where are you?
Answer. The situation hasn't changed much since I arrived. Every day there is news of a tsunami. I would be lying if I said I was getting used to this pressure. It's like following a true crime story, except you're the protagonist.
Q The public prosecutor's office has concluded that there is no evidence to attribute a terrorist crime to you or to former President Carles Puigdemont. Does it calm you down?
R. I think this is the theory that corresponds to reality. But experience shows that it is better not to celebrate because part of the judiciary is politically exploiting the cause of the Democratic Tsunami. Judge [Manuel] García-Castellón made decisions as political events unfolded. The allegations of crime seemed to respond directly to the exclusions in the amnesty text… I have a feeling of great helplessness, and it is a serious precedent for the democratic system.
Q As an activist and politician, he was committed to defending refugees and human rights. How do you think it is now linked to a crime like terrorism?
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R. With disbelief. Sometimes, for pure survival, with humor. I cannot believe that I am being accused of a crime that involves systematic violence, death and the use of terror. And that is even less true when I have personally committed myself to helping people escape from terrorism: in Syria, in Iraq, in Afghanistan. I advocated for the right to life in a pacifist and militaristic direction. It hurts to be associated with terrorism.
Q What will you do if you are asked to testify?
R. I am confident that the case will be closed. But I have no problem facing justice because there is no crime.
Q There will be those who think that there is no point in going to Switzerland…
R. I left because of the pressure I felt and in search of legal advice. But I am not preparing a judicial statement here, but rather working on something deeper: the denunciation that we are suffering from the political use of terrorism. All human rights organizations that have contacted me in these weeks agree with this analysis.
Q Beyond the crime of terrorism, episodes of violence occurred during the protests organized by the tsunami in October 2019. Do you criticize yourself five years later?
R. These days I've been checking tweets and videos that have been posted and they all talk about protesting with respect and pacifism. A general strike can end with specific disputes involving a few, and that does not mean that the union leaders are held responsible. The great will of citizens and social and political leaders was for dialogue.
A moment from the interview with deputy Ruben Wagensberg.
Q What role did you play in the tsunami?
R. The character they say I am Konan has been hyped up [según la investigación, es el apodo que usaba en la organización de Tsunami]It simply explains how to ensure that the protests are peaceful. I cannot speak about a court case in which I am involved, but my role in that process has always been from the perspective of pacifism and non-violence.
Q There is talk of the obstacles that some judges could impose on amnesty, but the truth is that the law was not passed due to the opposition of junts in Congress.
R. It wasn't a day of joy. The amnesty law is a colossal victory without relief. With every day we lose, we give space to the bloc that doesn't want this law and part of the judiciary.
Q Do you think it will be approved in the end?
R. I trust it because many people's family situations depend on it. I appeal to the responsibility of PSOE and Junts.
Q And do you think its application will be feasible with legal challenge?
R. The process is well formulated, we should have no doubts. But what we are seeing gives us indications that part of the judiciary will try to make their application more difficult in some cases. But it will happen because there has been no terrorism or anything like that in Catalonia.
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