By Hani Hazaimeh

MADRID - Terrorism, a phenomenon whose definition the international community has so far failed to reach consensus on, translates for some into resistance, for others into an unjustified act of violence. But all agree on one fact: No one has the right to end the lives of others.

Pilar Manjon is an unfortunate mother who came face to face with terrorism. She lost her 21-year-old college son in the 2004 Madrid bombings. He was on his way to university.

“Terror is an act that does not have an identity or a religion. It does not distinguish between man, woman or child, or between the elderly, the rich or the poor. It only leaves mothers like me with broken hearts,” Manjon said as she wiped away her tears.

She told The Jordan Times in an interview in January that she found out about the March 11 bombings from a local radio station while having her morning coffee. She remembered how she kissed her son, Daniel, goodbye before he left the house that morning, not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive.

On that particular day, ten bombs exploded on four packed commuter trains in the Spanish capital Madrid, three days before Spain’s general elections. The early morning attack killed 191 people and wounded around 2,000. It was described as the worst terror attack in Europe since the Lockerbie bombing of 1988.

Recalling what happened that day, Manjon said that while listening to the news, it never crossed her mind that her son could be among the victims. Soon, though, gradually feeling more alarmed by the news, she decided to wake up her other son and both rushed out looking for Daniel. He had been on one of the trains bombed. “No one can imagine the 24 hours I went through trying to get a clue about my son’s whereabouts,” she said. It took forensics about eight days to confirm that Daniel was among the victims. “These were the longest and most painful days of my life,” Manjon said, adding that she remained hopeful Daniel would show until the authorities informed her that his DNA was identified among the victims.

March 11, 2004, can never be erased from the Spaniards’ minds. The attack greatly shocked people, leaving gaping wound in many hearts.“I don’t understand why governments don’t listen to the people.... I will never forgive those who killed my son,” said Izabil who lost her son and husband in the attacks.

In the aftermath of the terrorist acts, the Spanish government named the Basque separatist group ETA as the main suspect. But evidence, including the discovery of a stolen van and an Arabic language tape close to a Madrid station, indicated that Al Qaeda was behind the attacks.

Controversy regarding the handling and representation of the bombings by the government arose, with Spain’s two main political parties, Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Partido Popular, accusing each other of concealing or distorting evidence for electoral reasons.The bombings were seen as a consequence of the government’s involvement in the Iraq war, unpopular among the Spaniards.

But to Izabil, no justification is good enough. Her husband and son, ironically, took part in all demonstrations against her government’s involvement in the war in Iraq.

After the attacks, nationwide demonstrations and protests followed. Some analysts claimed that the Aznar administration lost the general elections as a result of the handling of terrorist attacks. After 21 months of investigation, judge Juan del Olmo ruled Moroccan national Jamal Zougam guilty of physically carrying out the attack, ruling out any ETA intervention. Seven of the key suspects - including the alleged mastermind, Tunisian Serhane Ben Abdel Majid Fakhet - died in an explosion in a Madrid flat in April 2004 as police were closing in on them.

“I feel angry because the government failed to protect us from the terrorists. My son screamed out loud against the war, but the government would not listen. I don’t understand why governments won’t listen to their people. We elect them. They represent us, and yet they take decisions which we reject,” Izabil said.

On the first Sunday of each month, those who lost loved ones in the March 11 attacks have a platform set up in Madrid to have people sign a form against former prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, the two mothers said, adding that once the number of signatories reached one million, they will file a law-suit against Aznar.

“I am sure that the day will come in which we will be able to bring all criminals to justice,” they added.