The Basque political prisoner and First of October Anti Fascist
Groups (GRAPO) militant, Elbira Dieguez Silveira, will be released
on Saturday, 22nd September, from the Sevilla II prison. Elbira
has been imprisoned for the past nine years and this being her
second time in jail, she has spent over 22 years imprisoned for
her revolutionary actions within GRAPO.
Elbira, who is from Muskiz in the Basque Lands, is 42 years old
has spent over 22 years imprisoned in total for her militancy
within the GRAPO. She lost approximately 80 percent of her hearing
in one ear from the severe torture she received during her first
13 year period of imprisonment. Upon her release, she re-joined
the GRAPO. While her initial incarceration had been for her struggle
against Franco's falangist regime, upon her release she continued
to find repression, denial of the right of self-determination,
unemployment, poverty, absolute lack of social and political liberties
and so decided to rejoin the GRAPO.
When she was re-arrested, on the 5th December 1992, she was again
subjected to torture--physically, sexually and psychologically
by the Civil Guard, who even raped her by forcing a gun into her
vagina. During her two periods of imprisonment, she has been in
eight different prisons and has nine times gone on hunger strike,
including one which lasted for 435 days combined amongst all her
comrades, between November 1989 and February 1991.
The participants were subjected to the torture of force-feeding.
Due to a lack of adequate medical attention while in jail, she
suffers from ongoing ulcer and dental problems.
Elbira is scheduled to be released on Saturday, 22nd September
2001. She will be welcomed outside the prison doors by relatives,
friends and various groups offerring solidarity, who will travel
from the Basque Lands to welcome her. Upon her return home, she
will be permitted to personally remove her own photograph from
among those of various Basque political prisoners hung on a wall
in her home town. After allowing her a week to recover and re-orient
herself, there will be a street celebration on the evening of
Saturday, 29th September, followed by a dinner in her honour.
A spokesperson for the Irish Republican Socialist Party's International
Department welcomed the news of Elbira's impending release, saying:
"The IRSP extends its deepest solidarity to Elbira Dieguez
Silveira and her comrades and applauds her release from prison.
"Elbira's continued commitment to Basque national liberation
and the working class of all Iberia and the world throughout her
long and difficult imprisonment is an inspiration to all those
opposed to oppression and struggling for justice and liberation.
Like our own Prisoners of War, from whom we draw similar inspiration,
Elbira has provided a model for those who must follow her in a
struggle that has yet to be won.
"As a revolutionary who did not hesitate to continue the
struggle against fascism and capitalist exploitation, when others
had turned away from that struggle, Elbira is deserving of the
admiration and solidarity of all those who side with the working
class against capitalist exploitation and who struggle for national
liberation against the forces of imperialism. We embrace Elbira
as a sister and as a comrade."
Refering to the planned welcome outside the prison gates, the
IRSP representative concluded:
"The IRSP will be present in spirit amongst those who will
gather to greet Elbira upon her release from prison and we hope
to continue and build upon that bond of solidarity with she and
her comrades in the GRAPO, whose efforts in struggle we salute.
The struggle of the Irish and the Basque nations for liberation
creates one bond between us, while the struggle for the liberation
of the working class of our nations through socialism creates
yet another. The victory of one, is a victory for the other, and
Elbira's liberation from long incarceration is a cause for joy
in Ireland, just as it is among the Basques."
IRSP Message of Solidarity Upon the Release of Elbira Dieguez
Silveria
Comrades and friends of the First of October Anti Fascist Groups
(GRAPO) and the PCE(r):
It was with great joy that we heard the news of the liberation
of the GRAPO militant Elbira Dieguez Silveira after more than
22 years in prison. We are well aware of the hideous tortures
endured by Comrade Elbira while imprisoned and we wish to convey
our deepest solidarity with her, as well as for all of her comrades,
now that she is once again among the people of the Basque Country.
Elbira's continued commitment to Basque national liberation and
the working class of all Iberia and the world throughout her long
and difficult imprisonment is an inspiration to all those opposed
to oppression and struggling for justice and liberation.
Like our own Prisoners of War, from whom we draw similar inspiration,
Elbira has provided a model for those who must follow her in a
struggle that has yet to be won.
As a revolutionary who did not hesitate to continue the struggle
against fascism and capitalist exploitation, when others had turned
away from that struggle, Elbira is deserving of the admiration
and solidarity of all those who side with the working class against
capitalist exploitation and who struggle for national liberation
against the forces of imperialism. We embrace Elbira as a sister
and as a comrade.
The IRSP will be present in spirit amongst those who will gather
to greet Elbira upon her release from prison and our solidarity
will be with her and her comrades as she takes down her photograph
from the wall of Basque political prisoners in her home town.
Our solidarity and best wishes will be with her once again,
when she is honoured on the 29th September and we hope to continue
and build upon that bond of solidarity with she and her comrades
in the GRAPO and PCE (r), whose efforts in struggle we salute.
The struggle of the Irish and the Basque nations for liberation
creates one bond between us, while the struggle for the liberation
of the working class of our nations through socialism creates
yet another. The victory of one, is a victory for the other, and
Elbira's liberation from long incarceration is a cause for joy
in Ireland, just as it is among the Basques.
Peadar Baile Irish Republican Socialist Party International Department
