Javier Ybarra Bergé
Encyclopedia
Javier de Ybarra y Bergé (July 2, 1913 - June 22, 1977) was a Basque
industrialist, writer, and politician from Bilbao
.
Born into a prominent Bilbao family, Javier Ybarra attended the University of Deusto
. During the Spanish Second Republic he was affiliated with the Partido Nacionalista Español and then the monarchist Renovación Española
party. He fought and was injured in the Civil War
. From 1963 to 1969 he served as mayor
of Bilbao.
He wrote works related to his experience during the Civil War, history, and politics. He also served as an executive with firms including Babcock & Wilcox, several banks, and the newspaper El Correo
.
On May 20, 1977, Javier Ybarra was kidnapped by renegade members of the Basque separatist organization ETA
who entered his home in disguise, bound and gagged members of his family, and took him away in an ambulance. Demanding the release of a number of Basque prisoners (a condition largely met by the Spanish government), his captors later demanded a ransom of one billion pesetas
and further prisoner releases. The situation had been complicated by the fact that the group that had kidnapped Ybarra formally renounced their affiliation with the larger ETA organization while holding him and were further disturbed when their leader was arrested in France. The Ybarra family attempted to negotiate with the kidnappers and push back the deadline for payment. The kidnappers failed to respond and on June 20 they announced they had killed Ybarra and sent a map supposedly showing the location of the body. When the Guardia Civil failed to find it, another communication was sent and the body Javier Ybarra was found near a farmhouse in Navarra. He had been shot in the head and wrapped in a plastic sheet.
Occurring in the immediate aftermath of Spain's first free national elections in forty years
, the Ybarra killing provoked widespread condemnation. Following the discovery of the body, the Madrid daily newspaper ABC lead with a full page photo of Ybarra and a statement that "all parties" condemned the "atrocious murder".
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
industrialist, writer, and politician from Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
.
Born into a prominent Bilbao family, Javier Ybarra attended the University of Deusto
University of Deusto
The University of Deusto is a Spanish Jesuit University, with campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastián, Spain.-History:The University of Deusto first opened in 1886, having been founded because of the Basque Country's desire to have its own university and the Society of Jesus's wish to move its School...
. During the Spanish Second Republic he was affiliated with the Partido Nacionalista Español and then the monarchist Renovación Española
Renovación Española
Renovación Española was a Spanish monarchist political party active during the Second Spanish Republic, advocating the restoration of Alfonso XIII of Spain as opposed to Carlism...
party. He fought and was injured in the Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. From 1963 to 1969 he served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Bilbao.
He wrote works related to his experience during the Civil War, history, and politics. He also served as an executive with firms including Babcock & Wilcox, several banks, and the newspaper El Correo
El Correo
El Correo is the leading daily newspaper in Bilbao and the Basque Country of northern Spain. Its circulation, over 119,000, is the seventh-highest among general interest newspapers in Spain.- History :...
.
On May 20, 1977, Javier Ybarra was kidnapped by renegade members of the Basque separatist organization ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
who entered his home in disguise, bound and gagged members of his family, and took him away in an ambulance. Demanding the release of a number of Basque prisoners (a condition largely met by the Spanish government), his captors later demanded a ransom of one billion pesetas
Spanish peseta
The peseta was the currency of Spain between 1869 and 2002. Along with the French franc, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra .- Etymology :...
and further prisoner releases. The situation had been complicated by the fact that the group that had kidnapped Ybarra formally renounced their affiliation with the larger ETA organization while holding him and were further disturbed when their leader was arrested in France. The Ybarra family attempted to negotiate with the kidnappers and push back the deadline for payment. The kidnappers failed to respond and on June 20 they announced they had killed Ybarra and sent a map supposedly showing the location of the body. When the Guardia Civil failed to find it, another communication was sent and the body Javier Ybarra was found near a farmhouse in Navarra. He had been shot in the head and wrapped in a plastic sheet.
Occurring in the immediate aftermath of Spain's first free national elections in forty years
Spanish general election, 1977
The Spanish general election of 1977 took place on 15 June 1977. It was the first election since the death of Francisco Franco.Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage in a secret ballot. The elections were held using closed list proportional representation in 52 electoral districts...
, the Ybarra killing provoked widespread condemnation. Following the discovery of the body, the Madrid daily newspaper ABC lead with a full page photo of Ybarra and a statement that "all parties" condemned the "atrocious murder".
Selected Works by Ybarra
- Mi diario de la Guerra de España 1936-1939. (1941)
- De California a Alaska. Historia de Descubrimiento. (1945)
- Politica Nacional en Vizcaya. De la Restauracion a la Republica. (1947)