Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación
Encyclopedia
The Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación (MIL) was a Catalan
ultra-left armed group between 1971 and 1973, based mainly in Barcelona
, Spain
, and in Toulouse
, France
. It became famous after its dissolving because of the execution by the Francoist regime of one of its members, Salvador Puig Antich
, in March 1974, and of the shooting of Oriol Solé Sugranyes during his escape in 1976. One of its French members, Jean-Marc Rouillan, later became a member of the GARI
and then of the militant group Action Directe.
The MIL advocated direct action
against Franco
's dictatorship and capitalism
, carrying out bank robberies ("expropriations
"), in theory to support the working class
' struggle. It was formed by members from various origins, Marxists, anarchists, etc., and supported council communism
, situationism and other ultra-leftist theories which were opposed by other left-wing organized parties. The MIL published various books and leaflets prohibited in Spain, such as texts by Camillo Berneri
, Antonie Pannekoek
and the Situationist International.
They decided to dissolve themselves in August 1973. A month later, most of its members were imprisoned in Barcelona, while others managed to escape to Toulouse where they formed the Groupes d'action révolutionnaire internationalistes
(GARI). The GARI launched a campaign in favour of their imprisoned comrades and continued armed struggle against the dictatorship.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
ultra-left armed group between 1971 and 1973, based mainly in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and in Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It became famous after its dissolving because of the execution by the Francoist regime of one of its members, Salvador Puig Antich
Salvador Puig Antich
Salvador Puig Antich was a Spanish anarchist, born in Barcelona, and active during the 1960s. A member of the Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación , he was executed by the Francoist regime after being tried by a military tribunal and found guilty of the death of a Guardia Civil policeman...
, in March 1974, and of the shooting of Oriol Solé Sugranyes during his escape in 1976. One of its French members, Jean-Marc Rouillan, later became a member of the GARI
Gari
Gari may refer to:*Gari , a Japanese condiment*Gari , a bivalve mollusc group*Gari , a cart*Garri, a West African flour*A crater on MarsIn geography:*Gari, Mali*Gari, Russia*Gari , a village near Kruševac, Serbia...
and then of the militant group Action Directe.
The MIL advocated direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
against Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's dictatorship and capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, carrying out bank robberies ("expropriations
Illegalism
Illegalism is an anarchist philosophy that developed primarily in France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland during the early 1900s as an outgrowth of individualist anarchism...
"), in theory to support the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
' struggle. It was formed by members from various origins, Marxists, anarchists, etc., and supported council communism
Council communism
Council communism is a current of libertarian Marxism that emerged out of the November Revolution in the 1920s, characterized by its opposition to state capitalism/state socialism as well as its advocacy of workers' councils as the basis for workers' democracy.Originally affiliated with the...
, situationism and other ultra-leftist theories which were opposed by other left-wing organized parties. The MIL published various books and leaflets prohibited in Spain, such as texts by Camillo Berneri
Camillo Berneri
Camillo Berneri was an Italian professor of philosophy, anarchist militant, propagandist and theorist....
, Antonie Pannekoek
Antonie Pannekoek
Antonie Pannekoek was a Dutch astronomer and Marxist theorist. He was one of the main theorists of council communism .- Biography :...
and the Situationist International.
They decided to dissolve themselves in August 1973. A month later, most of its members were imprisoned in Barcelona, while others managed to escape to Toulouse where they formed the Groupes d'action révolutionnaire internationalistes
Groupes d'action révolutionnaire internationalistes
The Groupes d'action révolutionnaire internationalistes were an anti-imperialist group in France in the 1970s. Based mainly in the south, around Toulouse, it formed after the execution by the Francoist regime of the Catalan anarchist Salvador Puig Antich and was close to Spanish anti-fascists...
(GARI). The GARI launched a campaign in favour of their imprisoned comrades and continued armed struggle against the dictatorship.
Further reading
- Aisa, Ferran et al. Salvador Puig Antich and the MIL (Moviemiento Iberico de Liberacion). London ; Berkeley : Kate Sharpley Library, 2008. ISBN 9781873605448
- Tajuelo, Telesforo. El Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación, Salvador Puig Antich y los grupos de Acción Revolucionaria Internacionalista: teoría y práctica, 1969-1976. Paris. Ruedo Ibérico, 1977.
- Cortade, André. Le 1000: histoire désordonnée du MIL, Barcelone 1967-1974. Paris. Dérive 17, 1985.
- Téllez Solá, Antonio. El MIL y Puig Antich. Barcelona. Virus, 1994.
- Tolosa, Carlota. La torna de la torna: Salvador Puig Antich i el MIL. Barcelona. Empúries, 1999.
- Rosés Cordovilla, Sergi. El MIL: una historia política. Barcelona. Alikornio, 2002.