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...All-out self-defence, loaded with conscience
[A FLUTE WHISTLING] Today, I'm 26
around 13:30, still in the dining room
I was trying to go back in time and imagine my birth
26 years later I'm thankful for the opportunity of life you've given me
26 years in which I won't write this letter
I'd rather be alone and in silence with them
Just a quick memory for those long gone
those who were part of my life and will never be back.
TO LOOK AT THE WINDOW
He's always been terrible at drawing
I used to do his drawings [LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER]
- Why do you like this?
Because I see Miguel Because it's... very Miguel
That's right. Very Miguel and... I do like it
He is handcuffed, he's going to be forced into the van
Yes, you're going to put me in there! but I'm happy with what I'm doing.
I love it. I love this picture I think it's awesome
so, I don't know, it's just like him, isn't it? really intimate... It's a wonderful picture
in fact, I had this photo... I've had it for a long time
some things... that news item has always been with me
in my diary, when I was a student. the usual diary, like the ones you have...
I always had it on me. Always
Is it the same?
No, they are different.
Well, this was when they were taken to prison the first one you see here is when they're going inside
Well, this picture...
That was then
[READING]Judges declare exempt from community service to those conscientious objectors
who were called after the deadline
That was July 97. That's more or less what was happening
I think I was 10 or 11
It was in 88, yes, I think I was 10 because now I'm 35
Then... I was... yes somewhere around 10 or 11
There were always people round Íñigo was always going on and on about...
Banners, pamphlets the car was always crammed with things
We had lots of people coming round I knew what it was all about
but what I really thought was... what my mom was thinking...
I never knew, but I could feel she was sad
What my mom was worried about was
Will he be cold? Will he be OK?
Will he be ok now? I hope his spirits aren't too low
My mom went a bit further. Of course, it's her baby; and she still called him baby
Yes, I know that although my aunt and mom didn't like it
But I can also tell you that Andrés was never alone
That is, they were there backing him All the time
They did so regardless their own feelings
'cause they may not have been over the moon about this
For instance, when the trial took place or when he went to prison
Or when we said we would visit him
Of course they didn't find it funny at all
I can't tell you: "Oh, yes, yes everything went so well!"
No, they didn't find it funny at all.
I know, but they did their best
She couldn't understand it
No wonder, I do understand her, being a mother like her.
Seeing your son like that isn't nice, nobody likes that
He was my cousin and I didn't like it either.
But she didn't really understand it she didn't, at that moment
I know, because your opinion changes when you do have a son
It is one thing to simply witness it as...
But it is different if he is your son and for me, Andrés is like a brother
You see it differently,
You always try to protect your son,
You want to have him there, always as if in a shrine
Nobody can touch him nobody can stain him, nobody...
Then, when your son makes up his mind and you know there will be consequences
You just know it; whether you like it or not
Then, this can't be easy to cope with.
Now, with the passing of time and with a son, I understand
It is different, that is to say, you experience it in a different way
If the person who is living such an experience
If that person is your son
Or if it is your partner, like it happened to me
You know he can stand for himself; but your son...
There are other fears, other doubts which are extremely difficult to overcome
They had that fear in them
[CHILDREN'S VOICES]
- Where is uncle Íñigo? - I don't know
- Where does uncle Íñigo live?
In Madrid... No! On the beach?... Where?
In Cádiz!
[SCREAMS, LAUGHTER]
Oh, (be) quiet, please!
Behave... just behave
Behave... How do we behave? Yes, like that [LAUGHTER]
Behave!, I said.
You have to be quiet now
and you only talk when they ask you something
Only when you're asked, OK?
There, fantastic so well-behaved!
For me, draft resistance wasn't only
Refusing to do the military service At a certain moment, Pai...
I think this is a way of life for me.
It's just having a critical point of view of your environment
And not just accept when they tell you: this is done this way
And I want Pablo to learn not just this theory
But also to learn that it was...
I understand this has been our life, hasn't it?...
and I want this to play an important part in his education
and I want him to resist in this sense
In the sense that it is not fair
That, even though we, his parents, we cannot tell him whatever
That won't do for me.
I want to know that, I just want to have my own opinion
Let's see... you love your grandchildren as much as your own children, never mind
You don't love them more, some say You love them more
You love them the same
because I raised my two oldest grandchildren
Because their mother was working and they were separated [A KNOCK ON THE DOOR]
So, I raised them... It's that door... it moves when...
- Good morning!
- Good morning!
- Have you had a lot of coffee?
- And some "migas"
‘Cause I can tell you are nervous with the coffee and "migas"
Ah... "migas"
- Where did you have them?
- Everything was closed... at the "cabra"
The "cabra", yes (VOICES)
There at the "cabra" that is called the "cabra" walk
[VOICES]
- The whole square was closed "Suárez", the square
- Nobody gets up early here, my love
- Nobody opens before 10:30
- Well, you do know that very well Nobody gets up early here.
[VOICES]
Well then, off you go
Foreigners will come to throw you out of your own house
Hey, lock the door or the cat may run away
She's somewhere around
If I had been a men I would have been different from my two sons
I'm telling you, I would have been different from my sons
In the first place because they wouldn't get their own way
saying that women have no rights
And in the second place I would have liked to do the military service
- Why?
I really don't know. I can't explain it.
I can't explain it...
I would have liked to do it, you know?
Just look at that!
They are both identical in that
But I think that on coming back from the Fair
And I get a gun to shoot the ball...
Nobody beats me at that...
My dad taught me to shoot, you know?
Because my dad had a 16 shotgun I will never forget that
Only one barrel because they love hunting...
And... I remember that when we went hunting
I used to come with him and I took my little cage
Because, my sister couldn't come with us till she was 11
I had more brothers, but they all passed away
I went with him and when the partridge appeared, he said...
"Never shoot the partridge when it's going by,
you have to shoot her a bit later
Because if you don't, you won't get her"
My father taught me to shoot
Yes, he did
- What are we? What are sons for a mother?
Well, they are your life!
Never mind how much a son hurts you Never mind
How much he hurts you...
You just forgive everything;
You forgive everything
There are some things that are really painful, love
Very painful
Above all, that they never asked you
Your very family
And all those things really hurt But, anyway
When my sister came from...
Her sons went to the trial
She said:"You could have told me that Javi's trial was on today"
Well, no,
Because as I wasn't going to go
She also loved him dearly
And said: "because you wouldn't like to be there"
She was the only one who said something
My brother, he didn't say much because he only has daughters
He had five girls
Well, five grown up girls
He wouldn't get involved ‘cause his girls didn't have to do the military service
My sister's sons did the military service
One of them had to go to the Canary Islands What a drag!
I had a cousin there well, he was married to my cousin
He was in the army, and had a very good post
I also had an uncle who was a commanding major, so...
But they kept, they kept their mouth shut
because I didn't tell him... I didn't tell him anything
So, you had people in the army,
But why would I tell them anything? If they would ask me: why?
If men have to do the military service... Well I didn't tell any of them
That's what I tell my son and He goes: what a cheek!
Well, yes, "we have to be careful with our things, darling" [LAUGHTER]
He's always had very clear ideas on this issue
He's been saying he wouldn't do the Military service since he was a kid
he was really really young
And he refused to do it
And I said, well, we'll wait and see what happens when the time comes
He said he wouldn't do the military service, he started saying it when he was a kid
"I blatantly refuse to hold a gun", he said
"I refuse to hold a gun, mom, I won't do it"
Well, darling, we'll see... but he said such things when he was a kid...
And it was like...
Is this being recorded? [LAUGHTER]
And it was like...
He would also say, "Mom, I won't get married, I'll just live with a girl" [LAUGHTER]
He'd always repeat it: Mom, I won't get married, I'll live with a girl
Well, we'll see what happens when the time comes
And it was like he said
My son has always had very clear ideas
He started to say such things when he was four or five
And, on top of everything, my two sons...
were just like my father-in-law God rest his soul, and like my father
My father did the military service because he had to
And my father-in-law did the military service because he had to
Now it's different, now they get paid to go
Yes, before, they used to change things, and you were supposed to stay in Spain and ended up in Africa
My two kids are just like their two grandads in their ideas
My father-in-law was also in prison
Yes, he was in prison
Because of his ideas, that's why.
I can see that they
because with his experience at war and everything... maybe if my father said...
"there won't be people prepared for war, if there is one..."
But of course, it is difficult for them to put themselves in his shoes
And they might think that he... well it's not that he wanted a war...
I mean, that was his point of view, wasn't it?
You don't want a war, You aren't going to go to war
You wouldn't fight like that, would you?
They lived the postwar years and it was difficult
I do understand, you have to put yourself in their shoes
and understand the way they thought...
For instance, now that I talk to my parents
They do understand, don't they?
[SINGING A TRADITIONAL SONG]
Andrés Gutiérrez Morillo's trial. Cáceres, 13th September 1994
"EXTREMADURA CRUSHES DRAFT RESISTERS"
THE FIRST MILITARY TRIAL AGAINST DRAFT RESISTERS IS HELD IN EXTREMADURA
A TWO YEAR SENTENCE FOR A DRAFT RESISTER
THE FIRST TWO DRAFT RESISTERS TO GO TO JAIL
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT TWO DRAFT RESISTERS FROM EXTREMADURA GO TO JAIL
They called me from school
and Íñigo must have been six or so and I thought,: what has he done?
So, I go up to get him. "Come up to Íñigo's class". I come up...
and his teacher said, "He is really very good", and I say, "What's the problem?"
"One of his mates tripped him up and he was thrown against the wall"
(He got a bump on his head), "but he didn't hit back"
What is it you want? Should I tell him to hit people?
Tell the boy who hit him not to do such things
Am I right or aren't I?
"He didn't hit back..." don't expect him to do that
The thing is... when he was a child he would pretend he was a soldier
That's the funny thing, I remember his father got him a BBgun
and he would play with it wearing his dad's cap...
he would walk up and down the corridor
So, that's...
And you asked him: "What would you like to be?"
"Doctor" but he pronounced it wrong [LAUGHTER]
He never once said policeman, he didn't.
Yes, he was going to be a doctor.
You can imagine how they felt in my village...
A boy who used to read so much at church...
he was always... and all of a sudden, in jail
So, it was, it was... like the world upside down
This one was the one Inma had in...
- This one here
- Andrés is in it too
I didn't like him with long hair...
He is really handsome here
Sure, I knew about Íñigo since High school
Because the jesuits used to organise the youth week
He had classes in the morning and talks in the afternoon
Given by a lawyer, a soldier a draft resister
And when he came home he said: "I'm not doing the military service"
and from that day on I knew that Íñigo wouldn't do the military service
He was adamant about this, because Íñigo has very clear ideas
And when I heard he had chained himself that was the last...
that was the last straw
It was...
Oh dear! One day I came to Cáceres
My daughter told me: "That's where your son chained himself"
Oh! I dind't even want to look there!
I said "Leave me alone", Of course I knew where he had chained himself
I know of a lot of people who said:
"to see how this child was raised, how he was raised... and now"
Sure
[SINGING A TRADITIONAL SONG]
POLICE OFFICERS CUT OFF THE CHAINS
A DRAFT RESISTER ASKED FOR JAIL AND FINALLY GOT IT
For me, it was...
in a way, it was...
I don't know, as if something weird was going on.
as if my brother was doing something wrong.
I used to mix things up a bit... you know, with ETA...
Because it seemed he was in a weird group and it was as if they did bad things.
That's how I remember it, don't I?
I don't remember having ever thought about...
what would happen when the moment came.
Even when we got to know about the trial
We never thought about what would happen from then on
The moment came... and that was it!
We would wait and see what happened from then on,
But I don't feel our life depended only on that
Though it was a bit determined by that.
I remember that at Íñigo´s trial...
I wanted to go to...
I was really curious, I wanted to go there
And they said: "Look, darling,
just go to school; you're way too young to go to a trial"
We didn't even know they... we did know they might end up in jail
And the sentence was 2 years four months and one day...
or 10 years of disqualification
One magistrate even told me: "Íñigo won't go to jail",
he is a friend of ours
And when he called to Seville, he said: "I'm going to jail"
you just can't imagine... just can't imagine...
That day, for me... It was the worst day of my life
And I let my son down
Because the only thing I could do was cry...
And he would look back at me...
And I would look back too, So he didn't see me cry
Poor thing, he was looking for me And all I did was look away
But I just couldn't stop crying
Oh, and that prosecutor, oh, my god!
And I thought: Does this woman have no children?
The truth is I just couldn't make her out.
I didn't understand her attitude.
And those three judges... "One of them must have been thinking about lunch or something"
Because one of them was half asleep, wasn't he, Andrés?
Andrés, if you were there, there was one of them who was half asleep
And that prosecutor going on and on
And I thought: "Dear me, does she have no children?"
Oh god! They called me and he said: "Mom, I'm going to..."
this is the last time I call you"
And I passed out right there by the phone. back then, I didn't have a phone here.
I just didn't understand why he had to go to jail when...
if he wasn't doing anything wrong he wasn't harming anyone...
it was just his ideas, his values, his beliefs
and they... like... wouldn't let him...
lead that kind of life, with his ideas
and he had to go to jail for that
I just didn't get it, I thought it was totally absurd
I said:"Let's see...
His father told him he would visit him in hospital but he wouldn't go to see him in jail.
that I could do as I pleased
and since I was in a terrible state...
well, his father said so, but he was as good as gold, as good as gold
and... he'd been there only 8 days and his dad got everything ready...
8 days or so in jail, in Cáceres
His father got everything ready from the Police Station, and we went to see him
We got to the jail, that was the day when
when we couldn't actually see him... just through the glass...
and... and he just wrote...
- What did he write on that piece of paper?
He told me not to...
He told me to look up, not to look down ‘cause he hadn't killed no one
that he was there because of his...
yes...
And... Now, he, he he always says to me
"cheer up, mom, your eyes used to be so happy..."
People say I was a happy person because I was always laughing,
but I don't smile so much since then.
Well, well...
And they went: "Don't cry" I'm not going to cry
But I just couldn't stand seeing him behind that glass
You can't even touch him, it's as if he were the worst criminal in the world
In a glass cabin... Andrés didn't have visitors, poor thing
and you can't even touch him only 20 minutes...
like the worst criminal in the world
- "Would you like to give him money?" If he asks for money, we'll give him money
But you didn't want money
You didn't want anything in jail
It was extremely hard, you know.
and you have to show them the family register
Phew, it's just incredible. I had no idea things were like that,
that a inmate can't have visitors
Yes.
Yes, and the first time we went to Alcalá Meco, we did.
‘cause we didn't know where the other jail was
And we couldn't see him then
Just imagine! Just by looking at each other We knew what we meant
And I went...
meaning that he was really thin, So skinny
And he wrote that he missed his mom's cooking
That's it! We only needed a look and that was it!
and I said like this
And he said: "It's colder here than in our village in January"
Just a simple look is enough for us.
We've always been really close; always got on...
- What did you think of the military prison?
Dear me!
I had never seen such a thing! when I came back...
When I was there, I was OK
Well, OK, I mean...
Time really flew, when they told me...
"Time's up", and I would say but we only just got here!
And maybe three hours had gone by
If we went there with my niece, we had more time if we went by bus, we had to return very quickly
I would look at the windows because Miguel told me:
"I'll go upstairs and see you off till the car disappears"
and I would look at those tiny holes...
so, it was awful... Every time I see something like that; those tiny holes
I can't help thinking about that
[A PIECE OF CHALK ON THE BOARD]
TO LOOK AT THE WINDOW
1) Place to *** 2) Where we get washed 3) Curtains to hide away the bathroom
4) Bunk beds 5) Well, this here is the door 6) 7) shelves to scatter our things about
8) Window 9) light bulb
If anyone dares to laugh at my drawing they can get ***
Well, go ahead and laugh, but only a bit I know I suck at drawing.
January 18th, 2001 Military Prison in Alcalá
I just want to wish you a happy birthday with this card
Have a happy 54th birthday (if I'm not wrong!)
There's no need to say anything else, enjoy them, make the most of them
Because life is a present and it deserves to be lived to the full
[RAIN]
It's been bucketing down lately
To tell you the truth, It's been raining a lot; let's hope it's for the better
[WIND HOWLING]
By April, 28th I will have served the fourth part of my sentence
and this means that from now on I may ask for my first leave permit
and later on, the third degree.
There are still many things to be done
I say goodbye by wiishing you a happy day, a happy year. ***
[BIRDS]
For me a prison is the same as uncertainty and having a relative in jail is just that; it's...
it's the unrelenting uncertainty of not knowing what's going to happen.
And, there's a doubt always lingering "Is he telling me the truth?"
"is he really all right"
Of course, he did the same as me
Lie
Oh, yes, everything is fine What else could he do?
Yes everybody lies and everything is so nice...
But on leaving the place I cried my eyes out for hours
I just couldn't imagine how he felt when I left, you know...
But there, on the glass visitors' area, everything is fine; oh, so fine
But, in fact, it's awful.
A jail is a jail and this place has never been...
paradise, has it?
- And what happened when he came out?
Well, that day I was in bed [LAUGHTER]
There was a phone call at 11 in the morning, saying you were outside!
Natalia and Beatriz were going to get you
they told me you were in a bar are they outside already?
and then... oh dear me! [LAUGHTER]
Then you collapse but...
It was... a Wednesday at 11 in the morning
But then, they had to go there again at nigth, to sleep there.
That was very hard as well,
every day there at 9 at night every day, every single day
One day I phoned the prison...
On A Three Wise Men's night; I swear.
Because, we always celebrate this day and Íñigo wasn't here...
but you always came out at 8:00
At 8:00 or 9:00... I called the prison
and I go: "Let's see... at what time do those in third grade come out?"
"Today is a public holiday and there are no civil servants"
And I go: I don't care, my son has to be out at 8:00
They were out at 12:00
I don't know if you were there that day
... and I go and call as if this was his school
I thought... I'm going to phone to find out why my son isn't outside already
And it was really hard when you go to prison and see
the prison walls oozed with damp at night
And it rained a lot that winter
and he told me that the walls oozed with damp.
This once he got home with a terrible cold,
it was like pneumonia,
and I said: honey, don't you have warm clothes?"
and he goes: " Mom at nigth the sheets are wet because of the damp;"
And imagine how I felt when I came back home to my warm and cosy bed...
I do that for anyone; and now when the nights are bad I say that
So sorry for the person who lacks it; and even sorrier for a son.
It's been really hard... all the process very hard, devastating.
[A DRUM BEAT]
January, 17th, 2001 Military Prison in Alcalá.
Today, it's a year since I went To prison for the first time,
do you remember?
That first moment when emotions are triggered And the feeling of freedom is so huge!
THERE'S NO FREEDOM WITHOUT DISOBEDIENCE. DRAFT RESISTANCE
Cáceres II: Violins and arms held up from the outside to those inside
A basket score, and with the help from other inmates
I got up to see you.
That afternoon, you coloured the prison courtyard [DRUM BEAT]
THE DRAFT RESITERS FROM EXTREMADURA MET IN CÁCERES TO BRING THEIR POSTURES CLOSER AT THE TRIALS
THE DRAFT RESISTERS START A HUNGER STRIKE TO BACK UP THE ACCUSED
THE TRIAL AGAINST A DRAFT RESISTER ECHOES THE STRENGTHENING OF THE FIGHT
ABOUT 200 DEMONSTRATORS ASKED FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE IMPRISONED DRAFT RESISTERS
THE GOVERNMENT PARDONS THE LAST IMPRISONED DRAFT RESISTER IN CÁCERES
A DRAFT RESISTER ACQUITTED AS CONSCIENCE PREVAILS OVER THE STATE
The police came here in July to to tell us he'd been pardoned
I remember because we were going to meet him for dinner,
he had finished one of the subjects of his degree he had quitted it to...
I think it was...
on the 18th of July... a Saturday...
maybe it was the 17th or the 18th of July?
I don't remember the exact day, but it was Saturday.
The police came home and Elena was on her own
well, with a friend of hers... She's called Elena, too
And they told her: "Your dad is out of jail"
Or something like that, my girl...
"Is Íñigo del Hoyo your father?"
And she says. "No, he's my brother" - "well he's been pardoned"
Can you believe they could tell a little girl such thing?
On top of everything the girl had said she couldn't open the door ‘cause she was alone...
"This is the police here"
I remember we had gone down to get Íñigo a present
We didn't take too long, we left the girls alone; they were 11 or 12
And... "Is that your father?"
Well, I'm sure she'll tell you about that if she remembers [LAUGHTER]
That happened in July and they went to prison in October...
So, it lasted nine months
Are the disqualified still disqualified?
I see, they aren't disqualified any more.
Well, I thought, I thought they still were so.
Maybe I lost touch with that lately,
once Íñigo was out of prison... well, I said...
the story is finally over.
[WIND]
Alcalá Military Prison, February, 9th, 2001
I've been trying to write you for a long time,
and today I just found the right time and the need to do so.
It's been a long time since I got here.
Days have been going by with that ambiguous logic
so different from the one that time follows when you're outside.
In moments of crisis, you learn to do many things,
one of those things is to define your own vital space.
My days are full of memories,
places, smells, letters, conversations,
and of a need of keeping calm without rushing about anything.
Anything just won't do for me,
the same words won't do, nor will the same places.
Nor the survival instinct placed before the experienced things.
Íñigo, how are you?
When many people came to visit us, most of the times
those visits aren't suitable for a more personal approach,
above all with those friends you care for in a special way.
Maybe all this will help us understand the silences that sometimes took place
[WIND]
At home, we've had all shorts regarding the military service issue.
At war, my grandfather deserted.
My brother volunteered for the military service.
And then comes Andrés and says he is a draft resister
Way back then, I didn't understand very well what draft resistance meant
because I must have been 16 or 17 and I had my head in the clouds
and I was interested in anything but draft resistance
I knew he was... he has always had Very clear ideas, that is the truth,
but we didn't know where all this would take us
nor where he would be taken, till this issue was tackled at home.
And this issue was like a bolt from the blue.
It was like... Jesus Christ!
I do believe that in this life when...
you make a decision you have to remember that we aren't alone,
we also have to think about the people around us,
never mind if we see eye to eye with them or not...
with their life projects...
with ideas, beliefs, with things they try to bring to our lives,
I do believe that, above all they deserve our respect.
And I feel Miguel didn't respect us.
He didn't respect my parents at all,
he never thought about the consequences all this had at my father's work,
because there were consequences.
He didn't think about me either.
Because... because he didn't. He just thought about himself and stated it clearly:
"this is my story and you'll have to make an effort to understand me".
Well, in here, you could hear all sorts of things...
You could hear...
You could hear crying, also reproaches; things like: "I just don't get it"
You could hear: "Why doesn't he think about others?"
"Because he is selfish"
"Because he isn't thinking about the impact this will have on his life"
You could hear anything...
Just anything...
Well, I think my mother...
My mother was a bit worried that people would be pointing at us...
These things were what she worried about
More than... than...
what my brother wanted or what he might feel...
she worried about our environment; about the silent environment...
the fact that nobody says anything but everybody knows about it.
Yes, of course it has an influence; I think it influenced all of us, didn't it?
But, the first thing was: !Don't mention this; Don't tell many people about it!.
and I understand, I think that maybe it was because my mom and my aunt...
didn't really understand what that draft resistance thing was.
or because they didn't want people talking about us
As you know, living in a village has its advantages
but it also has drawbacks
people are there for you but this may be both good and bad.
For instance, we did feel the change when we moved...
when we moved here from Bilbao
so, I can imagine what it must be like if you live in a little village...
things must be even worse,
because all the neighbours are there looking, everyone speaking their mind, criticising...
Well, having to fight that as well is... a bit difficult, isn't it?
It was on the paper and my friends' parents talked about it and said:
"Look, this is Elena's brother, Oh, those are Mr so and so's children"
"your brother is is jail., your brother is in jail"
Everybody told me that and I went: Yes, and...
and what can we do? What did they want me to say?
We didn't have the faintiest idea, That is, no one in my family,
no acquaintances or friends,
no one, no one in my family had gone through anything similar.
That's why it was so difficult to try to understand and share it
So many times..."How do you feel?"
My friends would ask: "How do you feel? Is there anything wrong?"
But I just couldn't bring myself to tell then how I felt...
simply because... words fail me.
In all likelihood, we weren't ready for this
counting me in, of course
And neither were we up to it.
Later, with some distance... you say:
well, I did try to be there for him
We talked to him; I visited him in jail...
But, maybe...
Instead of having...
of being so ashamed of being so overwhelmed
maybe we should have tried to understand him rather than...
yes, I believe that we should have backed him much more.
MILITARY GOVERNMENT, SAINT MARCUS SQUARE (CÁCERES) JANUARY, 28TH, 2000
[BELLS TOLL. STREET NOISE]
[CLAPPING, WHISTLES]
CONSCIENCE CAN'T BE IMPRISONED
[CLAPPING, WHISTLES, SHOUTING SLOGANS]
DRAFT RESISTANCE
YOU'LL BE WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO NO ARMY FIGHTS FOR PEACE
THE BEST POTION AGAINST GOVERNMENTS... DRAFT RESISTANCE
THAT'S HOW THEY'D LIKE TO SEE US DRAFT RESISTERS WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN
JUDGES REFUSE TO IMPRISON DRAFT RESISTERS
DRAFT RESISTERS WON´T GO TO JAIL
FOLLOWING A SOCIALIST AMENDMENT TO THE PENAL LAWS
At that moment, draft resistance had a lot of back up
and it had become a hot potato for...
for the judges, and they weren't willing to take it on.
So, what they were doing was dropping the charges at many trials
and they did so on the basis that... that it...
was happenning because there were no posts;
nobody was willing to go on with that;
because they just couldn't tell draft resisters "OK, OK you're right,
you've won"
This couldn't happen straight away but...
it was obvious that all that was pointless, wasn't it?
[FLUTE, SEA RUMBLING]
[FLUTE, SEA RUMBLING]
- Too many sleepless nights in a row
So many...
So many...
- Why?
Because you care about them
You care about them and it's too many nights.
So many nights when you get up from bed and go to take a seat on your armchair
and, once there if you're tired out you might get some sleep...
So many nights...
- What were your feelings then, as a mother?
That my son had been stolen from me.
And they didn't realise.
It is such a huge pain... really devastating.
They take away something that is yours;
the only thing that is yours;
and there's nothing you can say nothing you can do.
That pain is so...
So big...
And you feel...
humiliated, you feel...
I can't put it in words,
you feel helpless, furious,
you just don't know, you feel so many things that you don't know...
which is worse.
It is one thing to...
It's yours, and there's nothing you can do to defend what's yours!
And this makes you feel terribly sorry.
Because that's what mothers are for;
a mother is always there for her children, always worried about them;
we worry about them but to a certain extent.
Because, when they reach a certain age; like they did
they were free to do what they wanted.
And as for me, just like his mother or yours, or any mother,
we do care!
but you have to make your decisions.
And you kow what you should and shouldn't do
We simply have to put up with our children's things.
As long as they aren't mean!
There's no problem.
And my son, as I've always said, "he was never mean to anyone"
And I usually say: "He's only been mean to himself"
he was mean"
We had a hard time
Bu that's long forgotten
that's all water under the bridge!
I don't remember anything
But...
I don't know...
how I'd feel
If it happened again, god forbid!
if it did, I wouldn't just sit on my hands, no sir.
- Can I show you something?
By all means!
- Don't stand up! I'll get it for you!
[SHIGHS]
[WHISPERING] What a pity!
And why? I wonder, why did they do such a thing to you?
I just go mad trying to understand why they did that? Why?
nothing was stolen, nobody was killed
It just baffles me, I can't make heads or tails out of this
since I can't understand it maybe it means...
maybe if someone did something worse than what you did, such as kill or ***,
and he is in one door and out the other.
For me, that.
But, I just can't understand that they do it for people's ideals...
No, I can't understand it. I just can't.
No matter how much time has passed I just can't understand it.
No matter how much time...
[SHIGHING] Oh, my god!
- How are you?
- Fine.
- Fine?
- Fine, fine, really fine
You know that I always...
Although...
But I... just don't know...
If I had been born nowadays
I might have been like my children; or even worse
I'm not ashamed of saying so, and I'd say it anywhere.
I might have been like them or even worse...
than them.
I don't remember any of my friends
reproaching me for anything, but...
I felt proud of my brother, I was proud of what he did, I really was.
So, yes, I might have talked about it,
"my brother is a draft resister, my brother does this..."
I don't know, I just felt so proud...
Many people don't have a clue...
I mean, people my age,
(I'm 24)
many people my age don't know...
I tell them about it... I...
talk to my friends and tell them everything:
"This is it, that's all there is to it"
And especially to my male friends
"If you don't have to do the military service; there must be a reason, musn't there?
And, this is partly thanks to...
To everything they did back then.
But people right now, they just don't...
In my generation no one has felt the need of
resisting being drafted for the military service they don't even have to worry about that!
So, for me, everything he did was great,
but then, there is the issue of jail, that is a sore spot...
For me, that was...
I think about draft resistance and I can't help thinking about jail; that's my first thought.
Draft resistance; if I hear that; I hear prison
I would love to think otherwise
to think in a different way but that isn't the case.
I feel that draft resistance was something...
somewhat educational, I feel
educational in the sense it created
people with their own judgement
and besides, if that judgement is pacifist; then that's the icing on the cake.
I feel extremely proud that my brother did such a thing,
and if people can't understand it, well...
I won't keep my mouth shut, they don't have to listen to me...
or better, let them listen to me and see if they change their mind.
I did talk about it...
I talked about it a lot, besides, sometimes even...
I came up with things like...
like: "when my brother was in jail"
and they just gawp at you... well, I am going to tell you now, why not? [LAUGHTER]
my brother was in jail because he... I am proud for that, I believe...
well, in hindsight, obviously...
I believe it is something I will always love to tell people.
whenever they ask me why my brother was in jail, I will eagerly tell them
tell them what my brother, and so many other like him
achieved by being in jail.
Yes, definitely, I will always talk about that.
Though it seems it never happened, between the years 1980 and 2000
there was in Spain a pacifist movement called DRAFT RESISTER
who for conscience issues refused to do the military service.
The draft resisters and the pacifist movement that backed them up
were the ones who forced the government to put an end to Compulsory Military Service in 2001.
But before that happened they had to endure punishments
like the community service, prison or what we know as "civil death"
which involves the loss of fundamental rights any citizen has.
We shouldn't forget that putting an end to the Compulsory Military Service
was only one of the DRAFT RESISTERS' aims;
this is a pacifist movement
that believes in the possibility of a demilitarized world without armies
Letter from María to her son Pablo
Because men and women like me,
whom you may never get to understand,
we always felt free and alive.
[A DRUM BEAT]
Diego Pedrera Reveriego
Stood trial on May 1997
Sentenced to a year in prison with disqualification
After the prosecutor's appeal, he was sentenced to 4-years' disqualification or "civil death"
[SINGING A TRADITIONAL SONG]
Andrés Gutiérrez Morillo.
Stood trial on September 1994.
Sentenced to 2 years, 4 months and one day.
He went to Caceres I jail on October 1997
Pardoned on February 1998
Íñigo del Hoyo Onandía.
Stood trial on May 1997
Sentenced to 2 years, 4 months and a day.
Sent to Cáceres I jail on 6th October 1997
Pardoned in July 1998.
[SINGING A TRADITIONAL SONG]
José Antonio Gonzá*** Frutos (Pai)
Stood trial on 26th December 1997
The prosecutor asked for 10 years' complete disqualification for a public post (civil death)
Pardoned because charges were dropped due to missing deadlines
Miguel Ángel Felipe Ramos
Declared himself draft resister in the barracks;
Deserted on November 1999
He was courtmartialled and sentenced to 2 years, 4 months and a day.
Sent to Alcalá Military Prison on February 2000
Pardoned in 2002 when the military service had been called out.
Miguel Ángel Morcillo (Morci)
Declared himself conscientious objector in 1986
His declaration was accepted in 1987 and he was transferred to military reserve observing the 15th January law 20/1988
[SINGING A TRADITIONAL SONG]
Subtitles and sinchronization: Daniel Fernández Subtitles translated by: Mª Ascensión Ossorio Carrera.
Rebel kisses and dreams. Be happy!