A reminder that Jean-Marc Rouillan, a founder member of the anti-Francoist guerrilla group the MIL, the G.A.R.I. (International Revolutionary Action Action Groups) and, later, Action Directe, will be introducing the film G.A.R.I. at the London Anarchist Bookfair this Saturday from 1.00pm – 3.00pm anarchistbookfair.org.uk/ Spain, in March 1974 five members of the Iberian Liberation Movement (MIL) are under threat of death by Francos justice. To prevent their execution, four groups of activists in Paris and Toulouse join forces in a network called the G.A.R.I. (International Revolutionary Action Action Groups) to kidnap Balthazar Suarez, the Bank of Bilbao’s manager in Paris, in exchange for the release of their comrades. The prisoners are spared, the banker is released, G.A.R.I. dissolves and none of the real culprits are ever arrested. Forty years on the director of this film, Nicolas Réglat, who grew up in full knowledge of the secret of this adventure, tells the inside story of this incident in an offbeat and occasionally humorous way. Introducing the film and answering questions about the events of the time is one of the participants, Jean-Marc Rouillan. First captured in 1974 and released in 1977, Jean-Marc was re-arrested with partner Nathalie Ménigon in 1980 for his part in Action Directe but released in 1981 with other AD comrades as a result of an amnesty by President Mitterand. On release, Jean-Marc, Nathalie and a few other AD members continued the armed struggle until their dramatic arrest in February 1987. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989 and 1994, J-M was subjected to a special prison regime, spending seven-and-a-half years in total isolation before being released on special parole in 2007; that was withdrawn in 2009 for breach of his conditions. Parole was only regranted again in February 2011. Organised by: London Anarchist Bookfair collective
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:15:48 +0000
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