held before his nospitalisation.
At the end of last year Arana was transferred from Segovia to Puerto Santa Maria with eleven comrades. This transter was to punisn us for naving tried to regain our freedom in the only way possible under the dictatorshipby escaping.
In Puerto Santa Maria he spent a month in a punishment cell, and it was during this time that the symptoms of his disease [tuberculosis appeared again. Arter a nunger strike ana ten days with out leavina one s cell. no-one takes to the exercise yard with a brisk step, but Sabino could scarcely walk at all.
He moved slowly and immediately became tired. He had to sit on the ground until he could prop himself up against the wall. After several days he topped coming our tor exercise Ine wist day ne wanted to remain tying cown, ne nad to resist une snouts and Threats of the screws, who took nis man rest away and tried to make ni get up who read this that they could put a man wno was incapable or moving and was urinating blood into a punishment cell; unbelievable that he was given no help and forced to sit on the ground. He couldn't remain standing up for 16 nours. ane me wai was me oniy assis tance he had available in the cell; his only company, as he recounted it later, were 'the rats which come out of the ventilators, the cockroaches, the fleas, and the jailers four times a day'.
Those who read our letter will equally De surorised ov une reluctance ortne coctors to seno sabino to nosoital. but The campaign to free Spanish militant Sabino Arana, currently in the Carabanchel Prison hospital awaiting an operation under the auspices of the fascist prison authorities, goes on throughout Spain and Europe. The following letter was smuggled out of the Puerto Santa Maria prison toughest institution for political prisoners - where Sabino Arana was being this attitude sums up the bestiality which governs the prison regime. Here, as in other prisons, the doctor opposes the transfer to hospital of those who nave a bad attitude - and sabino certainly had the honour of representing the very worst of attitudes for his jailers. ine dictatorsnio s brutality never misses a chance to display itself. When tney brougnt us trom segovia the Civi Guards were set against Inaki Sarrasketa from the moment we left the cells, and they set about beating and mistreating him in every way possible, even though he was then in the midst of several days or nunger suiKe.
They didn't miss the opportunity to snow war tney are wit sabino either. Knowing full well that he was siCK, because they nad just brougnt nim straight from hospital, they handcuffed him and forced him to remain, for several hours during the journey from Madrid to here, in a position folded up like a ball.
Those who still do not believe that life in the prisons is just a slow form of aean - er mem look at ne ruined neam orraoino Arana set us at-east nope inat medical care can save nis lite in order that we may count on his inestimable assistance in the revolutionary struggle; and in order that he can play his part in the overthrow of the dictatorship - the aim for which he has fought unrougnout me vast to vears. une last erent or unem in brison Freedom for Sabino Arana!
Freedom for all political prisoners!
His comrades from the Puerto Santa Maria Prison, March 1976. - Spain's
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THE HORROR OF SPAIN'S