Santiago Brouard
Encyclopedia
Santiago Brouard or Santi Brouard (Lekeitio
, 1919 - Bilbao
, 20 November 1984) was a doctor and Basque politician. He was one of the leaders of Herri Batasuna, member of the Spanish Senate
representing the party, and deputy major in Bilbao. He was killed by Luis Morcillo and Rafael López Ocaña GAL
gunmen in his pediatrics office in Bilbao.
. Once he finished his studies he went back to the Basque Country and specialized in pediatrics in the hospital of Basurtu. He married Teresa Aldamiz and had three children. At the same time, he helped create the first ikastola
s (schools where lessons were only given in Basque language) in Bizkaia.
's regime was about to end. Brouard was one of the creators of EHAS, the group that after 1977 would be known as HASI. Brouard was named president of HASI and when Herri Batasuna was created, he became a member of this party. He always saw himself as Basque nationalist and socialist.
When he returned from exile, he carried on working as a doctor and politician at the same time. He was sent to prison in 1983 together with other Herri Batasuna members accused of singing the Basque fighters song Eusko Gudariak
when the Spanish King Juan Carlos I went to Gernika. They interrupted his speech and all members who were singing had to be carried out of the building, amid big protests. He was member of the National Executibe of Herri Batasuna, and later on, he was named diputee in the Courts in Madrid. At the same time, he was deputy mayor in Bilbao.
and Francisco Franco
died.
The police investigation identified and accused Morcillo and López Ocaña of killing Brouard, but a judge in the Audiencia Nacional of Spain
released them from prison in 1999.
(1982)25 years remembering Santi Brouard in Andalucia Article in the webpage Kaos en la RedEl asesinato de Santiago Brouard Special webpage by El Mundo about GALRafael López Ocaña admits having killed Santi Brouard Piece of news in the webpage of Torturaren Kontrako Taldea (Group Against Torture)Santiago Brouard Jauna Article in the magazine Argia (1999)
Lekeitio
Lekeitio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Basque Country, 53 km northeast from Bilbao. The municipality has 7,293 inhabitants and is one of the most important fishing ports of the Basque coast...
, 1919 - 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...
, 20 November 1984) was a doctor and Basque politician. He was one of the leaders of Herri Batasuna, member of the Spanish Senate
Spanish Senate
The Senate of Spain is the upper house of Spain's parliament, the . It is made up of 264 members: 208 elected by popular vote, and 56 appointed by the regional legislatures. All senators serve four-year terms, though regional legislatures may recall their appointees at any time.The last election...
representing the party, and deputy major in Bilbao. He was killed by Luis Morcillo and Rafael López Ocaña GAL
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación were death squads established illegally by officials of the Spanish government to fight ETA, the principal Basque separatist militant group. They were active from 1983 until 1987, under Spanish Socialist Workers Party -led governments...
gunmen in his pediatrics office in Bilbao.
Early years
He was born in the town of Lekeitio, he studied medicine in the university of ValladolidValladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
. Once he finished his studies he went back to the Basque Country and specialized in pediatrics in the hospital of Basurtu. He married Teresa Aldamiz and had three children. At the same time, he helped create the first ikastola
Ikastola
An Ikastola is a type of primary and secondary school in the Basque Autonomous Community, Navarre and the French Basque Country in which pupils are taught either entirely or predominantly in the Basque language...
s (schools where lessons were only given in Basque language) in Bizkaia.
Joining politics
He had to escape to the Northern Basque Country (French side of the Basque Country) when he helped in 1974 an ETA member who had been shot by the Spanish police. There he met historic ETA members, such as Argala. He took part in the creation of the KAS alternatiba when FrancoFrancisco 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 regime was about to end. Brouard was one of the creators of EHAS, the group that after 1977 would be known as HASI. Brouard was named president of HASI and when Herri Batasuna was created, he became a member of this party. He always saw himself as Basque nationalist and socialist.
When he returned from exile, he carried on working as a doctor and politician at the same time. He was sent to prison in 1983 together with other Herri Batasuna members accused of singing the Basque fighters song Eusko Gudariak
Eusko Gudariak
Eusko Gudariak was the republican anthem of the Eusko Gudarostea, the army of the Basque Autonomous Government during the Spanish Civil War...
when the Spanish King Juan Carlos I went to Gernika. They interrupted his speech and all members who were singing had to be carried out of the building, amid big protests. He was member of the National Executibe of Herri Batasuna, and later on, he was named diputee in the Courts in Madrid. At the same time, he was deputy mayor in Bilbao.
Death
Santi Brouard had been told that the right wing Spanish paramilitary groups had targeted him, but he said he would not escape and that he would not lock his office door because of it. In 20 November 1984 Luis Morcillo eta Rafael López Ocaña shot him dead in his pediatrics office. The day they would kill Brouard was chosen carefully. That same day, years before, José Antonio Primo de RiveraPrimo de Rivera
Primo de Rivera is a Spanish family prominent in politics of the 19th and 20th centuries:*Fernando Primo de Rivera, Spanish politician and soldier, 1831-1921*Miguel Primo de Rivera , dictator of Spain from 23 September 1923 to 1930...
and Francisco 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...
died.
The police investigation identified and accused Morcillo and López Ocaña of killing Brouard, but a judge in the Audiencia Nacional of Spain
Audiencia Nacional of Spain
The Audiencia Nacional is a a special and exceptional high court in Spain. It has its seat in Madrid and jurisdiction over all of Spain and international crimes which come under the competence of Spanish courts....
released them from prison in 1999.
Recognitions
- The mayor of BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) 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...
named a street after Brouard in the neighbourhood of Ametzola. - The mayor of LekeitioLekeitioLekeitio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Basque Country, 53 km northeast from Bilbao. The municipality has 7,293 inhabitants and is one of the most important fishing ports of the Basque coast...
named the public sportsfield of the town after him.
External links
Santi Brouard. Euskal Herria osagai. Duingastuna omen Documentary made by the popular movement 'Euskal Herria osagai' in Lekeitio. With Santi Brouard after Hasi's congress Interview in the magazine ArgiaArgia (magazine)
Argia is a weekly newsmagazine published in Basque language, the eldest one still working, after surviving Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain. During 2009 they celebrated their 90th anniversary. Their main office is in Lasarte-Oria, Basque Country...
(1982)25 years remembering Santi Brouard in Andalucia Article in the webpage Kaos en la RedEl asesinato de Santiago Brouard Special webpage by El Mundo about GALRafael López Ocaña admits having killed Santi Brouard Piece of news in the webpage of Torturaren Kontrako Taldea (Group Against Torture)Santiago Brouard Jauna Article in the magazine Argia (1999)