Flora Sanhueza Rebolledo (1911 – 18 September 1974) was a Spanish–born Chilean anarchist activist.[1][2] Imprisoned at Pisagua internment camp during the Military dictatorship, Sanhueza later died from her injuries sustained during torture.[1][2]
Flora Sanhueza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Flora Sanhueza Rebolledo 1911 |
| Died | 18 September 1974 (aged 62–63) |
| Children | Héctor Pavélic Sanhueza |
| Armed struggle | |
| Allegiance | |
Branch | Durruti Column |
Active years | 1936-1945 |
Conflicts | |
Early life
editAnarchism
editIn 1935, Sanhueza travelled to Spain where she would later fight for the Republican faction in the Spanish Civil War under Buenaventura Durruti.[2][3] Following the defeat of the Republican faction, Sanhueza and her partner[a] escaped to France where they were later interned in a concentration camp.[2] Managing to escape in 1942, Sanhueza joined the French Resistance.[2]
In 1946, Sanhueza returned to Chile and founded the Luisa Michel Athenaeum (Spanish: Ateneo Luisa Michel), named after the French anarchist Louise Michel, in Iquique the following year.[2][3] Initially dedicated to educate women who weaved fishing nets, the Athenaeum was renamed the Luisa Michel Libertarian School (Spanish: Escuela Libertaria Luisa Michel) in 1953 and provided education to local workers until 1957.[3]
Arrest and death
editOn 11 September 1973, Sanhueza was placed under house arrest.[2] Sanhueza was later taken to Pisagua internment camp.[2] In the camp Sanhueza was subjected to sexual violence, and is known to have been tortured by being hung from a pillar and being used as a target for target practice.[2][1] On 24 September 1973 Sanhueza's son, Héctor Pavélic Sanhueza, was also taken to the same camp.[4]
Sanhueza was later transported to San Juan de Dios Hospital in Santiago to be treated for her injuries obtained during torture.[2] Sanhueza was released and transferred back to her home in Iquique[b] where she soon died from her injuries on 18 September 1974.[4][1][2]
Notes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 Desramé, Céline (2025). "Retour à Pisagua : un lieu de condensation des violences d'État et du deuil". Amerika (in French). 31. Rennes, Brittany: University of Rennes. doi:10.4000/15mo5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prensa OPAL (7 March 2020). "Prensa: Flora Sanhueza: Resistencia feminista de Clase". MemoriaViva (in Spanish). Proyecto Internacional de Derechos Humanos. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Godoy Sepúlveda, E. A. (2016). "Historia e historiografía del anarquismo en Chile (1980-2015)". Cuadernos de Historia (in Spanish) (44). Santiago, Chile: Universidad de Chile: 101–137. doi:10.4067/S0719-12432016000100005. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- 1 2 Tamayo Grez, Tania (2024). "Nuestra resistencia en medio del dolor". Doble Espacio (in Spanish). Santiago: University of Chile. Retrieved 15 March 2026.