Plaid pays tribute to local volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against facism

Last Wednesday saw the 70th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War where people from Wales, including Llanelli, volunteered to fight against fascism in Spain. Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies have been looking back at the proud tradition that Llanelli has in resisting fascism.

Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“Taking part in the march and rally against the BNP a few weeks ago brought back a real reminder of Llanelli’s proud tradition in resisting fascism, not only at home but also abroad. A large numbers of Welshmen, including Llanelli, travelled to the continent to fight for what they knew was a battle for the freedom of us all.”

The Spanish Civil War started after an attempted coup d’etat committed by parts of the army against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. The war devastated Spain from July 17,1936 to April 1, 1939 with the victory of the rebels and the founding of a dictatorship led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco for the next 36 years.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies added:

“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have outside the Plaid Cymru office in Llanelli the official plaque that commemorates the brave volunteers who left the area to fight and eventually die in Spain in the war against fascism. Unfortunately, today’s fight against facism continues, and is even harder with fascists such as the BNP attempting to present themselves as a normal political party. There is no place in our communities for their politics of hate.

”The BNP's attitude to disabled people as a burden on society and their denial of the most basic women's rights - including protection from rape and domestic violence - means they cannot be accepted as part of ordinary politics. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a disabled person or an abused woman who would have to go to a BNP councillor or representative for help with their problems.”

There is a national memorial to the volunteers from Wales who participated in the Spanish Civil War outside the South Wales Miners Library, but there is no memorial that names of all who bravely went overseas to fight for democracy.

Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“It’s right and proper that we remember, as we do every year, about those soldiers who so bravely fought against fascism in the 2nd World War. But we should also remember that before then, there were volunteers who could see what was coming, and went to resist fascism in Spain. Fellow Plaid Cymru member Leanne Wood AM has recently raised the issue of the need for a national memorial to be installed in the Senedd to commemorate those who those who participated and died in the war, and I fully support this call.”

Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy are eager to remind people that we owe the freedom that we enjoy now, not only to the soldiers of the 2nd World War, but also to the volunteers who lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War. We should never forget them.