France, Alternative Libertaire AL #231 - Read Cipriano Mera War, exile and prison anarcho-syndicalist (fr)

War for life ---- This time Poppy editions published the memoirs of the Spanish CNT 
militant Cipriano Mera. It has been a journey to say the least atypical being projected, 
mason CNT militant, military responsibilities on the Madrid front in local libertarian 
militia. Cipriano Mera recounts his life before the Spanish Civil War, during the 
revolution, his exile in the French colonies of the Maghreb... Then it comes to Franco by 
the Vichy authorities. He is a prisoner in the jails of the fascist regime to release its 
amazing. ---- Apart from the deep political hatred he expresses constantly about Stalinist 
communists Spanish, slice of life he tells is uplifting. His personality and 
uncompromising including to himself and his moral rigor reveal an uncompromising character 
but maybe sometimes too uptight and bounded. However his eyes on men and women as society 
surrounding leaves a testimony grows to collective reflection on human behavior. Faced 
with the war he sees the flaws of the Republican military system, but also the 
contradictions of grassroots activists or libertarian leaders, or enthusiastic individuals 
facing ideological positions (anti-authoritarian, anti-war, etc..) Out of step with they 
live daily (inexperience in battle, desertion, summary executions, tamper individual, 
looting, etc..).

Thinking about it even grows Mera, certainly a minority within the CNT, to support the 
incorporation of the Republican militia army. Witnessed the death of Durruti, it breaks 
myths and rumors about a possible bullet from his own camp (anarchist or Stalinist). Mera 
peak also conflictual relationships which arose from within the CNT during the war but 
also in exile. Writing these memories is a bit heavy and it is sometimes hard to hang on 
the text, however Mera self-taught builder, has the merit to describe the contradictions 
of a situation that greatly escapes the protagonists of this story, when everyone faces-e 
as is commonly called "nose to the grindstone."

There is no lesson in wisdom about Mera but they encourage political action meditate daily.

JM Izrine (AL Toulouse)

Cipriano Mera, War, exile and imprisonment of anarcho-syndicalist, editions of Poppy, 
2012, 22 euros.