Emiliano Revilla | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1928 (age 95–96) |
Emiliano Revilla is a Spanish industrialist who was kidnapped by the Basque separatist group ETA in 1988.[1][2][3] He was captured on February 25, 1988, and freed on October 30, 1988.[4]
From 1960 to 1974 Revilla was the mayor of Ólvega.[5]
The Houston Chronicle reported that Revilla was freed by his captors after a payment of $12 million.[1] They reported that his family had been able to pay his captors, even though the government had announced they would not allow any payments to the kidnappers.
According to the New York Times the release of Revilla within sight of his apartment was very embarrassing for Spanish law enforcement officials and for the Spanish government.[6]
Revilla had inherited his wealth, in the form of a food company, which he expanded.[2] He had also branched into real estate.
During his eight months of captivity Revilla was provided paper, paints, brushes and pencils, for drawing and painting—activities he hadn't pursued since childhood.[5] In 2008 the paintings Revilla had made in 1988 were put on display.
Gonzalo Boye, one of the men convicted of his kidnapping, maintained his innocence, and earned a law degree while in prison.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b
Andrew Hurst (1988-10-31). "Basques free hostage in slap at Spanish reign". Houston Chronicle. p. a10. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
The boldness with which the Basque separatist terrorists released Revilla in the heart of the capital, after holding him for eight months in Spain's longest politically motivated kidnapping, appeared calculated to demonstrate ETA's strength and to embarrass the government.
- ^ a b Emma Roig (1988-02-25). "Secuestrado en Madrid, en el portal de su domicilio, el empresario Emiliano Revilla" [Kidnapped in Madrid, on the porch of his home, businessman Emiliano Revilla: Four individuals forced him into a car while returning from his office]. Periódico El País. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
- ^ a b "FUE CONDENADO POR COLABORAR CON ETA: Gonzalo Boyé está detrás de la querella contra el ex ministro de Defensa israelí" [He was convicted of collaborating with ETA: Gonzalo Boye behind the lawsuit against former Israeli Defense Minister]. Libertad Digital Internacional. 2009-01-30. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
- ^ Emma Roig (1988-10-30). "La presión policial provocó la negociación más larga" [The police pressure caused the longest negotiation: The Government shall at all times keep the ransom money were to ETA]. Periódico El País. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
- ^ a b
"An ETA kidnap victim turns to art". Typically Spanish. 2008-03-24. Archived from the original on 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
All the work on show was produced in 1988, at a time when Revilla had never drawn or painted before – at least, not since his childhood – and 17 years later he was persuaded to exhibit them by the local Town Hall.
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Paul Delaney (1988-11-03). "Left in Spain Is in Disarray; So Is the Right". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
As if to rub it in, the kidnappers released Mr. Revilla Sunday within sight of his apartment. For months, the police conducted raids and roadblocks with no success.