Mirabal sisters

( * February 27, 1924) The three sisters Patria, Minerva ( born March 12, 1926) and Maria Theresa (* October 15, 1935 ) Mirabal were Dominican opponents to the regime, which on 25 November 1960 is assassinated at the dictatorial regime of Rafael Trujillo were. The " Hermanas Mirabal " ( Mirabal sisters ) are in the Dominican Republic as a symbol of resistance against the dictatorship.

Life and assassination

The sisters came from the area of Santiago de los Caballeros. They belonged to a respected bourgeois family. Together with their husbands, they support the group Agrupación política 14 de junio (Movement of June 14 ), which planned the overthrow of the dictator Rafael Trujillo. Within the group the sisters as Las Mariposas ( The Butterflies ) were known.

After the failure of the uprising, some members of the family were imprisoned; but had to pressure from the U.S. and OAS - to be released again - along with other detainees. After Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa had visited on 25 November 1960 its still imprisoned men in jail in Puerto Plata, they were attacked at the behest of Trujillo on the way home from his minions in the mountains and strangled with her chauffeur. To cover up the murder, a car accident was faked, but the crime was uncovered.

Effect

Due to the assassination of opponents to the regime of Trujillo lost more sympathy in Germany and in the U.S. and other South American countries.

1981 November 25 was proclaimed at a meeting of Latin American and Caribbean feminists day of remembrance for victims of violence against women.

1999 November 25 was declared by the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The Salcedo province was officially renamed on 21 November 2007 by President Leonel Fernández in Hermanas Mirabal. The " Museo Hermanas Mirabal " is located at the last place of residence of the sisters, five kilometers east of Salcedo in conuco and is headed by Dede Mirabal ( born 1925 ), the only surviving of the four siblings. Her sisters are buried in the back of the museum grounds.

Literature and Film

In 1994 the novel En el tiempo de las mariposas ( The Time of the Butterflies ) by Julia Alvarez, who was by Mariano Barroso under the title In the Time of the Butterflies filmed 2001 ( The Time of the Butterflies ). In the leading roles are played by, among others, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos and Mía Maestro. 2008, the feature film of the director appeared Crimen Etzel Báez, and Del fondo de la noche by Javier Balaguer.

Was published in 2009, the documentary Code Name: Butterflies of Chilean filmmaker Cecilia Domeyko. In 2010 Trópico de Sangre was published by Juan Delancer that, especially dedicated by Minerva Mirabal of the life story of the sisters.