154 members of the Communist Revolutionary League were released from prison on bail on Thursday (25 November) after being held for 72 hours on charges f attending an illegal rally. The prisoners claimed that they had beaten up while in jail.

SYNOPSIS: It was alleged the communists attended a Trotskyites meeting in San Sebastian Monastery.

They were held in Matutene prison for three days.

Eventually they were released on bail after pressure on the authorise from their families and supporters. Police said the prisoners were all members of the ETA sixth assembly group. They say the group is made up of Trotskyites and is a splinter movement of the Basque guerrilla organisation ETA. Their release was marked by an emotional reunion with families and friends.

Many of the released men claimed they had been beaten while imprisoned. They showed newsmen bruises and injuries they say the guards inflicted on them.

Then representatives of Spanish communist and socialist groups held a joint news conference. Spokesman Ramon Zallo explained the mass arrest and outlined their aims for the 15 December referendum in Spain for political reforms calling for general elections before next June.

Senor Zallo said that despite the transitional period in Spain, Basome people still had no political freedom. He said they had no right of demonstration or of expression. He also said that Basques were subjected to intense repression by the Spanish government.