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We always sang this song when we were taken to Regimiento Arica. That was a torture centre.

On our departure and return, the female prisoners who remained behind also sang the song. The lyrics were a collective effort, it was like our anthem. It was fun and we really liked it.

We had a kind of implicit code that prohibited us from crying or getting depressed during the day. At night, in our cells, we’d cry, but not during the day as there was always an older woman looking over you. We called the older women 'mum'.

My parents couldn’t come every time we were allowed visitors because they lived in Santiago. My friends would say, 'Cecilia, laugh at anything when you’re with your parents. Later, when they leave, ask the nun to open your cell and howl into your pillow, but as long as your parents are here, you have to act fine.' And that's what we all tried to do.

It was compulsory to go to mass. We smartened ourselves up to go, because, although we were behind bars in the church, in front of us were our families who had come to see us.

This prison had been a children's home before. It was run by the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. People always said that these were 'good' nuns. I don’t know if that’s the right word. It sticks in my throat that consecrated nuns should be able to accept female political prisoners.

'It's because they were forced to' was the reason they gave us. It was very unpleasant when I went into the bathroom and the nuns stood there looking at me. It felt like torture. It’s terrible to be in prison.

Once in a while, they would get excited when we sang and would sing along with us, but I can't lose sight of the fact that they could have refused to receive political prisoners.

Political prisoners in the Cárcel de Mujeres Buen Pastor, La Serena.