2007/X/05
Stop the repressions and criminalization in the Basque country!

Today, the Basque question poses the last unsolved violent conflict in Western Europe - a region, that prides oneself for its achievements in matters of democracy. A general lesson from history says: Look how a state deals with its minorities and you will make his character out. From his company with its minorities, you can read off which degree of justice, tolerance and humanitarianism a state does practice or in which degree it violates these fundamental human values. On this note, we understand the approach to the Basque question as indicator for real democracy and justice.

During the days passed, the validity of this sentence was demonstrated again: After the imprisonment of Joseba Alvarez, international representative of the Basque pro-idenpendence left, and Oihane Agirre, spokeswoman of Askatasuna, today we heard about new arrests. During a razzia yesterday evening, 22 activists from Batasuna got arrested.

On this way, the PSOE-government reveals its "solution" for the Basque question: According to this concept, there is no political question, but a "terrorism problem". Accordingly this problem cannot be solved on a political way, but with force. The Spanish state counts of "solving the question" by eliminate the other side of the conflict. The last wave of imprisonments, the illegalisation of Basque parties, organizations and associations, torture in the prisons, the ban of publications and the criminalization of all kinds of political protest reflect this concept. So Alvarez and Agirre are now faced with a sentence of 6 to 10 years just because of the participation of a solidarity action for the more than 600 political prisoners, whose existence is denied by Spain and France.

As the Association of Students from Kurdistan, we used the opportunity to get an idea of the situation in the Basque country and the Basque conflict on-site quite recently. We could see the repressions and state force with one's own eyes. We have seen how democratic values that adorn the walls of all European parliaments, are trampled under foot when it is a matter of the Basque question.

In our own country, we lost more than 30 thousand people in both sides during the last 225 years. The number of the deaths increases with every day. Because of the experiences in our own country, we call the Spanish government to give up its stance on the Basque conflict, which bases on repression and denial. Spain must cognize that a political conflict cannot be disposed by "the extirpation of resistance".
We want to express our solidarity with the Basque pro-idenpendence left and condemn the last examples of repression against the Basque movement. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners and call the Spanish and the French state to respect the Basque people's right of self-determination.

Association of Students from Kurdistan
05.10.2007