730 Basque political prisoners. The number of Basque prisoners reaches one of the highest points in history.
730Thousands of Basques take part in the united Basque National day or Aberri Eguna.
Thousands of Basque youth take part in the Youth Encounter Gazte Topagunea.
Dozens of people took part in the annual mountain march organised by Eguzki, the Basque pro-independence environmental movement last Easter.
The Basque-Spanish police harassed and created great tension on Easter Saturday in the village of Ibarra where some events were organised to welcome home two local already former Basque political prisoners.
150 people attended the annual Irish Basque Good Friday Night at the Conway Mill in Belfast organised by the local branch of the Irish Basque Committees.
An ETA car bomb explosion destroys a police station.
The French police recovered a couple of home-made bombs near a golf resort in the northern Basque village of Ziburu
The pro-independence party Batasuna has urged Basque citizens to stop the fraud that the Basque Nationalist Party/PNV and the Spanish Labour Party/PSOE want to commit against Basque Country.
The Spanish Labour Party is getting ready to present a motion to censure pro independence mayors and council representatives.
Basque Spanish police attacks a rally in Eibar Gipuzkoa.
People in Zornotza demand the release of prisoner Legorburu and Etxezarreta.
"They want to give us death sentences. That is my fear, will I be able to face that." Said last week former political prisoners and currently on the run Fernando Etxegarai.
The anti repression group Askatasuna has denounced the case against Iban Apaolaza, imprisoned in Quebec.
Basque citizens don't feel that they live in a democracy.
One hundred people from the Basque town of Idiazabal have been touring Scotland in favour of self-determination during Easter.
Faced with the "trial" in the Spanish National Court.
Dear Friends,
The repression against the Basque people conducted by the Spanish State and in less degree by the French has been constant in recent years. It is easy to trace a continuous line in the preceding decades that can show us the persistence of torture, massive and arbitrary detentions, penitentiary policy of brutal consequences, halted associations and organizations, closing of news media, illegalisation of political parties and total discrimination of a sector of the population from the participation in public life. To sum up, a situation of exception that has generated a dangerous scenario of suppression of the most basic political and civil rights, a scenario that nowadays it is shown with total harshness.
Four years have gone by since the International Solidarity with Political Prisoners Conference was held in Donostia. Over there, individuals and organizations committed to the solidarity with political prisoners who suffer retaliation and against the repression, assumed the task to initiate mechanisms to improve our communication and the starting-up of common initiatives of reporting and strategies. For that purpose, the designation of April 17 as International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners was one of the measures that were issued and that, to this day, maintain all its significance and importance.
Today we are confronting in various places of our planet a persistence of governments of repressive measures that limit more and more the rights and freedoms of the population, an extension and justification of practices such as torture, isolation, and even the physical elimination of the political dissident. It is very clear a serious deterioration of the living conditions of people who suffer retaliation in different detention and penitentiary arrangements. This has also caused the wealth of criminalization each time more acute of the organizations that work to report the repression and show solidarity with the ones who suffer retaliation.
**ETA kills a former Spanish Labour Party councillor on the eve of the elections in the South of the Basque Country.
**On election day, despite no political representation, the pro-independence movement manages to keep its strength and say stop to the state of exception imposed by the Spanish state.
**And in the North of the Basque Country, the pro independence movement has increased its vote in a spectacular way.
**Police attack marches organised for International Women's Day.
**The two young Basques arrested by the Basque Spanish police last week are released without charges.
**The Association of European lawyers denounce the situation of Basque political prisoners.
The Basque Irish Committee have strongly condemned the arrests of 23 members of the political leadership of the Basque political party Batasuna. The 23 were arrested late on the night of Thursday the 4th of October.
Speaking today spokeperson for the committee David Kennedy said:
"What we have witnessed by the arrest of leading members of Batasuna is Spain's continued attack on democracy. With over 150,000 voters completely disregarded, Spain is the only country within the Europe to ban political parties and ignore the democratic vote.
"We have seen similar attempts in Ireland to criminalise citizens and those they elect and delegitimise serious political issues. It was counter productive in the search for peace in Ireland and only proved to slow the pace of change, not stop it.
"If anything can be learned from this it is that the jailing, and further arrests, of the leadership of Batasuna shows no commitment whatsoever by the Spanish Authorities towards the search for a lasting settlement to the Basque conflict, an attitude that must change.
"All of those arrested last night, along with Arnaldo Otegi, the party leader, should be released without delay and the Spanish authorities should commit fully to the search for a just and meaningful settlement to the continued conflict." ENDS
Note to Editor: There will be a protest to highlight the latest round of arrests in the Basque Country at 1pm, Saturday the 6th of October at the junction of the Falls Road and the Whiterock Road in Belfast and another protest will be hold in Cork on Tuesday and Dublin still need be confirmed.
The last supports have come from Sinn Fein, Socorro Rojo Internacional, Nòs Unidade Populare (Galiza), ABP (America), CCB (Coordinadora Continental Bolivariana)...
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.
Last tuesday Joseba Álvarez and Oihana Agirre were arrested by the spanish police in Donostia. (Today they have to declare with the spanish judge Baltasar Garzón).
Joseba is the responsible for the International Relations in Batasuna, and as soon as people knew he was arrested, We have been receiving lots of solidarity messages from different places.
Here you are the first list, and under one of those messages.
-PRD (México)
-Izquierda Castellana. (spanish state).
-PCE(r) (spanish state)
-Movimiento Patrótico Manuel Rodríguez-Chile.
-Manca pro s'Indipendentzia-Sardigna.
-IRS indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna.
-Emgann (Bretaina).
-Corsica Nazione Indipendente (Korsika)
-Anaram Au Patac (Okzitania)
-CARC-it (comitati di apoggio alla resistenza communista-italia).
-Odorici Marco, Partito Refundazione Comunista.
-Rete dei Comunisti.
-Tavini Huiratiraa (Tahiti).
-PKLS (Martinika).
-Martine Alcorta (Parti Communiste Français).
-Mouvement de Décolonisation et d'Emancipation Sociale (MDES)Guyanne/gwyian.
-Comitè Central del Partido Comunista (MLM) Bolivie.
-LIDLIP International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples
Here you are some thoughts from the Basque pro-independence left on the end of ETA's cease-fire.
We want to share with the basque society and with the international comunity.
If something has characterized the Eva Forest's life, is what has turned her on a symbol for all, both inside as outside the Basque Country, it has been, without a doubt her eternal and untiring fight in defence of the oppressed and against the exploiter. A consequent attitude followed until the last day of her long life that has placed her outside all the power spheres and the perks that emanate from it.
BATASUNA wishes, through this document, to forward to the International Community, the analysis that the Basque pro-independence left makes on the present situation of the democratic resolution process of the political conflict that faces in this case the Spanish State with the Basque Country
Before approaching the present conjuncture it is necessary to make a brief review of the passed year since the armed organization ETA declared the permanent cease-fire the 22 March 2006.
-The processed proudly kissed goodbye the 18/98 trials (15th March)
-The Basque pro-independence will presents its electoral proposal the 31st of March in the BEC (Basque Exhibition Centre) of Barakaldo (Bilbao) (18th March).
-Trial against Arnaldo Otegi in the Spanish national hearing (22 March)
-A year since ETA's permanent ceasefire Batasuna underlines that the resolution path is still possible (23rd March)
-A year of a cease-fire in numbers
The 11th of October, 60 people went to Bilbao answering to the calling Askatasuna and Askapena did, to denounce the journalist Sebastian Bedouret's and Basque Country's situation.
Sebastian was arrested on Saturday evening, when he was going to the meeting the movement for Amnesty wanted to make at San Sebastian. The movement for Amnesty was supposed to talk publicly about their proposal of how to make steps forward in the peace-process. The international observers were coming to support this proposition and Sebas was there when he was arrested.
Iñaki de Juana, on his 66th day on Hunger strike today, from the 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid, has issued a call to struggle for amnesty and recognition of the political conflict. Askatasuna published the letter Iñaki de Juana sent, which was to be read at the Amnesty Movement event at the Velodrome in Donostia last Saturday, which was banned by the Spanish National Court and attacked by the Basque regional Police. IÑAKI DE JUANA'S LETTER
Thousands of people gathered outside the Donostia-San Sebastian's Cycle-Track last Saturday as the Basque autonomous police blocked the entrance to the political event organised by the pro-amnesty movement.
Due to this prohibition, one more among the one hundred banned demonstrations on 2006, the pro-independence supporters started a rally with a banner at the front with the slogan "Democratic conditions for the Basque Country".
In the previous report, we referred to the various manoeuvres carried out in order to prevent Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana's release. His situation led him to go on a hunger strike for 63 days. On October 26, the trial against him took place in the Audiencia Nacional, a special Court in Madrid. The Basque prisoner was facing a Prosecution request of 96 years in jail for a crime of "threats" and another of "membership of an armed organisation" because of two articles he sent to the Basque daily, GARA.
On October 7 a large demonstration marched through the streets of Donostia to demand the rights of Basque political prisoners be upheld.
Specifically, the demonstration demanded:
* the right to be released for the approximately 160 prisoners who are
legally entitled to be released,
* the release of the 6 prisoners with serious incurable illnesses and
* the right of the prisoners to be repatriated to jails in the Basque Country
The demonstration, called by organisations from various sections of
society, which have come together under the name of the Ibaeta Forum and represent the majority of the Basque organised civil society, was aimed at supporting the prisoners' struggle for their rights, currently embodied in Iñaki de Juana's long hunger strike.
After this large demonstration, de Juana decided to give up his hunger
strike after 63 days. During this time he was force fed three times, but
now, although in a delicate condition, he is recovering at the 12 de
Octubre Hospital in Madrid.
However, on the 27th of this month, he was tried for publishing two
opinion articles in the Basque daily Gara, for which the prosecution is
requesting 96 years in prison, alleging that through these articles he
committed crimes of "issuing terrorist threats" and "membership of an
armed group". Therefore, we believe it is important to continue to follow
Iñaki's situation and especially, to maintain the pressure in view of this
trial, which is illegitimate and violates his most basic rights and in
view of the possibility of Iñaki being convicted, which would clearly be
unjust.
Here you have some reports aboat the basque prisoners's situation, and all Iñaki's letters and interviews:
Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana's hunger strike has been in the media in recent weeks. After 63 days on hunger strike demanding justice and attending the numerous requests he received and the mobilisation of Basque society, De Juana ended his protest. He began his hunger strike due to the attempt by the Spanish State Prosecution to get him sentenced to 96 years in jail for writing two press articles. This attempt was in line with the government policy of prevent Basque prisoners who have served their sentences being released, as the Justice Minister said "we shall build new charges against them".
Therefore, on the one hand, we should not lower our guard in regard to Iñaki de Juana's situation. The trail for these press articles will take place on October 27, at the Spanish Audiencia Nacional, a special court (the direct heir of the Francoist TOP) which deals with the political crimes of Basque activists.
Looking the new political situation created in Euskal Herria/Basque Country and taking in account mainly:
· the will to open an oficial contact line bettwen the basque organization ETA and the Spanish Government.
· The statement of Spanish President Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero committing to respect any decision taken by the basque people exclusively through democratic ways and legal procedures.
· The intense activity promoted by the basque political forces, trade unions and social movements.
This is a call to all groups and people in solidarity, to express their protest to Spanish consulates and embassies and to send their messages to the addresses of the following people, directly responsible for Iñaki de Juana Chaos' situation.
HELP SAVE IÑAKI'S LIFE!
José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero
Presidente del Gobierno Español
Palacio de la Moncloa,
Avda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n.
28071 Madrid (España) jlrzapatero@presidencia.gob.es Fax: 0034 913900217
Carlos Divar Blanco, Presidente Audiencia Nacional,
C/ García Gutiérrez, 1 28004 Madrid (España) Fax: 0034 913973381
Mercedes Gallizo Llamas, Directora General de Instituciones Penitenciarias,
C/ Alcalá, 38-40 28014. Madrid (España) Fax: 91 335 40 52
On August 7, Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos began a hunger strike to demand his right to be released. Iñaki de Juana should have been released on October 25, 2004, after serving his sentence in full and having spent 18 years in jail. However, the Magistrate at the First Penal Court of the Spanish Audiencia Nacional, Gómez Bermúdez, issued a decision dated October 22, attempting to contest the remission Iñaki was entitled to and to prevent his release.
In view of the impossibility to maintain this line of argument, the judge decreed his remand in custody for an alleged crime of membership of an armed group and terrorist threats.
The basis for the accusations were two opinion articles the prisoners sent to the daily Gara. It is impossible to find any rational basis in the articles to sustain such charges. Precisely, on June 14, 2006 the decision whereby Audiencia Nacional judge Santiago Pedraz rejected the charges was published. Judge Pedraz considered that, in the said articles, the prisoner expressed his support for the Basque National Liberation Movement -BNLM- which "is not comparable to ETA". He added that "this movement is not defined as a terrorist organisation" and therefore the crime of issuing terrorist threats was not proved.
