The Irish basque Comittee from Belfast makes a news-program on the radio every week. Here you are the last one, with news aboat:
-The mobilisation day called by ANV last saturday.
-Pernando Barrena Spokesperson for Batasuna, has said that the independentist movement is politically very strong.
-Alastair Lyon, English Lawyer of the Sheffield 3 is concerned that some facts point out to an unfair trial.
-The third anniversary of the Anoeta Proposal.
-Police repression.
-Informations on the political prisoners.
-Xabier Mina in Mexico, remembering basque fihgter for the independence of Mexico.
-ETA's armed actions.
-Amnesty International: Torture in the Basque Country.
Around 90 people attended the evening event of the Euskal Jaia held on the 21st of April, with around 50 attending the afternoon event on the same day. The Euskara language was very much in evidence throughout both events.
Ógra Shinn Féin sends solidarity greetings to Segi and the national executives of Jarrai-Haika-Segi involved in the 19/98 trial.
This Congress unreservedly rejects the decision by the Spanish National Court of this week, convicting the national executives of these youth organisations of membership of a so called 'terrorist-organisation'. The decision to jail the young people for periods of up to 6 years in undemocratic and unjust.
Ógra Shinn Féin is proud of the longstanding political friendship we have had and continue to have with Jarrai, Haika and Segi. We hope this friendship will continue.
Sinn Feins Director of European Affairs Eoin O Broin has today criticised the Spanish National Court over its decision to hand down 6 year sentences to the national executives of the Basque youth organisations Jarrai, Haika and Segi.
Mr O'Broin said:
'Todays decision by the Audencia Nacional is a disgrace. It highlights once again the undemocratic and politicised function which the court performs.
'Jarrai, Haika and Segi are legitimate expressions of Basque young people support for independence and socialism. I have worked with all three organisations, and know many of the individuals personally. The sentence is undemocratic, unjust and in breach of the most basic civil rights which any democracy should uphold.
'Once again the Audencia Nacional has exposed itself as a political tool with neither respect for international human rights or legal standards. Todays decision flys in the face of the principles of justice and the evidence of the case.
Sinn Fein will raise this matter with the Irish government and the Spanish embassy in Dublin.
The Irish Basque Committees heare organising protests in Cork and Belfast on Saturday and yesterday former 1981 hunger strikers Laurence McKeown and Jackie McMullan showed their support to Inaki De Juana and asked the Irish people to do the same. They are pictured on the right handside while David Kennedy from the Irish Basque Committees is on the left.
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY PROTEST WITH INAKI IN BELFAST.
On Saturday the 17th, members of the Irish Basque Committees organised two events in Dublin highlighting the plight of Basque hunger striker Iñaki De Juana Chaos.
Before the fast, a successful protest (organised by the Dublin Committee) was held at 12 o'clock outside the GPO where information leaflets were distributed for over an hour. Many passers-by stopped to ask questions and sign a petition asking the Spanish government to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiations to advance the peace process. Everyone in the vicinity was also entertained by the enthusiastic playing of a traditional Basque instrument, the Txalaparta.
