SolidaritetPosted by Baskiskafolket 2010-02-23 20:25:50Day against tortureOn the 13^th of February 1981 ETA member Joxe Arregi died at the hands of the Spanish police after subjecting him to nine days of brutal tortures. Since then the 13^th of February has become better know in the Basque Country as the Day Against Toture.
Last Saturday dozens of events were organised across the Basque Country to remember Joxe Arregi, to show solidarity with those who have suffered torture and to denounce publicly that torture is systematically used by the Spanish police against Basque political deteinees.
Hunger strike endsAfter 39 days on hunger strike Basque political prisoner Lorentxa Gimon was transfered to another French jail where she will share block with other comrades. She ended her protest after an agreement was reached with the jail’s principal.
Basque political prisoner Juan Carlos Arruti, in jail since 1989, saw last Hjek her sentence extended to an extra 10 years. This is due to the new measures that have been imposed by the Spanish authorities on Basque prisoners over the past two years. Despite protests against this judiciary decisions because they go against the Spanish Constitution Basque prisoners are suffering this crudel vengeance policy which in practice means life sentence.
ArrestsSeven people were arrested in several different police operations during the last week in the Basque Country and Catalonia. All of them have been acussed of being members of ETA. Two of them had to be taken to hospital and all of them have reported being badly tortured by the police.
Successful International Week of Solidarity with the Basque CountryDozens of public meetings, protests, gigs, dinners...took place in Europe and Latin America for the third year organised by the Friends of the Basque Country network.
The events organised in 18 countries proved that the Basque Country is not alone and that more and more people are aware of the struggle for self-determination and social change there.
The organisers highlighted the importance of breaking the wall of silence imposed on the Basque Country by the French and Spanish states and congratulated everybody for the success and increased of activities and countries comparing to past editions.
In Ireland picket lines were organised in Dublin and Belfast with 100 people in attendance. Another 200 took part in the evening dinner and social events.
NyheternaPosted by Baskiskafolket 2010-02-23 19:45:42
European MP's have called for the acquittal of Egunkaria Five
Twenty five members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have condemned in Strasbourg (France) the Egunkaria case, by signing a statement in favour of the daily. They have called for the acquittal of the five former members of Egunkaria´s Board of Directors –as they think that this is the only fair verdict possible–, the dropping of the financial court case and compensation of all the damage inflicted on all the defendants. In 2005, 22 MEPs called for the suspension of the closing down of the Egunkaria daily and requested that the rights of freedom of speech and information be respected.
The MEPs that signed the statement are representatives of four political groups: the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the Group of the Greens-European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA), the Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) and the Group of the European People’s Party. Some of them took part in a press conference today, together with Martxelo Otamendi, the former Editor-in -Chief of Egunkaria and one of the defendants. The following MEPs attended the conference: Izaskun Bilbao (ALDE), Ramon Tremosa (ALDE), Oriol Junqueras (Greens-EFA), François Alfonsi (Greens-EFA), Catherine Greze (Greens-EFA) and Raul Romeva (Greens-EFA). About 15 journalists attended the conference.
“The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”, they claimed in the statement. They also mentioned the torture claims made by some of the defendants. “We have to emphasize the report written in March 2004 by Theo van Boven, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. After visiting Spain to monitor the human rights situation in that country, he concluded that the torture claims made by the defendants in the Egunkaria case were consistent, and requested the Spanish Government to take measures to prevent torture”.
- Strong criticism of the Spanish State
The MEP Izaskun Bilbao (Basque Nationalist Party) said that the Egunkaria case is “baseless” and added that the honour of the defendants should be restored. “This case should never have happened”. Tremosa claimed that the closing down was a “violation of rights” and pointed out that the State that currently runs the European Union presidency [Spain] is one that closes down daily newspapers. “We must react strongly against it”, he said. The MEP Oriol Junqueras pointed out that the acquittal of the defendants is the only solution, as did the other MEPs. “The whole Spanish political class knows that the closing down of Egunkaria was undemocratic, but neither the Popular Party nor the Socialist Party have had the courage to condemn this offence which they backed at that time. It is shameful to close down a newspaper basing the decision on inconsistent accusations”.
Alfonsi criticized the position of the Spanish state. According to him, Spain has a problem with democracy: “It systematically violates the freedom of speech of the Basque people”. He cited the Law of Political Parties and the closing down of Egunkaria as examples of that.
Romeva gave Otamendi and the other defendants his full backing and asked the European Union to display “clearer coherence” on the defence of the rights. “It condemns offences that take place abroad, but it should take more notice of the situation inside the European Union”.
Otamendi briefly explained the case to the media: what Egunkaria was, what happened during the closing down, the torture complaints of many of the defendants, the support received from the Basque Country and many other countries; he said that acquittal is the only acceptable verdict for the defendants and that after that, they will ask for justice.
The trial in the closing down case of Egunkaria finished last 1 February and the defendants are waiting for the verdict. The Defence Counsel and the Public Prosecutor have called for their acquittal, but the Private Prosecution represented by the Association of Victims of Terrorism and Dignity and Justice has requested penalties of 12-14 years of prison.
- Many initiatives of support
When the trial in the Egunkaria process began, on December 15 2009, three members of the Greens-EFA group expressed their support of the defendants in a press statement: François Alfonsi, Catherine Grèze and José Bové. They stated that the Egunkaria case was “an insult to the Basque people and their culture”. Besides, they showed their full backing of the defendants.
On the other hand, on 18 January 2010, the MEP Izaskun Bilbao gave a minute-long speech in the European Parliament. She reminded the closing down of the daily, and the torture complaints; she pointed out that the Public Prosecutor had called for the case to be dropped and condemned the fact that the trial had started almost seven years after the closing down. She said that this case shows that serious mistakes are committed in Europe.
NyheternaPosted by Baskiskafolket 2010-02-19 19:46:50
February 17th 10
Adams welcomes Political Developments in Basque Country
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has welcomed the outcome of the weekend
conference of the Abertzale Left Regional Assemblies (including Batasuna)
which agreed a new political strategy for progress.
The Resolution, ‘Standing up for Euskal Herria’ commits Abertzale Left
to using ‘exclusively political and democratic means’ to advance its
political objectives.
It seeks to advance political change “in a complete absence of violence
and without interference’ and ‘conducted in accordance with the
Mitchell Principles.’
And its political goal is achieve a “stable and lasting peace in the
Basque country.”
Mr. Adams said:
“This is an important development which creates an opportunity for an
end to conflict in the Basque country and for real political progress.
I understand that the internal debate among Basque militants that has
taken place over recent months has involved up to 7,000 activists. This is
a remarkable achievement.
Other recent developments have indicated a determination on the part of
Abertzale Left to resolve the conflict and to pursue national and
democratic rights through peaceful and democratic methods.
The political conclusions to emerge out of the weekend conference are an
even more important and significant development.
I congratulate all involved.
The next steps are crucially important in terms of the strategies
Abertzale Left develop and the response of the Spanish State.
I would urge everyone, but particularly the Spanish government, to examine
closely the language, strategy and direction now being taken by Abertzale
Left.
There is a real opportunity for peace emerging and for a fundamental
change in the relationship between the Basque country and the Spanish
state. There is an onus on everyone to grasp this in good faith and to
make every effort to bring an end to conflict in that region.
NyheternaPosted by Baskiskafolket 2010-02-17 20:19:28PRESS RELEASE
Abertzale Left Regional Assemblies gathered this weekend have put an end
to the debate "Clarifying the Political Phase and Strategy". More than six
hundred representatives of more than two hundred and seventy local
Assemblies concluded the debate and defined and decided the strategy to be
developed in the future ratifying the Resolution "Stand Up Euskal
Herria". Those are the main contents of the resolution:
1. - The political phase Basque Country is facing is the phase of
political change. This change has to be made through the Democratic
Process. Once the conditions for the change have been achieved, it is time
to realise it. The objective of this phase is to reach a democratic
scenario where all political projects can be not only defended with equal
opportunities but also implemented. The objective is to reach a stable and
lasting peace in the Basque Country. Materializing this change also
requires that we change ourselves.
2.- For the Abertzale Left there is a real opportunity for the desired
real political change. The opportunity to overcome the current cycle and
open a new democratic one is there. The challenge is to pass the door
opened after decades of struggle and tireless work and to do the change.
There are enough political and social conditions to do it.
3.- The Abertzale Left reaffirms its commitment to use exclusively
political and democratic means. Those means make possible the necessary
masses mobilization and unity of action of the democratic and progressive
forces of the country to open the process and to develop it. Those are
the guarantee and leading forces of the process. This democratic process
must be developed in a complete absence of violence and without
interference. Dialogue and negotiation among the political forces should
be governed by the principles of Senator Mitchell.
4.- An increasing accumulation of forces through exclusively mass,
institutional and ideological struggle is the basis to move the State to
the field of the democratic and free confrontation of ideas and political
projects and to achieve a scenario where the Basque people freely,
peacefully and democratically will be able to decide about their future.
We call Basque people and all progressive, democrat and popular forces,
maintaining each one its own history, identity and being, to unite forces
to make this process irreversible. We call international community to
accompany this process.
We are sure that through common work and masses struggle next months will
bring us new scenarios and developments making this process irreversible.
Basque Country
February 2010
SolidaritetPosted by Baskiskafolket 2010-02-17 20:07:56
Thousands of friends on the road to freedom and socialism
Waiting for the initiatives to be undertaken in Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Turin ..., the week of solidarity with Euskal Herria takes a breather after leaving more than 80 initiatives and the participation of thousands of people in 18 countries.
Askapena sends an embrace of solidarity and struggle to all persons, organizations, community centers, and specially to the solidarity committees included within 'Euskal Herriaren Lagunak'. For the fourth consecutive year, once again the network of friends of Euskal Herria is growing in numbers, in countries and initiatives. Despite the propaganda and disinformation apparatus of the States, the reality is that the struggle of this people to achieve freedom and the advance of socialism is not isolated, and it has a network of friends which every year is wider.
photo gallery
Three years ago the 're-boost' of solidarity towards Euskal Herria started through the birth of 'Euskal Herriaren Lagunak'. At that time, as well as now, there were many many friends of Euskal Herria, but few of them were working structurally, just 5 or 6 groups. Today, we have over thirty groups working in solidarity with our people.
These groups work in solidarity with Euskal Herria throughout the year, denouncing the violations of civil and political rights in our land, and the ilegalization and closures of political parties, social organizations and Basque media; the torture, the disappearance of Jon Anza, the violations of rights in Spanish and French prisons. They also show the more hidden face of our struggle: the (re)construction of a people, the struggle for the recovery of the language, for “ama-lurra” (mother earth), the struggles of social movements and, of course, the political moment in Euskal Herria and the commitment to the democratic process.
This year more countries have joined the solidarity with Euskal Herria: Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. Besides, in most of the 'old friends' there has been more activities than ever.
It is worth noting the three thematic mini-tours: the first one, about the case of the Basque newspaper Egunkaria in Ireland; the second, the European premiere of the film 'Itsasoaren Praise' in over a dozen cities (accompanied by its director Iosu Martinez andby Txema Uriarte form IPES-GITE), and the last one, the thematic against repression that has brought lawyers, relatives, former political prisoners and people working in the pro-amnesty movement to tens of European countries.
Besides, the music and culture of our people (and friendly nations) have been present in various initiatives: the Basque groups Berri Txarrak and Skatu have been touring in Italy and Slovenia, and in Switzerland. In Ireland, Paris and London it was other peoples music that have playing in solidarity with Euskal Herria.
A brief summary of activities:
• In Ireland, there have been 9 initiatives (rallies, lectures, dinners, music ...), and a total of 430 people mobilized with the participation of organizations and individuals who are a reference for the republican movement. In Belfast, a mural for the amnesty for the Basque prisoners was also made.
• In Scotland ,3 initiatives were undertaken and information was delivered, once during the game of The 6 Nations Tournament between Scotland and France.
• The German tour has been more numerous in events in its second year of participation in the Week of Solidarity, a total of 8 initiatives attended by 260 people, most of them belonging to the German left, but also from other peoples as Kurdistan and Latin America.
• In Switzerland, there have been more than 500 people attending 11 initiatives, including talks on repression, rallies before the Spanish embassy, dinners and 3 concerts of Txarrak Berri.
• In Norway, there have been a talk with the presence of a representative of the nationalist left, and two companions belonging to the organization pro-amnesty and Etxerat.The film 'Itsasoaren alaba' was also screened, and the Klassekampen newspaper conducted an interview with representatives Basques.
• In Denmark, there were two talks, with representative people from Etxerat and the pro-amnisty-movement.
• In Valladolid, over 120 people attended two talks (one from the youth movement, another from Askapena), and watched the film 'Itsasoaren alaba'.
• In London, one of two planned activities has been already made, with a screening of 'Itsasoaren alaba'; the second activity will take place this week. In Slovenia, there was a concert by the Basque group Skatu. In Paris, there was a dinner attended by 100 people, including representatives of the Corsican movement, as well as from New Caledonia, and a radio interview on the Paris popular radio "Fréquence Paris plurielle.
• Also in Mexico City there was a dinner after the screening of the documentary "Euskal memory."
• In Venezuela, hundreds of people took part in a tribute on the statue of Simon Bolivar, and in a popular 'marmitako'. Information was also distributed and the newspaper of the newly formed 'Internationalist Solidarity Collective Pakito Arriaran'. The Coordinadora Simon Bolivar and the Movimiento Continental Bolivariano attended the events.
• In Uruguay there is a long tradition of solidarity with Euskal Herria, but 2 months ago EHLagunak-Uruguay was established. They chose the week for their presentation, and also organized a signature campaign on a manifesto to promote a democratic process in Euskal Herria. Different people of the Uruguayan left and in solidarity with Euskal Herria took part in the event, like our grandmother in Uruguay, Norma Morroni.
• In Argentina, two events have been organized. In Mar del Plata the group ' Jóvenes al frente' brought their special radio program on Euskal Herria in the street, as they did last year; in Buenos Aires, took place an 'historical' talk attended by 'Negro' Soares, Atilio Boron and Carlos Aznárez, as well as many people from the broad left in Argentina.
• Italy deserves a special mention. They have done an excellent work, which is simply the result of their work done for the week, but especially throughout the year. More than a dozen of solidarity groups have organized more than thirty of initiatives from north to south of Italy. Talks with Etxerat, the pro-amnesty movement, IPES-GITE, the film 'Itsasoaren alaba', dinners, concerts, youth movement ...And the next February 20, the large demonstration of Milan will take place, this year organized by all the Italian solidarity groups with other solidarity groups with the Kurdish cause, the Palestinian one, and groups from Latin American peoples. As last year, hundreds of people are expected to attend the demonstration (about 1500 last year).
We would like also to recall that more initiatives are announced this week in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Italy ...So far we have come close to 4000 participants ... and rising!
