Stop Repression In the Basque Country

http://irishbasquecommittees.blogspot.com/
In the early hours of Tuesday 24 November 2009, 34 Basque pro-Independence political activists were arrested and 92 properties were searched in an operation involving 650 Spanish policemen. The police tried to arrest another seven youths but they werent in their homes.

Last week the anti-repression organization Askatasuna warned that they believed a police operation was imminent in the Basque Country. Then, in the early hours of Tuesday 24, 34 well known social, political and cultural young activists were arrested in what was the largest police operation in decades. They are being held incommunicado despite the recent recomendations of the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

All of them have been accused of being members of the national and county-level leadership of the pro-independence left-wing youth organization Segi which was banned in 2005.

Just ten days ago the Basque pro-Independence Left held a press conference where 110 prominent members launched new proposals to resolve the conflict. In a historical move they commited to a "peaceful and democratic political process" (full declaration in English: http://www.ezkerabertzalea.info/irakurri.php?id=2600). The declaration was welcomed by Basque nationalist and progressive forces and criminalized by the pro-Spanish parties and media.

On October 13 six prominent pro-Independence Left leaders, among them spokesperson Arnaldo Otegi, were arrested and imprisoned.

Most political parties and trade unions in the Basque Country have seen these arrests as a response to the new political initiative. The pro-Independence Left has said these attacks only confirm the Spanish state's weakness and its fear of politics. According to the pro-Independence Left it's in the political arena where the state is weakest and that's where the confrontation has to be moved to. At the same time the Spanish state, with these arrests and others which might follow, intends on the one hand to prevent any change of estrategy by the pro-Independence Left and, on the other, to weaken the engine of change.

After months of debates and events at local level a national day had been called for this coming Saturday in Zestoa to reorganise and strengthen the broad Basque youth movement. The arrests come to prevent this from happening. Other youth organizations have called for a response to the attack by taking part in that very important day.

Dozens of protests took place in towns, schools and universities across the country and more protests are expected to be organised in days to come.


The Irish Basque Solidarity Committees called to show support for the democratic process and to stop repression. Picket lines have been organised on Saturday 28th.
2.30pm Belfast (outside Cultúrlann)
12pm Dublin (GPO)
http://irishbasquecommittees.blogspot.com/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Euskal Herria
• Basque
• Spanish Repression
• Arrests

[stralsundpatriot]

Can you please tell me the name of this amazing song?

Freedom to all basques!!!

actually the way how spain is handling the "basque question" is reminding me of franco and his fascist scum.

[MrRIASTRAD]

the name of the song and artist is

MIKEL LABOA: Txoria-txori

a great basque singer!

[ramyar21]

long live Euskadi Ta Askatasuna

LONG LIVE BASQUE

BIJI BASQUE,

BIJI ETA

[OisinGD]

Gora SEGI!

[amunda90]

Errepresioari STOP!!! Euskal Herriak askatasuna eta bakea nahi du!!! Gora euskal herria askatua!!!

[killu19]

Freedom to Basque Country, coming from an American sharing the Basque race.

[ezdakitzejarri]

Gu sortu ginen enbor beretik, sortuko dira besteak! !!

Lepoan hartu ta segi aurrera!!!

[MrLello90roma]

EUSKAL HERRIA ASKATU

[federicogravina]

Rastas borrokas poneos a trabajar y dejad de ser la cuba del cantabrico que no pagais impuestos. Menos mal que Don Cosme Damian Churruca, Don Jose de Mazarredo, DOn Blas de Lezo, Vascos y Españoles hace 3 siglos un poquito antes que todos los niñatos analfabetos que escriben aqui no se levantan de la tumba y ven en los que se ha convertido las 3 provincias vascongadas como historicamente se han llamado.

[dublinbhoy1916]

FREE THE 34!!! GORA EUSKAL HERRIA !!!

support & solidarity from IRA-LAND

[jarbilbo]

Puta espana!!

Demokrazia orain!!

[HeroHoxha]

Unterstützt den Aufruf der Roten Hilfe International

BORROKA DA BIDE BAKARRA!

Der Kampf geht weiter!

SOZIALISMOA ETA INDEPENDENZIA!

Für Unabhängikeit und Sozialismus!

Solidarität mit unseren Genossinnen und Genossen der baskischen Jugendbewegung