Askapena Basque Pro Independence Left in Scotland

Four young Basque people came to Scotland and spoke about their cause at a Glasgow public meeting on August 10th 2010. Just prior to this they had spent a weekend at a youth camp in Scotland called Camp Secret Squirrel an event organised by the SSY ( http://www.ssy.org.uk ) The Spanish authorities have jailed people for organising similar events in the Basque country, accusing them of plotting terrorism, when in fact it is just a social event for young people to discuss the very important social and political issues facing them and their society and of course, ideas, planning and organising take place, how to campaign democratically in the face of oppression. There is a very large movement that wants both true socialism and independence for the Basque Country. At this meeting organised by the SSP, all four guests take it in turns to speak and Jack Ferguson from the SSY also speaks in another video. The geography and the language of the Basque Country and the identity of the Basque people is explained. The Basque language is a major feature of their identity. Then they talk about the treatment they receive at the hands of the Spanish government, including police brutality at demonstrations, imprisonment for the slightest pro-independence activism including publishing in Basque and the showing in public of photographs of imprisoned campaigners. There is also a policy of placing people in prisons as far away as possible to make it extremely difficult for families to visit their loved ones. There is four times the recommended UN rate of policing in the Basque Country. It is, for the Basque people, effectively a military occupied zone. In the 80's death squads assassinated activists. Then came the jailing and ill-treatment of activists, and finally a policy of banning one organisation after another including democratically supported political parties who have nothing to do with ETA. Anyone who wants independence is treated like a potential terrorist despite the fact that there is a new wave of young people who prefer solely democratic and peaceful methods to attain independence. In addition, just recently, ETA announced a ceasefire but the Spanish government still refuse to dialogue with them or any other pro-independence organisation. Batasuna, a pro-independence party was banned last year and there is a chance that Askapena could be next on the list. Last year a United Nations special reporter commented regarding human rights violations in the treatment of political prisoners by the government that "in Spain there exist institutions that have no place in a democracy." The British government also assists the Spanish government in its repression. The Basque visitors had some of their materials seized by the British government upon arrival. Luckily they did not confiscate one Basque flag which can be seen in this video! For more information about Askapena visit http://www.askapena.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Askapena
• Euskal Herria
• autodeterminazio
• Basque
• pro-independence
• Left
• in
• Scotland
• Euskal
• independentzia
• separatists
• self-determination
• Glasgow
• public
• meeting
• Eskozian
• Espainian
• Pàrtaidh
• Sòisealach
• na
• h-Alba

[sebeasy]

@QUEENAHIDEKINGFISHER the basque flag is much older than the Union Jack, knuckle head.

[ivonotei]

@SouthernWhiteMan , you're ignorant

[alargedog]

eguna helduko da

[glasgow1234]

INDEPENDENCE for the people of Scotland and Basque Country ! ! !

From Scotland !

[xecera]

freedom from basque people. greetings from georgia ( caucasus )

[GundisalusMenendiz]

greenmagoos is not an Irishman, he's an impostor. don't anyone fall for his bullshit!

[HunterofDolts]

Iberian people are Celt-Iberians and Basques are just that: Basques. And the Italian peepz of the retarded and anti-white Italo-New Yorker clumsily pretending to be a "redneck" below this post are Egypto-Syrio-Palestinian-Anato­lian-Jewish-Moors, whether "Padanians" or "Terronis" or what have you.

[SouthernWhiteMan]

Iberian people whether Basque or not are Moors!

[UrmiyeKurd]

Just give them their independence for gods sake. Gora Euskal Herria askatuta!