Sunday, September 29, 2002

Altube


Altube Posted by Hello
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Saturday, September 21, 2002

Blessed Land

This nice article about Euskal Herria comes to us via The Guardian:

Basque glories

The San Sebastian Film Festival runs until next Sunday. Andrew Wilson undertakes a mini-tour of the region

Andrew Wilson
The Guardian,
Saturday September 21 2002

I was standing on a street corner in the old part of San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque country, when I caught the eye of a Catweazle lookalike. Dressed in loosely fitting, tie-dyed clothes and sporting an excessively long beard, he started to shout as he made his way towards me. Trying to diffuse a potentially threatening situation, I smiled at him and said, "Hola". Yet as soon as I had uttered the word I knew I had said the wrong thing. "Kaixo!" he barked back at me, Euskera for "Hello".

Although I had read in a guidebook that an "x" is supposed to sound something akin to "sh", the word seemed almost impossible to pronounce, but after a few attempts I must have managed to mutter something approaching an approximation, as he suddenly smiled, seized my hand and moved on.

The experience illustrates the importance of language to the region, the knuckle of green countryside and wide sandy beaches ranged around the Bay of Biscay. During Franco's 40-year rule, the fascist leader not only exiled and executed thousands of Basques, but he also outlawed the speaking of Euskera, one of the world's oldest languages.

The opening of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in 1997 has resulted in a new influx of travellers to the area, but many confine their visit to the grim, post-industrial city with its shiny new symbol. As a result, they miss out on the many delights of Euskadi, its stunning landscapes, fairytale seaside resorts and its delicious cuisine.

A good view of Frank Gehry's iconic building can be had from Puente De La Salve and, if you have the energy, you can follow the river Nervion from here until you reach the old town, crossing the Puente Del Arenal into the graceful El Arenal and exploring the tangle of streets known as the Casco Viejo. A good coffee stop is the art-nouveau Cafe Boulevard at Arenal 3.

The elegant Plaza Nueva is home to many of the city's best tapas, or pinchos, bars. Local specialities include bacalão pil-pil (cod with an olive oil and garlic sauce, named after the gentle movement of the pan on and off the heat), calamares con cebolla (squid with onion), cogote de merluza (neck of hake), percebes (barnacles) and txangurro (spider crab). A good accompaniment is txakoli, a crisp dry wine costing around €6 a bottle.

San Sebastian, or Donostia as the Basques call it, is a short drive east from Bilbao on the A8. Just before arriving, it's worth taking a slight diversion to Hernani, home to the inspirational Chillida Museum - a collection of work by the recently deceased Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida.

Made famous by the Spanish royal family, who came to take the waters during the second half of the 19th century, San Sebastian takes you back to the elegance of the belle epoque. From Monte Urgull, there is a spectacular view of the glorious Playa de la Concha and its wedding-cake cafes and hotels.

In the harbour, in front of the aquarium - whose restaurant serves a good three-course lunch for around €30 a head including wine - you can see grown men throwing themselves into the green-blue sea with all the zeal of young boys. As I watched a group of children learning to sail in the bay, the liquid gold light dancing across on the ocean, I heard a gasp of delight from a group of French tourists nearby. I followed the direction of their gaze and saw a dolphin leaping from the water, covering the apprentice sailors with sea spray. Pakito the dolphin arrived in San Sebastian two or three years ago; apparently he liked it so much that he decided to stay. It's not hard to understand why.

In the evening, the Alameda Del Boulevard buzzes, seemingly dedicated to parade and pleasure. If you want to escape the crowds, take one of the streets off the boulevard into the Parte Vieja, the oldest section of the town, and step inside Santa Maria del Coro. This 18th-century church on Via Coro is topped by a writhing statue of San Sebastian; inside its shadowy interior, look out for the alabaster sculpture by Chillida.

The Parte Vieja also houses some of the town's best pinchos bars. Start an evening of txikiteo - an upmarket, Basque version of a pub crawl, stopping off every now and then for a mouthful to eat - a few minutes' walk from Santa Maria at Ormazabel on Calle 31 de Agosto, whose counter displays a lavish selection of treats for €4-6 each.

Another good one is Martinez, on the same street, which specialises in courgettes stuffed with crabmeat. If you want red wine, ask for crianza , which usually costs no more than €1.5 a glass.

Before returning to Bilbao, it's worth driving south-west to Vitoria (Gasteiz), the capital of Euskadi and home to the new contemporary art museum, Artium with a fine permanent collection of Picassos, Dalís and Mirós.

Although by the end of my short visit, I had not mastered even the basics of Euskera - after all, Basque is known as the language that defeated the devil himself - I was left with a desire to return. I was keen to witness a game of mus - the Basque card game that incorporates a series of facial ticks and cheating devices into its play - and wangle an invitation from one of the txokos , gastronomic clubs that only admit male members. "Everyone who has visited the Basque country longs to return," said Victor Hugo. "It is a blessed land."


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Tuesday, September 17, 2002

Yahoo and Basque Pictures

Amazingly enough, the media is now acknowledging the Basques, they presented a series of four pictures at Yahoo News that were published yesterday, if you follow the link, you will also see some pictures about the last pacific demonstration in Bilbo that was organized by artists and intellectuals and had the permission of the Basque Government until the soon to be Peace Nobel Prize decided that not, that it had been organized by ETA, so he ordered the Lehendakari Ibarretxe to send the police against tens of thousands of people exercizing their right to express their opinions and of gathering.

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Tuesday, September 10, 2002

Marching for Self Determination

No matter to which lawless depths Madrid wants to descend on its virulent campaign in Euskal Herria, the Basque society will demonstrate again and again its will to be free and sovereign.

This article was published at The New York Times:

Basque March Reflects Gains In Anti-Madrid Separatism

By EMMA DALY
Published: September 9, 2002

About 3,000 Basque nationalists marched through the sunlit center of San Sebastián today shouting pro-independence slogans, allowed to proceed by the Basque regional police despite an official ban on the demonstration.

The decision, fiercely criticized by national officials in Madrid, illustrates the difficulty of enforcing the Spanish government's policy of outlawing the separatist movement, which it says forms an integral part of the militant group E.T.A.

Opposition to the policy, including a ban on Batasuna, a political party linked to the E.T.A., is growing among Basque nationalists, even those strongly opposed to E.T.A.'s violent tactics.

''For Freedom,'' read the banner at a silent protest in Guernica -- Gernika to the Basques -- which was held on Saturday by Batasuna's political rival, Eusko Alkartasuna, a member of the coalition running the Basque government. The party shares Batasuna's aim of an independent Basque country, but not its tactics.

Recent measures that Basques across the political spectrum consider threatening include a Spanish judge's suspension of all Batasuna activities for three years. The governing Popular Party, backed by most of Congress, has asked the Supreme Court to outlaw the party.

''Emotions are running very high, the tension is very noticeable,'' said José María Larrañaga, of the nationalist labor union known by its initials, E.L.A. ''We see this as a kind of coup d'état against the Basques. I don't agree with E.T.A., but I also don't agree with banning Batasuna; that is going to create a lot of problems.''

In San Sebastián, masked riot police officers in black jumpsuits stood waiting near the city's scenic waterfront, packed with revelers and tourists attending the annual rowing regatta. As the demonstration, called in support of Basque prisoners, set off behind a banner declaring, ''The Basque Country Needs Freedom,'' the police moved to block the street.

''It's a disgrace, a shame what those police are doing,'' said a well-dressed, middle-aged woman walking past.

But the police, after taking the names of those leading the march, allowed the protest to move on surrounded by traffic on a main, tree-lined avenue.

''They only let us go because there are too many people, and on a day like this, banning the march could cause major trouble,'' said Leire, who would not give her full name. She said she had been imprisoned for 10 years because, she said, ''I was a militant separatist -- I still am.''

As the rally ended, the protesters raised their left fists and sang the Basque nationalist anthem. A few even shouted, ''Long live military E.T.A.!''

Leopoldo Barreda, spokesman in the Basque country for the Popular Party, accused the Basque government of negligence in allowing the march to proceed. ''There must be some kind of political responsibility -- someone must have given the relevant instructions and someone will have to explain why those responsible for maintaining order in the Basque Country proved incapable of stopping the terrorists' friends from marching through the streets of San Sebastián,'' he said.

One of those marching, Joseba Álvarez, is a member of the Basque parliament for Batasuna, but under the judicial order suspending the party's activities, he is barred from speaking in Batasuna's name, from holding meetings or rallies or from taking part in politics as a member of the party.

Despite all this, he said separatists would continue to organize. ''The Basque people engaged in political activities during Franco's time, when there was no legal infrastructure,'' he said. ''If Madrid takes away our basic rights, we will find other ways to continue the struggle for independence.''

''If you close down all democratic, political routes, it will feed the violence,'' he warned.

Despite concern that the protest today -- and another illegal gathering on Saturday evening in Bilbao -- would provoke clashes between militant youths and the police, the narrow streets of the historic center here were peaceful, albeit packed with partygoers.

But next weekend yet another demonstration has been called for Bilbao, that one a silent protest. Those seeking permission for the gathering -- a prominent Basque poet, a journalist, former members of the Basque parliament and others who say they represent no group -- hope that such an innocuous gathering will not be banned.

The Spanish government is determined, with the backing of the opposition Socialist Party, to crush E.T.A. and its supporters. But Batasuna won 150,000 votes in regional elections in May 2001, and it is the second-largest Basque political group.

''Fifteen percent of the Basque electorate will not have political representation in the next regional election,'' said Mr. Álvarez, adding that any successor party to Batasuna would also be outlawed under legislation approved this year.

The national government presented more than 1,000 pieces of evidence to the Supreme Court that it contended tied Batasuna to E.T.A., but even if the case is proven and the party outlawed, Batasuna supporters and other nationalists say they will remain loyal to the cause.

''We're going to keep on until we win freedom for the Basque country,'' said Elvira Matía, 93, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War who was attending the Guernica rally to protest the banning of Batasuna. ''We have been fighting for 90 years. We're not going to stop now.''


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Guernica Returned

This note was taken from The History Channel site:

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GUERNICA RETURNED TO SPAIN:

On September 10, 1981, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso's monumental anti-war mural Guernica is received by Spain after four decades of refugee existence. One of Picasso's most important works, the painting was inspired by the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica by the Nazi air force during the Spanish Civil War. In 1939, Picasso gave the painting to New York's Museum of Modern Art on an extended loan and decreed that it not be returned toSpain until democratic liberties were restored in the country. Its eventual return to Spain in 1981--eight years after Picasso's death--was celebrated as a moral endorsement of Spain's young democracy.

Early in the Spanish civil war, Spain's leftist Republican government commissioned Picasso to paint a mural for the 1937 Paris International Exposition. Working in Paris, Picasso read in horror of the April 1937 German bombing of Gernika, a Basque town that had sided with the Republicans against General Francisco Franco's right-wing Nationalist forces. Gernika was well behind the battle lines, but Franco authorized the attack as a means of intimidating his foes in the region. The attack was later admitted to be an experiment by the German Luftwaffe in carpet bombing--air raids that targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. More than 1,000 residents of Gernika were killed in the three-hour attack.

Outraged by the brutality of the act, Picasso seized on the bombing as the subject of his mural, which he completed in just three weeks. The enormous painting, which measures 11.5 feet by 25.5 feet, is a savage indictment of man's inhumanity to man. Painted in desolate tones of black, white,and gray, the painting shows a gored horse, a screaming mother holding a dead child, a bewildered bull, and other nightmarish images that effectively evoke the horror of war.

Guernica was exhibited in the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris International Exposition and in 1939 was sent to New York on a tour for the benefit of the Spanish Refugee Committee. When World War II broke out later that year, Picasso requested that Guernica and a number of his other works be held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on extended loan. After the war, most of these works were returned to Europe, but Picasso asked that Guernica and its preliminary studies be kept by MoMA until the "reestablishment of public liberties" in Spain. The painting was occasionally lent to European museums at the request of Picasso.

Francisco Franco ruled over Spain as dictator for the rest of Picasso's life, and the artist never returned to his native country. In 1967, Franco restored some liberties, and in 1968 his government made an effort to recover Guernica. Picasso refused, clarifying that the painting would not be returned until democracy was reestablished. In 1973, Picasso died in France at the age of 91. Two years later, Franco died and was succeeded as Spanish leader by King Juan Carlos I, who immediately began a transfer to democracy. Spain then called for the return of Guernica, but opposition by Picasso heirs who questioned Spain's democratic credentials delayed its transfer until 1981. Finally, Picasso's former lawyer gave his ascent to the transfer.
On September 10, 1981, Guernica arrived in Madrid under heavy guard. The painting was to be housed in a new annex of the Prado Museum, only two blocks from the Spanish parliament, which had been the scene of an abortive military coup in February 1981. King Juan Carlos defused the revolt by convincing military commanders to remain loyal to Spain's democratic constitution.

On October 25--the 100th anniversary of Picasso's birth--Guernica went on exhibit to the public behind a thick layer of bullet-proof glass. Picasso's preparatory sketches for the painting, likewise protected behind thick glass, were housed in adjacent rooms. The threat of terrorism against the highly politicized work required high security, and visitors passed through a metal detector to view the paintings. Because the painting had been damaged in its years of travel, curators at the Prado said it was unlikely that Guernica would ever go on tour again.

A number of groups in Spain, particularly Basque nationalists, objected strongly to Guernica's permanent exhibition in Madrid. Complaints escalated after the painting was relocated to the new Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid in 1992. Since the 1997 opening of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museo, Basque nationalists have been calling for its transfer there.

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For those of you who care about what happen to other people.

The "Guernica" commemorates a crime committed against the Basques by the Fascists and Nazis, to return it to Spain is preposterous, is like giving something that belongs to a victim to the person that committed the crime against that person, many other examples come to my mind but I do not want to sound bitter.

The "Guernica" belongs in Euskadi.


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Sunday, September 08, 2002

Classica

The Daily Peloton has published a very complete article about the Classica San Sebastian, a cycling race in Euskal Herria:

Classica San Sebastian

By Podofdonny
Date: 8/9/2002

With his win in Hamburg last Sunday Belgian Johan Museeuw seems to be in the World Cup saddle more and more stronger. Tomorrow he will start in the Spanish city of San Sebastian together with 183 compratiots in 23 teams for the next leg of the world cup cyclus, the Clasica San Sebastian. The 227 kilometres will take the racers direction south over some climbs of second and third category. The major difficulty awaits them at 119 k. with the infamous Jaizkibel, which will take them to 476 metres above sealevel. A quick overview on scenery and main contenders.

The Scenery

Distances: 20 km to the French border (Hendaia/Hendaye in Lapurdi province), 75 km to Pamplona, 100 km to Bilbao, 465 km to Madrid, 780 km to Paris.

Names: It is called officially Donostia-San Sebastián, in Basque is called Donostia, and in Spanish San Sebastián. Although many people called it just Donosti, even using Spanish.

The Basques are the oldest ethnic group in Europe. Their language (Euskara or Euskera) is a prelatin language. The Basque Country, called Euskal Herria or Euskadi in Basque language or País Vasco in Spanish, that belongs to Spain refers uniquely to three provinces (Gipuzkoa or Guipúzcoa, Bizkaia or Vizcaya and Araba or Álava), but there is also forth province: Nafarroa or Navarra, that specially in the north, has a very strong Basque fealing. There is also another Basque Country, that formed in the French area, formed by three provinces: Lapurdi, the most important one (Biarritz and Baiona are the most important towns), Behenafarroa and Zuberoa

The capital of the seven provinces are: Araba/Álava (Vitoria-Gasteiz), Bizkaia/Vizcaya (Bilbo/Bilbao), Gipuzkoa/Guipúzcoa (Donostia-San Sebastián), Nafarroa/Navarra (Iruñea/Pamplona), Lapurdi (Baiona/Bayonne), Behenafarroa (Donibane Garazi/Sant Jean Pied de Port) and Zuberoa (Maule/Mauleon).

In the three provinces belonging to the Autonomous Comunity the Basque is co-official (with the Spanish). Navarre is divided into three areas: the Basque area, where Basque is co-official, the mixte area, where it has not some many strenght, and the Non-Basque area where the unique official language is Spanish.

San Sebastian has three beaches: Concha, the most famous one; Ondarreta and Zurriola (also called Gros). Concha and Ondarreta are into a bay adorned with Santa Clara Island. Zurriola beach is at open sea.

The City

This typical summer resort located 20 km from the Irun-Hendaya border is a clean and modern city of about 172,000 inhabitants. It lies in the shelter of the Montes Igueldo, Urgull and Ulía, and the river Urumea flows through the middle of it. As well as the cosmopolitanism of the modern town with its large avenues and elegant tree-lined boulevards there is the picturesque old quarter and its delightful fishing port where excellent typical restaurants compete for business and where we find its two oldest churches - the Gothic Church of San Vicente and the Baroque Church of Santa María, as well as the 16th c Convent of San Telmo, converted into a museum and worthy of a visit to see its cloister and the paintings by the great Sert which decorate it. The beach of La Concha is worthy of mention, being a magical viewing point from the city out onto the Bay of Biscay, and if we add to this the Montes Urgull and Igueldo and the Island of Santa Clara, then the final result is a bay of outstanding beauty.The Cathedral del Buen Pastor and the Municipal Casino are two modern structures of important addition to the urban surroundings.

The Teams

CSC TISCALI Laurent Jalabert (Fra), last year's winner and now sadly in his last season, will be wanting to leave the pro bike scene with another classic win to add to his already impressive palmares. Jaja will be well supported with Sastre and 1999 world Mountain bike champion Michael Rasmussen.

1 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 2 - Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa), 3- Michael Rasmussen (Den), 4 - Nicki Sörensen (Den), 5 -Michael Blaudzun (Den), 6-Francisco Cerezo Perales (Spa), 7 - Manuel Calvente Gorbas (Spa), 8 - Marcelino García Alonso (Spa)

FASSA BORTOLO Francesco Casagrande (Ita) has twice before won this race and last year after sterling work by teammate Wladimir Belli was just beaten into second place. Michele Bartoli hopes to make a comeback while White jersey winner in the Tour de France, Ivan Basso, and Sven Montgomery should add weight to the Fassa attack on the Côte de Jaizkibel.

11 - Francesco Casagrande (Ita), 12 - Wladimir Belli (Ita), 13 - Michele Bartoli (Ita), 14 - Ivan Basso (Ita), 15 - Sven Montgomery (Swi), 16 - Gorad Stangelj (Slo), 17 - Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), 18 - Paolo Tiralongo (Ita)

TEAM TELEKOM Too many hills for Ete Zabel, so hero of Alpe d’Huez, Giuseppe Guerini (Ita), will lead the Telekom attack. Udo Bolts was a surprise winner in 1996; support will come from the North American duo of Livingston and Julich, and up and coming prospect Stefan Schumacher.

21 - Giuseppe Guerini (Ita), 22- XXXXX, 23- Bobby Julich (Usa), 24 - Kevin Livingston (Usa), 25 - Udo Bölts (Ger), 26 - David Kopp (Ger), 27 - Stefan Schumacher (Ger), - Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz)

RABOBANK Injury rules out the 2000 winner Erik Dekker - but the duel strike force of Leipheimer and Boogerd still looks like a potent force for the race. The key to the race lies in the final ascent of the Côte de Jaizkibel and if the men from Montana and Den Haag can work together victory could be within their grasp.

31 - Coen Boerman (Ned), 32 - Michael Boogerd (Ned), 33 - Bram de Groot (Ned), 34 - Levi Leipheimer (Usa), 35 - Marc Wauters (Bel), 36 - Addy Engels (Ned), 37 - Matthé Pronk (Ned), 38 - Beat Zberg (Swi)

MAPEI - QUICKSTEP Will be keen to keep the momentum of Paolo Bettini’s comeback and World Cup Challenge rolling, World Champion Oscar Freire will probably be in a loose cannon role, while hard men Nardello, Canada and Bramati support Bettini. Commonwealth Games Gold and Silver medallist Cadel Evans may try from a long way out on the Jaizkibel.

41 - Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa), 42 - Paolo Bettini (Ita), 43 - Cadel Evans (Aus), 44 - Elio Aggiano (Ita), 45 - Daniele Nardello (Ita), 46 - Dario David Cioni (Ita), 47 - Davide Bramati (Ita), 48 - David Cañada Gracia (Spa)

LOTTO Mario Aerts finally showed some of his enormous potential in this year's Tour de France - and he must be the Lotto’s main weapon of attack - still, to name a full squad, the boys from Belgium may not find the Spanish hills to their liking.

51 - Christophe Detilloux (Bel), 52 - Mario Aerts (Bel), 53 - Kurt van Lancker (Bel), 54 - Chirstophe Brandt (Bel), 55 - Serge Baguet (Bel), 56 - Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel), 57 - Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus), 58 - Tom Stremersch (Bel).

iBANESTO.COM The Banesto boys have never really been geared to the one days races and this squad seems unlikely to change that tradition - Mancebo leads the team but the best prospect of a result would be Unai Osa - whose less famous brother is doing well in Portugal at the moment.

61 - Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa), 62 - Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa), 63 - Juan A. Flecha Giannoni (Spa), - 64 - David Latasa Lasa (Spa), 65 - Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa), 66- José L. Arrieta Lujambio (Spa), 67-José V.Garcia Acosta (Spa), 68 - José I.Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) .

COFIDIS Such are the hard times in French cycling at the moment, the Cofidis team look unlikely to field one rider from France. A hugely talented team, the parcours don’t really seem to suit any of the riders. Kivilev will be under pressure to perform after his rather lack lustre display in the Tour de France. The last ascent, Côte de Jaizkibel, would seem to rule out Mattan and Plackaert - which leaves Lelli and Millar, either of whom could win this race - but if the Cofidis Team get a result it will be a giant step upwards for the team .

71 - Andrei Kivilev (Kaz), 72 -Massimiliano Lelli (Ita), 73 - David Millar (GBr), 74 - Iñigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa), 75 -Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa), 76 - Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa), 77 -Nico Mattan (Bel), 78 - Jo Planckaert (Bel)

ONCE A team of stars - but Tour Stars. Beloki, Azevedo and Nozal should start - but they will be riding for one day specialist Mikel Zarrabeitia - a truly classy squad, but one that possibly lacks a killer punch.

81- Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa), 82 -Giampaolo Caruso (Ita), 83- José Azevedo (Por), 84 - Jörg Jaksche (Ger), 85 - Isidro Nozal Vega (Spa), 86 - Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa), 87 - Marcos Serrano Rodriguez (Spa), 88- Mikel Pradera Rodriguez

US POSTAL Lance Armstrong (Usa) will ride, but clearly his hectic after-Tour schedule has not made this event (which of course he has won in the past) a main objective of the season. While Hincapie moved up into third place in the World Cup ratings courtesy of his excellent Hew ride, he should gain full Postal support from newly wed Heras and Ruberia on the Jaizkibel.

91 - Lance Armstrong (Usa), 92 - Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa), 93 - José L.Rubiera Vigil (Spa), 94 - George Hincapie (Usa), 95 - Floyd Landis (Usa), 96 - Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus), 97 - William Chann McRae (Usa), 98 - Victor H.Pena Grisales (Col)

DOMO FARM FRITES Johan Museeuw, leader of the World cup - best place in this race was third - way back in 1995 - but clearly he will not be keen to lose too many points to his rivals - Vainsteins was excellent in support last weekend - although the team tactic could be to allow Richard Virenque to surge up the Jaizkibel in order to deprive the other teams of the victory points?

101 - Johan Museeuw (Bel), 102 - Axel Merckx (Bel), 103 - Richard Virenque (Fra), 104 - Fred Rodriguez (Usa), 105 - Wilfried Cretskens (Bel), 106 - Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), 107 - Steven Kleynen (Bel), 108 - Romans Vainsteins (Lat).

LAMPRE-DAIKIN With the trials and tribulations of the Rumsas Affaire, team morale must be affected - question is how - will Sciandri and Tonkov respond with a fighting display or will the pressure prove just too much? Sadly I suspect the latter.

111 - Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), 112 - Pavel Tonkov (Rus), 113 - Maximilian Sciandri (GBr), 114 -Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita), 115 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita), 116 - Marco Pinotti (Ita), 117 - Marco Serpellini (Ita), 118 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol).

KELME COSTA_BLANCA are not a team famous for it’s one-day race wins, today's team would seem unlikely to alter that fac . May well try and put a couple of men in the early break for TV exposure...

121 - Aitor González Jimenez (Spa), 122 - Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa), 123 - Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa), 124 - Juan M.Cuenca Martinez (Spa), 125 -Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa), 126 - José Cayetano Julia (Spa), 127 -Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa),128-Jesus Manzano Ruano (Spa).

TACCONI SPORT - VINI CALDIROLA Dario Frigo is still paying the price for last season's foolishness - he will see this race as another step towards the road to respectability - and it would be nice to see Luttenberger have a good day.Well organised team, they will fight hard for a result.

131 - Dario Frigo (Ita), 132 - Peter Luttenberger (Aut), 133- Ruggero Borghi (Ita),- 134 - Gianluca Bortolami (Ita), 135 - Massimo Donati (Ita), 136 - Dmitri Gaynitdinov (Rus), 137 - Marco Gili (Ita), 138 Andrej Hauptman (Slo) .

EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI will be riding for the excellent Unai Etxebarria - after a very disappointing Tour de France the local boys will be wanting to make amends - difficult to see how they will be strong enough against the might of the top Classics teams though.

141 - Gorka Arrizabalaga Aguirre (Spa), 142 -Mikel Artetxe Guezuraga (Spa), 143 - Igor Flores Galarza (Spa), 144 -Iker Flores Galarza (Spa), 145 -José A.Martinez Trinidad (Spa), 146 - Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven), 147 - Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa), Gorka Gerrikagoitia Arrien (Spa) - 148.

SAECO The harshly treated team have left the cycling establishment, set a precedent (by saying they would ride Zurich) to which the establishment responded by saying - oh so will we then! All credit to Saeco for making a stand, and they bring a top weight team. Di Luca was looking good last weekend, and if Simoni makes it to the start line he will be a man on a mission. But from a team of talent Astarloa would seem a very good outside bet.

151 - Danilo Di Luca (Ita), 152 - Gilberto Simoni (Ita), 153 - Igor Astarloa Askasibar (Spa), 154 - Salvatore Commesso (Ita), 155 - Mirko Celestino (Ita), 156 - Alessio Galletti (Ita), 157 - Gerrit Glomser (Aut), 158 - Fabio Sacchi (Ita).

Crédit Agricole O’Grady was magnificent in last weekend's Commonwealth Games and Moreau is a great rider on his day. But it was Hushovd who saved the team in the Tour. Norway to win in Spain - highly unlikely!!

161 - Christophe Moreau (Fra) - 162 - Stuart O'Grady (Aus) - 163 - Jens Voigt (Ger) - 164 - Sébastien Hinault (Fra) - 165 - Fréderic Bessy (Fra) - 166 - Thor Hushovd (Nor) - 167 - Anthony Langella (Fra) - 168 - Anthony Morin (Fra)

Alessio The established names could well be riding for Pellizota - expect a usual strong ride by a good team - and they could just surprise.

171 Ivan Gotti (Ita) - 172 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) - 173 - Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) - 174 -Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) - 175 - Raffaele Ferrara (Ita) - 176 - Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) - 177 -Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) - 178 - Franco Pellizotti (Ita)

AG2r Prevoyance Alexandre Botcharov was great in the Tour and the AG2R team will fight - hard to see a top ten finisher in the team though.

181 Iñigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) 183 - Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) - 183 - Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) -184 - Stéphane Bergès (Fra)185 - Laurent Estadieu (FRa) - 186- Christophe Oriol (Fra) -187 -Laurent Paumier (Fra) - 188 - Ludovic Turpin (Fra)

Gerolsteinerfield a strong team and all devoted to Rebellin. A season plagued by bad luck seems to finally ending - Rebellin's back and his rivals are well aware of it.

- 191 - Davide Rebellin (Ita) - 192 - Georg Totschnig (Aut) - 193 - Gianni Faresin (ITa) - 194 -Ellis Rastelli (Ita) - 195 - Torsten Schmidt (Ger) - 196 -Ronny Scholz (Ger) - 197 - tobias Steinhauser (Ger) - 198 -Fabian Wegmann (Ger)

Phonak Camenzind is in good form, and this is a well run team - interesting to see how they do.

- 201 - Oscar Camenzind (Swi) - 202 - Juan C.Dominguez (Spa) - 203 - Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) - 204 - Reto Bergmann (Swi) - 205 - Matthias Buxhofer (Aut) - 206 - Alexandre Moos (Swi) - 207 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) - 208 - Daniel Schnider (Swi)

Jazztel-Costa de Almeria The local team will put up an early fight.

211 - Serguei Smetanine (Rus) - 212 Rafael Casero Moreno (Spa) 213 Gonzalo Bayarri Esteve (Spa) 214 José A.Garrido Lima (Spa) 215 Pedro Díaz Lobato 216 Carlos Torrent Tarres (Spa) 218 Ricardo Valdéz Prieto (Spa) 218 Gustavo M.Toledo (Arg

Relax-Fuenlabrada as above.

221Jorge Capitan Peregrina (Spa) 222 Nacor Burgos Rojas (Spa) 223 Oscar Laguna Garcia (Spa) 224 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) 225 Sergio Perez Gomez (Spa) 226 José L.Rebollo Aguado (Spa) 227 David Vázquez Garcia (Spa) 228 José M.Vazquez Palomo (Spa)

The Main Contenders

Johan Museeuw
date of birth 13 october 1965
place of birth Varsenare, Belgium
professional 1988-
teams 1988-1989 A.D.R.
1990-1992 Lotto
1993 GB MG Bianchi
1994 M.G. Maglificio/GB
1995-1997 Mapei - GB
1998 Mapei - Bricobi
1999-2000 Mapei - Quick Step
2001-2002 Domo - Farm Frites

Laurent Jalabert
date of birth 30 january 1968
place of birth Mazamet, Frankrijk
professional 1989-
teams
1989 Toshiba
1992 ONCE
2001 MemoryCard
2001 CSC Worldonline
2002 CSC Tiscali

Francesco Casagrande
date of birth 14 september 1970
place of birth Firenze, Italia
professional 1992-
teams
1992: Mercatone Uno
1996: Saeco
1998: Cofidis
1999: Vini Caldirola
2000: Vini Caldirola Sidermec
2001-2002: Fasso Bortolo

Lance Armstrong
date of birth 18 september 1971
place of birth Plano - Dallas, USA
professional 1992-
teams
1992: Motorola
1997: Inattivo
1998: Postal Service
2000:2002 US Postal Service

Wladimir Belli
date of birth 25 july 1970
place of birth Sorengo, Switzerland
professional 1992-
teams 1992:Lampre
1993:Lampre-Polti
1994-1995: Lampre-Panaria
1996: Panaria-Vinavil
1997: Brescialat
1998: Festina
2000-2002: Fassa Bortolo

George Hincapie
date of birth 29 june 1973
place of birth Farmingdale, USA
professional -
teams
1993 Motorola
1997 Postal Service
2000-2002 US Postal Service

Levi Leipheimer
date of birth 24 october 1973
place of birth USA
professional 1995-
teams
1995 Maestro
1996 Individuale
1997 Comptel Colorado
1998-1999 Saturn
2000-2001 US Postal Service
2002 Rabobank

Oscar Freire
date of birth 15 february 1976
place of birth Torrelavega, Spain
professional 1998-
teams
1998 Vitalicio Seguro
1999 Vitalicio Seguro
2000-2002 Mapei-Quick Step

Paolo Bettini
date of birth 1 april 1974
place of birth Cecina (LI), Italia
professional 1997-
teams
1997: M.G. Technogym
1998: Asics-CGA
1999-2002: Mapei-Quick Step

Igor Astarloa
date of birth 29 march 1976
place of birth Ermua, Spain
professional 2000-
teams 2000: Mercatone Uno - Albacom
2002 Saeco - Longoni Sport

Pavel Tonkov
date of birth 9 february 1969
place of birth Ichevsk, Russia
professional 1992
teams
1992 Russ
1993 Lampre - Polti
1994-1995 Lampre - Panaria
1996 Panaria - Vinavil
1997 Mapei - GB
1998 Mapei - Bricobi
1999-2000 Mapei - Quick Step
2001 Mercury - Viatel
2002 Lampre Daikin

Ivan Basso
date of birth 26 november 1977
place of birth Gallarate (VA), Italia
professional 1999-
teams
1999: Risso Scotti-Vinavil
2000: Amica chips-Tacconi Sport
2001-2002: Fassa Bortolo

Igor Gonzales de Galdeano
date of birth 1 november 1973
place of birth Gasteiz, Spain
professional 1995-
teams
1995 Euskadi
1999 Vitalicio Seguros
2000 Vitalicio Seguros - Grupo Generali
2001 ONCE
2002 ONCE-Eroski

Rik Verbrugghe
date of birth 23 july 1974
place of birth Tienen, Belgium
professional 1996
teams
1996 Lotto
1997 Lotto-Mobistar-Isoglass
1998 Lotto-Mobistar
1999 Lotto-Mobistar
2000-2002 Lotto-Adecco

Previous Winners 1st, 2nd, 3rd:

2001 1 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC Tiscali 5.17.54 (42.84 km/h) 2 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas-Pata

2000 Erik Dekker (NET), Andrei Tchmil (BEL), Romans Vainsteins (LAT)

1999 Francesco Casagrande (ITA), Rik Verbrugghe (BEL), Giuliano Figueras (ITA)

1998 Francesco Casagrande (ITA), Axel Merckx (BEL), Leonardo Piepoli (ITA)

1997 Davide Rebellin (ITA), Aleksandr Gonchenkov (UKR), Stefano Colage (ITA)

1996 Udo Bölts (GER), Stefano Cattai (ITA), Massimo Podenzana (ITA)

1995 Lance Armstrong (USA), Stefano della Santa (ITA), Johan Museeuw (BEL)

1994 Armand de las Cuevas (FRA), Lance Armstrong (USA), Stefano della Santa (ITA)

1993 Claudio Chiappucci (ITA), Gianni Faresin (ITA), Alberto Volpi (ITA)

1992 Raúl Alcala (MEX), Claudio Chiappucci (ITA), Carlo Bomans (BEL)

1991 Gianni Bugno (ITA), Pedro Delgado (SPA), Maurizio Fondriest (ITA)

1990 Miguel Indurain (SPA), Laurent Jalabert (FRA), Sean Kelly (IRL)

1989 Gerhard Zadrobilek (AUT), Antequera (SPA), Tony Rominger (SWI)

1988 Gert-Jan Theunisse (NET), Enrique Aja (SPA), Steven Rooks (NET)

1987 Marino Lejarreta (SPA), Jesus Arroyo (SPA), Federico Echave (SPA)

1986 Iñaki Gaston (SPA), Marino Lejarreta (SPA), Fernández (SPA)

1985 Adri van der Poel (NET), Iñaki Gaston (SPA), Fernández (SPA)

1984 Niki Rüttimann (SWI), Raimund Dietzen (GER), Prieto (SPA)

1983 Claude Criquielion (BEL), Coll (SPA), Raimund Dietzen (GER)

1982 Marino Lejarreta (SPA), Rodriguez (SPA), Pedro Delgado (SPA)

1981 Marino Lejarreta (SPA), Jones (GBR), Faustino Ruperez (SPA)


.... ... .

Friday, September 06, 2002

Jaialdi's Memories

Every five years the city of Boise, home to the largest Basque community in the USA, holds the festivity known as Jaialdi.

The next one will be just three years from now, in 2005.

But here you have a recount of a person that went to the 1995 edition of the festival, enjoy it:

A Novice at Jaialdi
by Eileen Walter

Seat belts buckled, air conditioning on, one last stop to pick up the final part of our trio, and we were on our way to Jaialdi in Boise, Idaho. It was extra special and exciting for me--I had made many attempts in past years to visit Basque festivals in various cities--and was thwarted every time.

My friend and I had made small, sporadic bursts of plans over several months; she would rent a car, we would drive part of the way Thursday night and stop somewhere conducive to a pleasant, evening walk. At the last minute a third--a foreign visitor from France--asked to accompany us. She was welcomed and quickly took up residence in the rear seat, a prisoner to the nonstop chatter of we two in the front. It was terrible, as though someone had opened an outlet and allowed a rain of words that, dammed up for months, finally tumbled forth. (It’s always like this when we’re together--we talk with no exhaustible limits about writing and manuscripts and short stories.)

The drive across Nevada was, as always, beautiful. I am and will forever remain as awed as a tourist of this land we inhabit. I never tire of it; always have some ambivalence about leaving it, if only for a day or two.

We crossed into Oregon and the landscape changed as if dissected--and coincidentally, almost exactly behind the Welcome to Oregon sign. The sagebrush ceased, the mountains dropped to low and sloping hills, the soil was carpeted with a wild gold grass that might have been crested wheat.

We roomed at Jordan Valley for the night, one of those blink-and-you-miss-it towns with a wonderful tiny Basque restaurant (boysenberry jelly with toast for breakfast).

It was a good town for walking, sleepy and safe after dark. We made a big circle around the town, watched some mules rolling in the dust of a musty field, and talked with anticipation of the festival.

After an early start in the morning, western Idaho changed the land yet again, the fields ripe with orchards and vegetables, the heavy dark rivers winding along the bottom land. I was enthralled until my friend reminded me that all that wonder comes with a price: bugs and mosquitoes and humidity.

We were much too early to get into our room at Boise so we left the car and took the river walk to downtown, a green and peaceful path meandering along a fine, fast running river. I loved Boise the minute I saw that river. The city did nothing but improve as we neared its center. I felt a sense of youthfulness and invigoration; the city very much impressed me and I’m at a loss to explain why, except to say it reminded me a lot of Portland.

Downtown was terrifically hot and, of course, crowded near the Basque Center on Grove Street. I got to meet and to hear Dr. Jeri Echeverria speak on the topic of Basque boardinghouses. This was a special treat for me. I’ve talked to her on the telephone but never met her in person.

The hall was crowded, standing-room-only in the back. Jeri was quick and interesting. And unlike many other lectures I’ve attended, when she offered a few minutes for questions, fifteen hands went into the air. (Mention Basques anywhere and people immediately have questions. It’s a great conversation opener.)

Outside after the lecture, we stepped right into the action of some weight lifting--a small sample of events to come the next day--being put on in the middle of the street for the benefit of local television cameras. I stood fast and refused to be budged. This was one of the events I wanted most to see.

Next morning, we made it to the opening ceremonies but were too late to get a seat inside the building. We watched instead from atop a cement piling. I had no way of knowing, but most of my day would follow the same pattern. I’m not very tall and neither was my French companion. Both of us spent most of the afternoon scrambling up to stand on chairs, or gingerly picking our way through a sea of tall spectators in order to see anything at all.

I had several items in particular that I hoped to find at the festival, one of them being a silver lauburu necklace. I found it, the exact one I was searching for, and eagerly went back to tell my friend of my find. No novice to Basque festivals, she warned me to purchase it immediately or risk it being gone. She did not exaggerate. Things were disappearing off tables and shelves at an alarming rate.

I bought the lauburu and had the honor of Jeri Echeverria placing it around my neck. She admonished me to wear it proudly, as generations of Basque women had done. My day was entirely made at that moment.

The afternoon was a feast for all the senses, the costumes and the dancers, the wood choppers and the weight lifters, wonderful music throughout. My fondest memories are small ones, moments when I was alone and listening to Basque being spoken around me--and understanding fragments of the conversation. And of seeing elderly Basques moving among the throng, only to suddenly spot a familiar face with a cry of frenzied recognition. One man told me he ran into people he hadn’t seen for twenty years.

I was sorry that I did not try out my halting Basque on those around me. My friend told me later that Basques are unusually kind (and most forgiving) toward non-native speakers who attempt to learn and speak their language.

A sudden and frightening thunderstorm brought a premature end to some of the festivities. For safety reasons all festival goers were evacuated from tents and buildings at the fiercest part of the windstorm. The evacuees neither left the fairgrounds nor seemed to be bothered by the slices of cold rain blowing grit. Most merely queued up in long lines to buy chorizo and long, skinny treats like breadsticks powdered with sugar and cinnamon (churros).

The festival, the people, the city of Boise, were worth every mile of the drive it took to get there. Getting there and enjoying it was, for me, a goal fulfilled. When I return in five years, I expect to be fluent enough in my second language to bravely begin intelligent conversation with strangers.

(Eileen Walter is minoring in Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.)

.... ... .

Andoain


Andoain Posted by Hello
.... ... .

Sunday, September 01, 2002

Gazteiz

Well, now that we are acquainted with the seven Basque provinces that conform Euskal Herria (formerly known as the Kingdom of Navarre) it is time we pay a visit to some of its main cities, so, let us start with Gazteiz. Gasteiz (Spanish: Vitoria), is a city in western Euskal Herria, capital city of the province of Araba and of the Basque Autonomous Community.

History

In the year 1181, Sancho VI the Wise, King of Navarre founded the town of 'Nueva Victoria' as a defensive outpost on top of a hill at the site of the previous settlement of Gasteiz. In 1200, the town was captured by the troops of Alfonso VIII of Castile, who annexed the town to the Kingdom of Castile. The town was progressively enlarged and in 1431 it was granted the title of City by King Juan II of Castile.

The principal episode in the later history of Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Battle of Vitoria of the Peninsular War on 21 June 1813. The French troops were comprehensively beaten by the Duke of Wellington and French control of Spain was ended. There is a monument commemorating this battle in the main square of the city, known as the Monument to Independence - Monumento a la Independencia. Vitória in Brazil was named in honour. Sadly, the Spanish and French control over Euskal Herria has not ceased despite numerous international treaties signed by both occupying states regarding the right to the self-determination of former colonies.

The old part of the city (el casco viejo), which lies on an elevation, is very well conserved and contains a number of remarkable monuments: Casa del Cordon (a house from the XV century), the gothic cathedral of Sta. Maria (XIV century), the Museum of Archaeology (XVI century) and the Torre de Doña Otxanda (a tower holding the Museum of Natural Sciences). The extension (el ensanche) was built south of the old city centre during the XIX century and contains the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (a square where the Fiestas de la Blanca start) with the church of San Miguel, Los Arquillos (an Arcade (architecture)), and the Plaza Nueva (a square that holds every Sunday morning a street market). Further south, the Paseo de Fray Francisco is a wide street sided by mansions, many of which have been recently adapted for public use: the Palace of Ajuria Enea (the residence of the Lehendakari), the Museum of Arts, Museo de la Armería (weapons) and Museo Fournier de Naipes (playing cards).

Economy and demographics

The economy of Gasteiz is diverse, and many manufacturing companies have operations here, including Mercedes-Benz, Michelin and Heraclio Fournier, the latter being headquartered here.

Music

Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts two annual international music festivals:

* The International Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, from the 10th to the 16th of July
* The Azkena Rock Festival, in late August and early September.

Local festivities

The Fiestas de la Blanca festival is celebrated every year from the 4th to the 9th of August in honour of the patron saint of the city, and features a programme of special events, activities and free open-air concerts.

Universities

The liberal arts section of the University of the Basque Country is based in the south part of the city. Focusing on history and linguistics, the Araba campus is also home of the Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as some other technical, teaching and business related degrees.

Its origins date back from 1847 when the first Escuela Normal de Maestros de Álava was established. A whole other number of colleges and faculties were adopted in 1978 by the emerging University of the Basque Country.

.... ... .

Silencing The Basque Voice

Here you have a balanced and down to earth analysis of the political situation in Euskal Herria after the decision by Aznar to ban the pro-independence Basque party Batasuna:

Spain's separatists silenced

Saturday, 31 August, 2002, 14:49 GMT 15:49 UK

By Flora Botsford
BBC Madrid correspondent

It is difficult for people outside Spain to imagine the strength of feeling in the country against Batasuna, which is widely seen as the political wing of the Basque separatist group ETA and as being equally responsible for more than three decades of violence.

But for me, one of the more shocking aspects of covering the conflict has been the language used by Spanish Government officials towards their Basque political colleagues.

So when Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar this week referred to members of Batasuna as "human garbage", it was just another insult in a long-running session of mud-slinging, which has probably done as much to divide the political community as ETA violence has.

Now that Senor Aznar has finally succeeded in winning both parliamentary and judicial approval for outlawing Batasuna, it seems there is no going back to civil communication. And the vast majority of Spaniards are right behind him.

Little distinction, if any, is made by the public between the seven elected representatives of Batasuna in the Basque regional parliament - or the 900 Batasuna town councillors - and those who fire the bullets or plant the bombs.

'Super judge'

And while there is evidence showing that activists may graduate from one form of promoting the separatist cause to the other, before this new law was passed actually proving the link in court has been elusive.

At least that was until the man known in Spain as "super judge" made it his personal mission to eradicate Batasuna from the political map, and ensure the party received no more government funding.

Judge Baltasar Garzon - often depicted in cartoons wearing superhero red tights - rose to international fame over his bid to secure the extradition of the former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet.

But for years before, during and after that high-profile legal action, he has been known in Spain for his one-man crusade against ETA and its political allies.

While a new law passed in June makes it illegal for any political party to advocate radical changes against Spain's existing political structures, he believes he has established - in any case - the financial and organisational links that prove Batasuna and ETA are one and the same.

The argument is familiar - we have heard it repeatedly during the Northern Ireland peace process, when discussing the IRA and Sinn Fein.

Negotiating tool

What is different here is that other governments faced with violent internal conflicts have sensibly wanted to keep armed and political wings of paramilitary organisations separate - precisely so they can have someone to negotiate with.

The coinciding judicial and political moves against Batasuna suggest that Spain is ready and willing to give up any prospect of talks, now or in the future.

And while this would normally be out of step with international political opinion on conflict resolution, the climate since 11 September has hardened towards listed terrorist groups and those who offer them logistical support, or agree with their aims.

Perhaps that is one reason why Spain has acted against Batasuna now, taking a much more hardline approach towards the party, knowing it will not have to fight off criticism from outside.

Inside the Basque Country, it is a different story. The first time I went there, it was like stepping into Alice in Wonderland. Everything I had heard or read in Madrid had to be turned on its head.

Though you never hear about them in the Spanish media, probably around half the people living in the Basque region support the idea of independence in the long-term, even if they would never take up arms to defend it.

Around 10% support the more extreme branch of Basque nationalism represented by Batasuna - until now the legal, public face of ETA.

There are regular, often violent demonstrations, against what the radicals describe as "oppression" by the Spanish state.

Protests against the alleged mistreatment of prisoners, and the fact that their families often have to travel thousands of miles to visit, owing to the government's policy of scattering ETA prisoners around the country.

Many of the marchers are middle-aged women, with dyed blond hair and smudged pink lipstick - the working mums of ETA activists, who have been radicalised by the likes of Batasuna for their own political ends.

High standard of living

People I talked to used the word 'immigrants', when they meant ordinary Spanish or non-Basques living in the Basque country, or "unionists" when they meant those who favour keeping Spain in one piece.

It is all too strange, especially when you see the high standard of living enjoyed by the majority of Basque residents, search in vain for a real Basque grievance, and learn more about the exact level of autonomy the Basque region currently enjoys - which as any Spaniard is quick to tell you, is the highest in Europe.

When police moved in to close one of the Batasuna offices earlier this week, they were greeted by an angry mob of 300 party supporters.

The question now is, what will happen to Batasuna voters now they have been denied a legitimate, political voice?

A few brave critics of the government are warning that without Batasuna, these noisy activists will go underground, and join in the fight for ETA, body and soul.

.... ... .