Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Unions Back Self Determination

Today at Berria.info

ELA and LAB Unions back agreement of those favouring self-determination

They say the steps proposed in the communiqué could further cooperation among those who support self-determination

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The two Basque nationalist trade unions issued a joint statement yesterday to give their view on ETA’s latest communiqué. Among other things they issued a specific call for unity among the political forces in favour of self-determination.

The document recognises the differences that exist between ELA and LAB regarding the proposal made by the Basque nationalist left on December 16. Nevertheless, the two unions say they are prepared to cooperate on the points they agree on, in other words, on the ones that back self-determination. For this reason they say in the statement that “cooperation is needed among the sectors of the Basque Country that support self-determination.” And they say that priority must continue to be given to work in this direction that furthers cooperation. ELA and LAB are of the opinion that the channels that need to be pursued are the ones which seek agreements among as many powers as possible which support this right. With respect to the latest communiqué issued by ETA [the armed, pro-Basque independence organisation] they say, “if the steps suggested by ETA in that communiqué were adopted, this would facilitate the processes to achieve cooperation among the forces that back self-determination.”
.... ... .

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Support for Joint List

Berria has published this article regarding a communique by ETA in support of a joint electoral list:

ETA prepared to take "all the necessary steps for the initiative to be brought to a successful conclusion"

In a brief communiqué ETA says it supports the proposal for an electoral list backing the right to self-determination

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

ETA [the armed, pro-Basque independence organisation] not only approves of the initiative for a joint electoral list among all the forces favouring self-determination, but also says it is prepared to take "all the necessary steps" to bring the initiative to a
successful conclusion. The announcement was made last night in a brief communiqué sent to some of the media. The document is addressed to the Basque People and consists of no more than two points. One expresses "approval" of the proposal made in Bergara by the Basque nationalist left to draw up a joint electoral list. The other says that ETA is prepared to take measures and steps: "It [ETA] is fully prepared to adopt whatever measures might be needed and take all the necessary steps for this initiative to succeed."

In Bergara two weeks ago on December 16 significant members of the Basque nationalist left announced their proposal for a single electoral list. Arnaldo Otegi and Rafa Diez were the spokespeople in the press conference held at the Olaso palace. The actual proposal had three points. Firstly, that a "unified electoral list be drawn up from among all the forces in favour of self-determination" to stand in the Spanish general elections. Secondly, that the joint list of candidates that could be formed would be responsible for "representing the Basque Country" before Spain. Finally, the aim of the list would be, according to the proposal, to "secure the recognition of the Basque Country through a process of relations and negotiations with Spain." Before the press conference Arnaldo Otegi and Rafa Diez had held a number of meetings with political, trade union and social organisations to announce the proposal. After the official announcement the remaining Basque nationalist parties asked those backing the proposal to denounce ETA violence so that a deal could be struck.


Seems like a cease-fire is on the works, lets hope Spain will not resort to an escalation to their repressive campaign in Euskal Herria as a response, as they usually do.

Lets wait and see what the PNV has to say about this whole thing.

.... ... .

Sunday, December 28, 2003

Indian Ten Commandments

While roaming the world for the perfect Christmas Gift, I came across the Indian Ten Commandments, here they are:

~ Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

~ Remain close to the Great Spirit.

~ Show great respect for your fellow beings.

~ Work together for the benefit of all mankind.

~ Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

~ Do what you know to be right.

~ Look after the well-being of mind and body.

~ Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

~ Be truthful and honest at all times.

~ Take full responsibility for your actions.


They certainly make more sense than the ones the one buffoon over in Alabama wanted to shove down everyone's throats.

.... ... .

Friday, December 26, 2003

Nafarroa: A Basque Voice

At Berria English:

Aralar, EA and EAJ join forces to give Basque Nationalists of Navarre “a voice”

The three parties say the coalition is open “to those who agree with the pact”

Irene Arrizurieta – IRUNEA (Pamplona)

In Irunea, yesterday, the Navarrese branches of the EAJ, EA and Aralar parties presented the joint list of candidates they will be fielding in the Spanish general elections scheduled for March next year. The coalition has adopted the name "Nafarroa Bai" (Yes to Navarre) and they stress that it has been created with the aim "of representing the thousands of Navarrese citizens who have not had a voice in the Spanish parliament for the last few years."

At the presentation were Patxi Zabaleta and Txentxo Jimenez of Aralar, Maiorga Ramirez and Fermin Ziaurriz of Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) and Joxe Antonio Urbiola, Jabier Leoz and Jose Angel Agirrebengoa of the EAJ. They pointed out that it was "a coalition to represent the thousands of Navarrese citizens who have neither voice" nor representation in the Spanish Congress and Senate (lower and upper chambers, respectively). They stressed that this was the way "they want to respond" from Navarre "to the new historic era" being ushered in.

.... ... .

Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Olentzero

A Christmas story from the Basque Country.

Eguberri on!

Olentzero

Everything that has a name exists

Betidanako gure basoetan ...

In the forest, there are many different kinds of creatures that people can’t see.. They are all part of nature, and people have written many stories and fables about them.

When we go out in the mountains and the valleys, from a wonderful corner of the imagination they keep us company and take care of us.

Hona hemen horietako baten kondaira...

Here is the story of one of those beings, the story of Olentzero, a humble man who with his love comes into the heart of all creatures, real and imaginary.

Behin batean ...

Once upon a time, many many years ago, in the deep forests of the Basque Country, there lived a very beautiful fairy. Her hair was yellow like the sun and her eyes were very bright.

Lamia guztiek bezala, ...

Like all fairies, she looked after the people and she was always accompanied by some little and funny creatures, like goblins, called Prakagorri, or "red-pants," who helped her with her work.

Egun batez, ...

One day, when she was traveling through the mountains, she stopped to brush her hair next to a fountain. Suddenly, the Prakagorris noticed that something was moving among some ferns.

Lamia bere ile kizkurra ...

The fairy kept brushing and brushing her curly hair and didn’t notice anything until Prakagorris’ shouts caught her attention.

Gizakume bat da hori...

"It's a human baby," said the oldest of the goblins.

"Why did they leave it here?" said all the Prakagorris at once.

"I don’t know," said the fairy, "it is hard to understand how humans can be so heartless sometimes."

Gaurtik aurrera, ...

"From now on," said the fairy to the baby, "your name will be Olentzero, for it is wonderful thing to have found you. And I hereby give you the gifts of Strength, Courage and Love, for as long as you live."

Then the fairy picked up the baby and took him to an old house at the edge of the forest where there lived a man and a woman who had no children.

Horien bihotza ...

"They will be very, very happy to receive this child and they will take good care of it, I know" said the fairy, and she left the boy there in front of the door for them.

Very early in the morning, when the sun was just starting to come out, the man came out of the house to go milk the cows. He was very surprised to see the baby, and he called to his wife: "Love, come quickly! Come and see what I’ve found!"

Just as the fairy had predicted, the man and the woman were very, very happy to find this child. "How could we be so lucky!", said the woman. And immediately they covered the boy with a warm blanket and gave him some food, and they took him as their son.

Honela mendi zoragarri haietan ...

And that is how Olentzero came to grow up in those wonderful mountains, until he became a strong, healthy and lovable man. His parents were very happy and Olentzero was not at all worried about the strange way in which his parents had come to find him.

Goizetik arratseraino ...

Olentzero worked every day from morning till night, making coal and helping his aging father.

After many years the old couple who had been Olentzero’s loving parents finally died and Olentzero was left all alone in the house in the forest.

Urteak joan, urteak etorri ...

The years came and went and his face began to wrinkle and his hair began to turn white.

Bere bihotza goibeltzen ...

Living alone made him sad and he realized that what he needed to do was to help other people who needed his help.

He remembered that in the town there was a house where there lived some children who had no parents. They lived on whatever the people in the town gave them, and he realized that these children were very lonely, just like him, and that he could do things for them to make them happy.

Olentzero gizon argia zen ...

Olentzero was very clever and very good at making things with his hands, so he made some toys out of wood for those children: little toys and dolls, which he would take to the children when he went to town to sell his coal.

Panpina eta gizontxoak bukatu zituenean ...

When he finished the dolls and other toys, he put them in a big bag, put the bag on his donkey, and left for the town. He felt very happy inside that day, and his eyes were shining very brightly.

Goiz guztia eman zuen mendiz mendi ...

It took him a whole morning of walking through the mountains to get to the town, but he was very happy. He smiled as if in a dream, for he was going to give to the children the toys that he had made.

Herriko txikiek ...

The little children in the village were very happy when they got their presents, and Olentzero spent the whole afternoon playing with them and telling them stories that he had learned from his father when he was little. The boys and girls loved Olentzero very much and after that day they didn’t feel as lonely as before. Olentzero became very well known in that town. Whenever he approached, he would quickly be surrounded by children.

Urte asko, eder eta zoriontsu ...

This went on for many beautiful and happy years, but one day there was a terrible storm in the town and the mountains around it which destroyed many things. The cold, strong winds and the sound of thunder left the people very scared and upset, especially the children.

Egun batez, ...

One day, when Olentzero was coming to town, he saw some lightning hitting a house.

He quickly ran to the house and he saw some children at one of the windows, very scared, screaming and calling for help.

Without hesitating he went into the house, which was in flames, covered the children with a blanket to protect them from the fire, and carried them out of the house through a window in the first floor.

Beretzat irtenbide bat ...

But while he was trying to get out himself, a big old wooden beam from the ceiling fell on top of him. Olentzero fell down in great pain, and his strong and beautiful heart stopped.

The people in the town cried when they saw the house in flames, and what had happened, and realized that there was nothing they could do.

Une larri hartan ...

But right then they were all surprised by a bright light shining from inside the burning house. Nobody could see what was happening inside. But inside the house, the fairy who had found Olentzero in the mountains, when he was a baby so many years ago, appeared next to Olentzero and began calling his name in her sweet voice: "Olentzero! Olentzero!"

Gizon handia izan zara ...

She said: "Olentzero, you have been a good man, faithful and kind hearted. You have spent your life doing things for others, and you have even given your own life to save others. So I do not want you to die. I want you to live forever. From now on you will make toys and other presents for children who do not have parents in this town and everywhere in the Basque Country."

Guk lagundu egingo dizugu!

"And we will help you!" called out all the Prakagorri, flying around Olentzero.

Honela, ...

And that is how it came to pass that, that in the middle of every winter, at the end of every year, Olentzero goes to all the towns of Basque Country delivering toys and presents to children who don’t have parents and grandparents to give them presents. The children in all the towns celebrate the coming of the Olentzero by singing songs and spreading his message of love, strength and courage.

Some people don’t believe that Olentzero really exists. But in Basque there is an old saying: that everything that has a name exists, if we believe it does.


.... ... .

Demand for Dialogue

What you won't find on the local news, you will find at Berria English:

Thousands demand dialogue

Representatives of all the political parties except the PP (Popular Party) took part in the mass demonstration in Bilbo organised by the Elkarri organisation to demand respect for human rights and for the people's will

Aitziber Laskibar – BILBO

Thousands of citizens took part in a demonstration organised in Bilbo yesterday by Elkarri (the social movement to further dialogue and agreement in the conflict of the Basque Country). The slogan was "Giza eskubideak eta herri borondatea errespetatu. Elkarrizketa eta akordioa proposamen guztien artean" (Respect for human rights and the people's will. Dialogue and consensus among all the proposals). But apart from ordinary citizens, representatives of the political spheres turned out in significant numbers and were the main protagonists. In fact, representatives of nearly all the parties in the Basque Country were there: the EAJ, EA, Batasuna, the EB-IU, the AuB, the PSE-EE, the AB, Aralar and the CDN. The Government of the BAC (Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) represented by Idoia Zenarruzabeitia, the Deputy Lehendakari or President, also joined the protest.

As far as the parties were concerned, there were many members of the EAJ at the front of the demonstration like Joseba Egibar, the spokesman for the EBB (National Executive Committe), Josune Ariztondo, the EBB secretary, Iñaki Anasagasti, the EAJ spokesman in the lower house of the Spanish Parliament, Iñigo Urkullu, Chairman of the Bizkaia Executive Committee, and Iñaki Azkuna, the mayor of Bilbo. Representing Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) were the chairperson, Begoña Errazti, party organisation secretary, Rafa Larreina, general secretary Unai Ziarreta, the BAC Government Justice Minister Joseba Azkarraga, and the Environment Minister Sabin Intxaurraga along with Onintza Lasa, in charge of Communications.

.... ... .

Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Holiday Humor

This is frigging funny, go check it out!



.... ... .

French Idiocy

This French dumbnuts just doesn't get it, read the note today at Berria English:

More French through Basque

The French Interior Minister favours the recognition of identities in order to "be more deeply established in the Republic"

Eneko Bidegain BAIONA

"Why have you come to the Basque Country?" asked a bilingual student of the High School of Donibane Lohizune (St. Jean de Luz). Grinning from ear to ear Nicolas Sarkozy, the French Interior Minister, had just got out of a grey Peugeot 605. That marked the start of his first visit to the Northern Basque Country at 15.30 hours. He had travelled from Pau by helicopter. The Minister replied, "To see if you have any problems." Loads of people were milling around him: town councillors, members of the French Parliament, regional councillors, police, bodyguards, reporters, etc.

After watching a Basque lesson for ten minutes he met with teachers and parents of a public bilingual classroom. Again and again he said that "adherence to a regional language and identity" was not at variance with "adherence to the French Republic." "Regional languages are not a problem for the State. They are an opportunity." Yet he did not provide any specific answers to the questions. He identified and likened the wish to maintain Euskara, the Basque language, with "the desire to use the language of one's grandparents." He declared, "by helping Basque to develop we shall be helping this region to become more deeply established in the Republic." He asked, "Why should we give those who do not accept France the opportunity to appear as the sole defender of cultural identity?"

When adopting measures in favour of Basque he added that it was necessary to separate "the demands in favour of the Basque language from politics, sectarianism and division." "If you take them away from politics and violence, you can find solutions." He views the development of the language as an "opening up" in "a peaceful atmosphere." "I would like you to tell me what your needs are," and invited the audience to speak.



The desire to use the laguage of one's grandparents? What about the desire to use your own language?

And the French considere themselves the land of the egalite, liberte et fraternite, whatever.

.... ... .

Saturday, December 20, 2003

Democracy and Freedom, Everyday

I believe that democracy and freedom are not goals to be achieved, but a right that needs to be exercised on a daily basis. I find it amusing when some people say stuff like "I never talk about politics or religion" because most of the time this people think that they are fooling me, they think that my first impression is "Wow! This person doesn't like to hurt other people feelings nor getting into fights", well, life taught me quite the opposite, people that state that say it because they have nothing to say, some out of pure ignorance, some out of fear, but most of them say it out of indifference.

I can agree with ignorance, not all of us have the chance to cultivate our minds, I can deal with fear, not all of us have full confidence on ourselves and what we stand for, but what really pisses me off is people that keep quiet out of indifference, because it is exactly that attitude what allows people like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Jose Maria Aznar to do what they do.


.... ... .

Defiant Ikurriña

The defiant Ikurriña, it stood up against fascism yesterday, it stands up against fascism today and it will stand up against fascism tomorrow.


Leitza, Nafarroa / December 2003.

.... ... .

Friday, December 19, 2003

Democracy, Aznar Style

Eventually the English editions of the Basque newspapers Berria and Gara will get to it, but let me tell you what is so bad about what happened today in Spain.

For decades the Basques have been asking to negotiate their self determination, for years the Spanish authorities have refused using as an excuse ETA's violence. The Spanish side says that as long as ETA continues its armed campaign they will not seat down and negotiate with the Basques. If that was the end of the story then is all peachy, but is not.

Democracy is often described as the will of the majority, the press loves to talk about Spain as a young democracy, nevermind that the so called democracy has been around for 25 years now. A democratic state is supposed to heed to the wishes of the majority. It is here where the plot thickens.

ETA is by now an organization of no more of a hundred people, they are isolated from the bulk of Basque society which in its majority rejects any form of violence, may it come from an armed group or may it come from the government in Madrid. Bottom line, the Basque society turned its back on ETA a long time ago, that is why the bulk of the Basque society continues to vote for the moderate pro-independence parties, they want a political and negotiated way out of the conflict. On the past two elections 700,000 Basques voted for these moderate pro-independence parties.

Lets do the math here: 100 Basques want independence from Spain via violent actions while 700,000 able to vote Basques want to negotiate a peaceful and political solution to the conflict. Spain refuses to negotiate because 100 Basques prefer the armed struggle and snubs the wishes of 700,000 Basques. So we have a so called democratic state acting in consequence to the wishes of 100 against the wishes of 700,000. Hardly what you can call a democratic decision.

It does not stop there, as you all know by now the law imposed by Aznar and his neo-Fracoist Popular Party today threatens the Basque Prime Minister Ibarretxe with landing in jail for a few years. The most moronic Spaniards may think the the Basque politician had it coming, they may even be celebrating right now with tapas and wine from La Rioja. But the law is not for Basques only, the law is for all Spaniards, which means that if tomorrow for some reason some other political group in Spain needs to call for a referendum over some topic that irks Madrid, then no matter if that politician is Basque, Catalan, Galizan or Castillian, his ass will end up in jail. To say it clear, there is a process of political involution in Spain, the Partido Popular is going in a full circle back to the dictatorship that spawned it.

I take this opportunity to remind you that in the last few months Aznar and his PP have banned a political party and shut down a newspaper.

Democracy at work.

.... ... .

Hacking the Basque Plan

The Australian newspaper The Age is the first one to tell the English speaking world about this dark day for democracy on this note: Law passed to curtail Basque plan:

Law passed to curtail Basque plan

Madrid
December 20, 2003

Spain's parliament passed a new law on Thursday giving courts the power to jail the Basque region's Premier if he goes ahead with a plan to call a referendum on greater autonomy from Madrid.

Opposition MPs boycotted the vote in protest but the new law was passed by the centre-right ruling Popular Party, which has an absolute majority, amid angry scenes in the lower chamber.

The legislation aims to stop Basque Premier Juan Jose Ibarretxe pursuing a plan to increase Basque home rule by creating a "status of free association" with Spain that would be very near independence. He says that would end decades of violence by separatist guerilla group ETA.

.... ... .

Thursday, December 18, 2003

Muguruza and Whale Rider

I received my two Fermin Muguruza cd's on the mail and I am loving them, the lyrics are amazing and the booklets come with the lyrics in Basque with translation to Spanish, French and English, most excellent.

As predicted, the Winter (politically correct term for Christmas) present from my work place is a DVD, and nothing else but "Whale Rider", one of the best movies of the year.

For those of you that have not seen it, let me try to explain why I just love this movie. As you know I am involved in the preservation of the Basque culture for it is the culture of my ancestors. The obstacles we face are huge, since there is politics involved, the two countries occupying the Basque Country show little or no interest in preserving Europe's oldest cultural identity. The new-agey European Union can care less about it obviously since they also do little or nothing in the way of demanding from France and Spain to provide enough room were Basque culture can bloom.

Today in the Basque Country the only pre-Indo European language is spoken, the only other three non-Indo European languages spoken in Europe arrived after the Indo European migrations from Asia which makes Euskara unique even among the non-Indo European languages of Europe which should be more than enough reason for Europe to do something to preserve it and allow the Basque society to continue to work towards projects aimed at strenghtening the use of the language.

Measures like the one by the Spanish regime to call the Ikastolas where Basque children get their education in their own language by the term of "hotbeds of terrorrism" should be severely criticized not only by European organisms like the European Union but by every single human rights organizations like Amnesty International and worldwide organizations like the United Nations.

"Whale Rider" tells us about the struggle of the Maori people of New Zealand to revive their cultural heritage. It is hard for people that has never been robbed of their land and their ways to understand the sense of loss that can get in the hearts and minds of people that has been colonized. But there is always those who love their identity and culture so much that will do anything to preserve it, and that is what the movie is all about.

The main conflict in the movie is between Koro, the leader of a Maori community and his grand daughter Paikea. Koro has been the keeper of the old ways in a community were the youth is lost to the lack of opportunities and the easy access to drugs and alcohol. Koro wants to change that, he knows his people need a new leader but Koro has his own character flaws, to certain degree Koro is a prisoner of his own love for his culture and the problems that arise from wanting to stick to rigid rules.

Paikea is the opposite, she wants to learn, she loves her culture and most of all, she loves her grand father, and she is a free spirit that will of course put her on collision course with Koro, she just won't give up to Koro's idea that the leader most be a male.

The scene before the climax of the movie is electrifying, Keisha Castle-Hugues who plays Paikea gives a riveting performance on a school speech that is supposed to be directed to her grand father, who is absent. Then it comes the magical moment in the movie when Paikea raises to prove that she is indeed, the leader the community needs.

An amazing movie with no costly special effects that depends on two things, honest story telling and from the heart performances by the Maori cast.

Don't miss it!

And by the way, soon I will be talking about "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", that post will contain spoilers, beware.

.... ... .

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Negotiating with Spain

Today at Berria:

Single electoral list proposed to negotiate with Spain

The aim is for the nationalists and forces favouring self-determination to join together and stand in the March elections

Eider Goenaga BERGARA (Gipuzkoa)

Yesterday morning the Basque nationalist left proposed that a unified electoral list be formed "from among the nationalists and forces in favour of self-determination" to stand in the Spanish general elections scheduled for March, in order to negotiate on the Basque Country's behalf with the Spanish State. The proposal was made in Bergara at the "Olaso Dorrea" house, once the home of Telesforo Monzon, by present and past members of the Basque nationalist left: Arantxa Arruti, Jose Luis Elkoro, Arnaldo Otegi, Rafa Diez, Jon Idigoras, Koldo Ormaetxea, Pernando Barrena, Emilie Laplacette and Xabi Larralde.

What the Basque nationalist left wants to do is draw up a single electoral list "that would represent the Basque Country before the Spanish State", and it has called on political, social and trade union organisations to work towards this. The aim of the candidates in the electoral list "would be to achieve the recognition of the Basque Country through a process of relations and negotiations with Spain." The day before yesterday they announced that they would be putting forward a proposal to present a unified electoral list for the March elections and this created heightened expectations, because the announcement was to be made at the house of Telesforo Monzon, who at one time made the same proposal. He was a Minister in the Basque Government of Jose Antonio Agirre [in 1936] and was one of the founders of HB, the main political group of the Basque nationalist left.

.... ... .

Monday, December 15, 2003

A Real Blog: Peoria Pundit

Bill Dennis, one of my co-workers has a blog, a real one.

Go check it out, it is called "Peoria Pundit".

Hope you like politics because politics are the main topic at his blog, he also likes Star Trek but that is ok, we Star Wars fans accept our friends for what they are.

.... ... .

Sunday, December 14, 2003

No More Maná

I just removed the link to the rock group Maná, it will not be back nor I will listen to their music until the singer Fher apologizes to the Subcomandante Marcos and to the Basque society for his ill conceived comments.

.... ... .

Thursday, December 11, 2003

Mexican Solidarity With Basque Refugees

Mexican President Vicente Fox is little more than a mercenary for Aznar. He's destroying Mexico's prestige before the international community as a country that opposes totalitarian regimes and also as a safe haven for political refugees and exiles.

But there is a lot of Mexicans willing to restore Mexico's name and dignity, this is their most recent effort, this time in support of the six Basque refugees. This note comes via Gara:

Mexican Humanitarian Activists position themselves against the extraditions

Rosario Ibarra de Piedra meets basque citizens inprisoned in Mexico

Rosario Ibarra de Piedra -president of the Eureka committee, a human rights organisation made up of relatives of the disappeared in Mexico- and the actress Ofelia Medina- representative of the organisation Fideicomiso para la Infancia (Fideo), a humanitarian group working in Chiapas- got first hand knowledge of the situation of the six Basque prisoners being held in Reclusorio Norte prison in Mexico city with a visit there last Tuesday.

After listening to the stories of the detainees, the two human rights activists denounced the irregularities in the extradition process against them being carried out in the Second Court of the District.

Ibarra de Piedra called the protocol of the extradition treaty a "legal aberration", which obliges the Mexican Government to "hand over any citizen of Spanish nationality even if Madrid does not present evidence of their supposed guilt".

Ofelia Medina, for her part, pointed out that "the Government is swapping prisoners for business. In exchange for contracts for Mexican companies in Spain, the authorities are willing to hand over anyone, even if its against the law".

Accompanied by Begonia Lecumberri, also from the organisation Fideo, the actress and pro human rights activist committed themselves to observe the verdict of the case and to promote solidarity actions to prevent their eventual extradition.

.... ... .

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Letter to the Journal Star: Guernica

Sunday at the Journal Star:

Well, it is a little late, I just found out yesterday and I couldn't post before, but here it is, the letter that I sent to the Journal Star a couple of weeks ago, which by the way, was the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor:

Nazi bombing destroyed cities, killed innocents

December 7, 2003

In the Nov. 30 edition of the Journal Star there was a very interesting Op-Ed piece by Michael Bellesiles, "The limits of shock and awe," in which it is detailed that no matter how superior your war machinery is over that of your enemy, sooner or later you have to meet him face to face. Michael Bellesiles tells us about Italian air power advocate Giulio Douchet, who spoke about the concept of carpet bombing during the 1930s.

Oddly enough, the author goes on to describe how the bombing of Germany by the Allies did nothing to diminish the willingness of Germany to fight the war. I say oddly enough, because it was the Germans who first used carpet bombing against defenseless civilian targets. On April 26, 1937, the German Kondor Legion under the command of Von Richthofen bombed the Basque town of Gernika. The attack lasted over three hours and the Luftwaffe used that opportunity to try its new incendiary bombs and the soon to be infamous Stukas.

At the end of the day the most sacred Basque city was completely destroyed, and 1,600 people had lost their lives, mostly women and children, since the men were on the front lines facing the Spanish, Italian and German troops fighting on behalf of Hitler's forgotten ally, General Francisco Franco. The events were first reported by English journalist George Steer, and soon the international community was outraged by what happened that day in Gernika. Let's not forget that the Nazi war machinery would go on to show a complete lack of tolerance toward other ethnic groups.

This is the background that inspired one of Pablo Picasso's most famous paintings, the "Guernica" (for its spelling in Spanish). Ironically, during the buildup to the war in Iraq, a copy of the "Guernica" on display at United Nations headquarters in New York was concealed behind a blue curtain. Let's not forget the atrocities committed against civilian populations during war time. Gernika would be the first city on a list that today includes Dresden and Hiroshima.


.... ... .

Saturday, December 06, 2003

Telegram From Gernika

I was looking for information on how to contact Nicholas Rankin who is the author of the book "Telegram from Gernika" because he signed our Basque Petition last week, I ran into this page that has a review of his book and the life of George Steer, the main topic in the mentioned book, go check it out here.

Nicholas Rankin

Telegram from Guernica

(Faber & Faber, 2003)

As a war correspondent in the 1930s, George Steer took sides. He was one of the first to see the 20th century's most fearsome war machines used against civilian populations. He took a stand against colonialism and fascism.

Steer later became a propagandist for the British army in Africa and Asia before his untimely death. The fearless writer, who was in more dangerous situations in 10 years than most people in a lifetime, died in a freak vehicle accident in India just before the war ended.

Nicholas Rankin investigates the South African-born journalist's short life in Telegram from Guernica. Rankin uses the prolific Steer's writings between about 1935 and 1944, including six books, hundreds of news stories and letters to family and friends, to show the extraordinary life of this war correspondent in the volatile period before World War II.

Steer's career as a journalist spanned three fronts, where underdogs fought valiantly against the great powers. His sympathy with the Ethiopians, the Basques and the Finns, all facing incredible odds in their struggles, is passionate. Steer then threw his energies into helping Britain win the war through a brilliant propaganda campaign. Rankin deftly evokes these struggles and Steer's role in them.

George Steer has two claims to fame: Besides being the father of modern military propaganda, he was involved in breaking the largest news story of the Spanish Civil War, that of the Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica (Gernika), which was later made famous by Pablo Picasso's painting. On the day of the attack, Steer happened to be driving in the vicinity and had to dive into a huge crater to escape air attacks by planes on the way to Guernica. The next day, he returned to the area and did a full investigation of the atrocities.

He also witnessed the fall of the Basque city of Bilbao to dictator Francisco Franco. He was close to the Basque government, for whom he has a high level of esteem and sympathy. While the rest of Spain was under the control of either the left or the right, the Basque country, Steer says, was a model of democracy and restraint. Yet this model democracy was all but abandoned by the Western powers. When Steer died, he was found wearing a watch that was a gift "to Steer from the Basque Republic," from the President of Euskadi, Jose Antonio Aguirre.

Steer also a close friend of Ethiopian monarch Haile Selassie, who he helped return to power. He had been there when the Italians invaded Ethiopia (Abyssinia) with the intent to colonize the last African-run country. He saw the victims of gas. Later, in one of the first Allied victories, Steer's propaganda machine helped drive the Italians out of Ethiopia, and then Steer helped ensure it would remain independent rather than become an English colony.

Steer also wrote about the heroic struggle of the newly independent Finns against the Soviet Union -- skis against tanks. "The Finnish troops had white uniforms and cloaks and flitted like ghosts on hissing skis," Rankin writes. The Finns were forced to give up territory but had 58,000 dead and wounded as opposed to hundreds of thousands of Russians. He notes that British planes and equipment were sent to help in the relief of Finland, and speculates that even a quarter of that aid would have helped the Basques or Ethiopians to fight off the fascists.

For those interested in discovering the unknown corners of modern history, this is a great read. Rankin, an able writer, has evident sympathy for Steer. To learn more about World War Two and its prologues, you couldn't have a better guide than George Steer, as illuminated by Nicholas Rankin. If it was happening, Steer was there.

- Rambles
written by David Cox
published 12 July 2003

.... ... .

To del Olmo: Release Uria!

Today at Berria.info:

Judge requested once again to release Uria

Elosua, his lawyer, argues that there is no reason whatsoever for keeping him in prison

Imanol Murua Uria – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

As there is no reason whatsoever for keeping Iñaki Uria, the managing director of Egunkaria, behind bars, his lawyer, Joxe Mari Elosua, has requested Judge Juan Del Olmo to have him released. In a petition submitted to the Spanish National High Court this week the lawyer argued that not a single condition established by the laws governing remand in custody is being met.

To remand someone in custody a crime has to have taken place and there has to be evidence that indicates that the person standing accused has committed the crime. In Elosua’s view there is no evidence whatsoever indicating that a crime has been committed in the Egunkaria case, and even less indicating that Iñaki Uria is the perpetrator of the crime. The lawyer maintains that even if, in the judge’s opinion, there were, nevertheless, evidence indicating that a crime had been committed, that would not constitute sufficient grounds to put him behind bars. In fact, to remand someone in custody at least one of the four conditions established by the law must be satisfied and this does not apply in Uria’s case.

.... ... .

Friday, December 05, 2003

Removing the Ikurriña

Today at Berria:

Government of Navarre takes Leitza town council to court for not removing Basque flag

It has brought a charge with the High Court of Navarre for keeping the “Ataka-beltza” house Basque flag

Irene Arrizurieta – IRUNEA (Pamplona)

The Government of Navarre has brought a charge against the Leitza Town Council before the High Court of Navarre. “For not abiding by the Law of Symbols and for keeping an “Ikurrina” [the red, white and green Basque flag] on a public building,” explained Alberto Catalan, the Navarrese Government spokesman, yesterday.

The Government of Navarre has taken legal action for failure to abide by the order to remove the “Ikurrina” hanging from the first balcony of the “Ataka-beltza” municipal building. The Leitza Town Council received the order to remove the “Ikurrina” from the “Ataka-beltza” house in October. Patxi Saenz, the Aralar mayor, was given 15 days to remove the “Ikurrina”, and if he failed to comply with the order, he was told that the Government would bring a charge before the courts. The Government of Navarre announced the court action yesterday but the letter announcing that a charge would be brought before the High Court of Navarre was received by the Leitza Town Council on November 5.

.... ... .

Thursday, December 04, 2003

Scientific Humor

Who said that scientists didn't have a sense of humor, just check out how they called their latest discovery:

Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which is Greek for "amazing swimmer with large penis."

How 'bout that?

... ... .

The Symbiotic Satirist

According to this big ol' book I was reading at "Barnes and Noble", I was born on The Day of the Symbiotic Satirist, which means that we people born on that day tend to be over critical of our surroundings but yet we can integrate quite easily in our social landscape.

The book goes on saying that we can nag people with our constant negativism but that sooner or later we propiciate the conditions for good things to happen.

It also say that dispite our discomfort with our community to the foreign eye we actually represent our place of origin, we are almost emblematic of our neighbourhood, city, state and country, and that no matter how harsh we can be towards our pack we can become quite defensive when some else criticize our group.

Interesting...

.... ... .

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

To Stop Him or Not

Today at Berria:

Constitutional Court begins analysing whether to stop Ibarretxe’s plan going ahead

Its deliberations will continue today; if it decides that the appeal should go ahead, the debate on the plan or proposal for a new Political Statute will be suspended

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The Spanish Constitutional Court began deliberating yesterday whether to proceed with the appeal filed by the Spanish Government against the proposal for a new Political Statute of the Government of the BAC (Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa). If the Court decides to proceed with the appeal, it will not be possible for the BAC Parliament to debate the Proposal for a Political Statute for the next five months, at least. In fact, if the appeal goes ahead, the court will be bound by its own regulations to order the suspension of the provisions, resolutions or acts that have originated the conflict. The Court did not complete its deliberations yesterday and will be continuing today.

The Constitutional Court’s twelve judges were due to begin deliberating at 10.30 hours. Guillermo Jimenez, the Constitutional Court Judge, was responsible for presenting the report for discussion, and information leaked to the press appears to indicate that he supports the Spanish Government’s appeal. The President of the Constitutional Court, Manuel Jimenez de Parga, is also said to share the same opinion. Seven of the total of twelve judges are expected to vote in favour of the appeal filed by the Spanish Government, another two are undecided and three could vote against, according to the same sources. If that were the case, the Court would proceed with the Spanish Government’s appeal. The Spanish Government is asking the Constitutional Court to invalidate the BAC Government’s proposal and to suspend the proceedings approved by the Presiding Committee of the BAC Parliament. If the Constitutional Court decides to proceed with one or the other, parliamentary debate on the subject would be suspended.
.... ... .

Tuesday, December 02, 2003

PP Openly Defends Francisco Franco

In several occasions I have mentioned that the Partido Popular in Spain is in reality a haven for former Franco era ministers, politicians and militants. His most infamous member, José María Aznar is the son of Manuel Aznar, top ranked minister during Franco's dictatorship.

So, it is with great pleasure that I present to you this article by no other than Giles Tremlett published at The Guardian:

Spain torn on tribute to victims of Franco

Aznar's ruling People's party to boycott homage by parliament as old dictator's ghost continues to haunt the nation's political stage

Giles Tremlett in Madrid
Monday December 1, 2003
The Guardian

The governing People's party of Spain's conservative prime minister José María Aznar has refused to take part in a homage in parliament today to the victims of General Francisco Franco. The late dictator's controversial legacy is dividing Spanish politicians once more, with the ruling party being the only one to boycott the homage to several hundred, mainly elderly, political prisoners, former anti-Franco guerrillas, members of the International Brigades, exiles, and families of those executed by his firing squads.

"This sounds a bit like a mothball revival," said Luis de Grandes, the People's party parliamentary spokesman, in comments that have outraged the victims and their families.

"Mothballs are what they have in their own Francoist suits," replied Tomás Caballero, grandson of a victim of a death squad from the civil war whose remains were found recently in a mass grave.

The other 11 parties represented in parliament have said they will attend today when representatives of groups who suffered the vengeful repression of Franco's self-styled "crusade" are handed certificates recognising their role in the "battle for freedom".

Jesús Caldera, a Socialist party spokesman, said he could not understand why the government would boycott an act designed to "honour everybody without offending anyone".

Felipe Alcaraz, of the communist-led United Left coalition, said: "One can pardon, but one should not forget."

The People's party, founded by a former Franco minister, Manuel Fraga, has blocked several attempts in recent years for parliament to explicitly condemn the 1936 military rebellion, led by Franco and other generals, that ushered in nearly 40 years of totalitarian rule.

Two years ago, however, it approved a parliamentary motion which, for the first time, officially recognised the existence of victims of "repression of the Francoist dictatorship" and denounced "the violent imposition of ideologies".

The motion gave local authorities the freedom to spend money to help recover the bodies of several thousand victims of Francoist civil war death squads that are believed to be in mass graves around Spain.

The People's party made it clear at the time that this was its final word on Franco and the bloody three-year civil war that he and his allies started.

An ageing Mr Fraga, who chose Mr Aznar to lead the party over 10 years ago, still bears the title of "founding president" and currently heads a regional government in Galicia.

The People's party has consistently rejected accusations of being a party for Franco supporters, especially since Mr Aznar became prime minister seven years ago.

It accuses anyone who refers to the Franco era of seeking to turn the clock back to a time when Spain was bitterly divided between left and right.

But, with no other party on the right, opponents claim that the People's party does not want to offend those among its voters who remain faithful to the memory of the dictator they believe saved Spain from being taken over by communists and anarchists.

The successful transition to democracy that followed Franco's death in 1975 was based partially on what was known as "the pact of forgetting", in which all sides agreed that no attempt would be made to seek revenge or justice for past wrongs.

That meant that many of the stories of repression remained untold. But a recent flood of revelations about the nature of the Franco regime and its brutal treatment of prisoners, political opponents and even the children of leftwingers has led to a fresh debate on just how cruel his regime was.

There has also been a backlash from Franco supporters who believe that his name is being besmirched by people anxious to portray him as a Spanish Hitler.

Historians continue to argue over the full scale of Franco's repressive machinery. Lower estimates talk of 30,000 opponents shot by Franco's firing squads after the civil war, with a further 50,000 to 100,000 executed during the war.

At least one of the victims' groups invited to the homage has angrily turned down the invitation, asking why the Socialists, who governed Spain for 12 years in the 1980s and 1990s, and the United Left have waited so long to organise it.


Now, Giles who so cheerfully ads the death toll by armed group ETA to every single one of his articles regarding the Basque Country has finally been forced to publish the estimate of the death toll by the Francoist regime.

So, let us do the math. The Basque political party Batasuna has been banned and added to a "terrorist organizations" list for never condemning ETA's actions. Yet, the file and rank of the Partido Popular (PP) refuses to take part in an act to condemn Francisco Franco's violence.

If Batasuna has been banned over 800 so called "victims" (let us remember that ETA's list include Meliton Manzanas, a Gestapo informant and Carrero Blanco, a top member of the Franco regime) then what should be done to the PP and its members for their apology Franco's regime with a death toll above the 100,000 figure?

Giles Tremlett always mention the 800 figure in his reports about the Basque Country, yet, he has never ever mention the victims of the air bombings over Durango and Gernika that killed over 2,000 Basque civilians, a crime denied until today by the Spanish establishment. And when it concerns to the Basque Country that was just the beginning.

Giles must be sobbing in some dark corner for disclosing this information about his bosses in Madrid.

.... ... .

Del Olmo "at Work"

Today at Berria:

Judge Del Olmo sifts through ‘Egunkaria’ documents

He spent the whole day searching the newspaper office and other areas of the Andoain premises together with Spanish Civil Guards from the investigation services

Imanol Murua Uria – ANDOAIN (Gipuzkoa)

In a long search of the headquarters of the premises of the newspaper Egunkaria yesterday, Juan Del Olmo, the Spanish National High Court Judge, accompanied by Spanish Civil Guard officers from the Investigation Services went through the invoices and documents of Egunkaria S.A. one by one, and numerous large boxes full of documents were taken away to be examined. As the search of the Andoain premises was completed yesterday, they will start going through the local press offices in Iruñea (Pamplona) at 09.30 hours today followed by the ones in Gasteiz (Vitoria) and Bilbo.

They began searching the Andoain newspaper office and other offices at 8 o’clock in the morning, breaking off at lunchtime for two and a half hours and finishing at eight in the evening. In the meantime, numerous uniformed civil guard officers spent the day guarding the entrance to the Martin Ugalde Kultur Parkea and the surrounding area and all the employees of the companies and associations located there had to pass the civil guard checkpoints. Judge Juan Del Olmo announced in a writ issued last Friday that he would once again be conducting a search of the Egunkaria premises as part of the preparatory enquiries initiated previously. The writ states that the searches are being conducted in order to decide if the seals from the premises are to be removed or not. If it is decided that the premises should be opened up, Del Olmo has ordered that everything that might be of value for the investigation should be taken away, arguing that his control of the assets or documents inside would otherwise be lost. The Judge informed the Egunkaria lawyers that the searches begun yesterday were in connection with the second summary proceedings relating to the closing down of the paper, in other words with the alleged financial crimes.

.... ... .

Sunday, November 30, 2003

PSOE: No Reform

Today at Berria.info:

PSOE won’t be backing reform to penalise holding of referendum

Rodriguez Zapatero has declared that “legal absurdities” are not the way to oppose “an illegal plan”

Agencies – MADRID

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, General Secretary of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), was deeply critical of the reform announced by the Spanish Government to punish the holding of unauthorised referendums. Rodriguez Zapatero accused the Spanish Government of “irresponsibility”, “a lack of loyalty” and “legal absurdity.” Zapatero declared that this was why the PSOE would not be supporting the amendments of the PP (ruling Spanish Popular Party) in the Senate or upper house of parliament. He spoke of the decision taken by the Cabinet during a conference on State and Democracy organised by the PSOE.

Rodriguez Zapatero made it clear that he opposed Ibarretxe’s plan but admitted that this time he felt compelled to criticise the Spanish Government, because it had acted “irresponsibly, without loyalty and in a hurry.” He said that even though Ibarretxe’s plan was “illegal”, it should not be opposed “by means of a legal absurdity.” Moreover, “you don’t deal with irresponsibility with yet more irresponsibility,” added the PSOE’s General Secretary. He accused Aznar’s government of having “neglected the formalities.” Rodriguez Zapatero deplored the fact that this had been done “without prior notice and in the absence of dialogue and consultation.”

.... ... .

Saturday, November 29, 2003

Referendum Means Prison

Today at Berria:

Madrid aims to make calling a referendum punishable by prison

The modification of the Criminal Code is expected to establish prison sentences of between three and five years “for those people in authority or civil servants who organise or allow the consulting of the people through a referendum”

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The Spanish Government announced yesterday that it would be promoting a modification of the Criminal code to make people in authority who consult the people through a referendum without having the power to do so liable to prison sentences. The people in authority or civil servants who organise such popular votes could face prison terms of between three and five years. Likewise, other people in authority who promote and support the consulting of the people could also be liable to terms “of between one and three years”, and this could also affect citizens, the inspectors for example, who participate in the carrying out and supporting of this “illegal” process.

The Spanish Government’s aim is to invalidate and hinder the tool of consulting the people. And they are in a hurry, as well. Jose Maria Michavila, the Justice Minister, said yesterday that the change could have approval by December 18 or 23. They are going to add two articles to the Criminal Code: Article 506a affecting people in authority and civil servants will be included in the section dealing with the Usurping of Powers; and Article 521a, which establishes the punishing of citizens under the section entitled Crimes Committed when Fulfilling Basic Public Rights and Liberties. One of the passages of the text the Spanish Government wants to add runs: “The people in authority and civil servants who organise or allow elections of a general, autonomous community, or local nature, or plebiscites by means of referendums, when it is clear that they do not have the powers to do so, are liable to prison terms of between three and five years and will remain totally disqualified from office for an additional three to five years after the prison term, in other words for between six and ten years.”

.... ... .

Friday, November 28, 2003

Basque Country, CIA and FBI

Today at Berria:

Basque Country politics was subject of detailed investigation by CIA and FBI

Salegi and Egana have selected a number of documents declassified by the United States and produced them in book form

Eider Goenaga – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The United States secret services, the FBI and the CIA, have thoroughly investigated aspects of political activity in the Basque Country. This is clear in the book “Expediente Vasco. CIA y FBI en Euskal Herria” (The Basque Files. The CIA and FBI in the Basque Country) brought out by the Txalaparta publishing house. Mario Salegi and Inaki Egana are responsible for compiling and classifying the documents for the book and it was they who presented the book yesterday.

The book describes the work conducted by the secret services in the Basque Country starting from the relations the EAJ (Basque Nationalist Party) and the Basque Government in exile [after the end of the Spanish Civil War] had with the United States; the book includes documents made by the United States intelligence services on Basque political activity up until 1980. Manuel de Dios, the American journalist of Basque origin, began the work which remained unfinished when he was killed in 1992, and Salegi wanted to continue the work with Egana’s help. It can be seen from the 50 or so documents the two of them have selected that the FBI and CIA knew exactly what was going on in the Basque Country.

The book reflects the events between 1955 and 1980 in the words of the American agents: the birth of ETA [armed pro-Basque independence organisation], internal documents and attacks, the Christian Democrat International organised by Agirre [the President of the Basque Government in exile], the Carlist movement, the Montejurra assassinations, the Law of Amnesty, mobilisations in favour of the prisoners, pre-autonomy plan, elections, referendums on the Spanish Constitution and Statute for the Basque Autonomous Community, tensions within the EAJ and the monitoring of all the political parties: EAJ, UDC, AP, HB, PCE, PSOE-PSE... .As already mentioned, the documents declassified by the United States only go up to 1980.

.... ... .

Thursday, November 27, 2003

Asier Huegun Back Home

Today at Berria:

Full of emotion but disinclined to say much at Hondarribia airport

At around 13.45 hours Asier Huegun and his parents landed at Hondarribia, where close relatives and friends awaited them

Amagoia Iban – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Early yesterday afternoon Hondarribia airport was full of reporters waiting for Asier Huegun. By then they knew he had arrived at the Spanish capital from Bogota at around 10.30 hours and by 12.40 would have boarded the plane bound for the Basque Country. “He’s due in at around two o’clock,” said everyone and the plane carrying the young man from Donostia touched down at 13.45 hours.

He was one of the last off the plane. He emerged together with his parents, Amaia and Joxemari, and the Jesuit, Javier Arellako. He was wearing jeans, a green T-shirt and a blue sweater. At the bottom of the stairs from the plane two people stood waiting for him including a sister. When Asier Huegun saw them, he punched the air with his fists. When he came down the steps he gave his sister a fierce hug. His mother, Amaia Etxeberria, was in tears. More close friends and relatives were waiting for the young man from Donostia outside the terminal building on the edge of the runway. After waving to them he went inside the terminal to collect his luggage. When he had done so, the Arrivals door opened. On the other side flashes, microphones, cameras and recorders were there to catch the words of the young man, who emerged with a full beard. He said a few words to confirm that he was “fine healthwise” and “mentally, too” was feeling “great”. He said his family seemed to be “very well”. And he thanked “all the people” who had offered him their help and solidarity. “I’ll be giving a press conference tomorrow and I would be grateful if you would please respect that and leave both me and my family alone until tomorrow. We’ll all talk tomorrow. I’m fine, feeling great.” After making these declarations Huegun left the throng of reporters behind him.

Reinhilt Weigel, the young German woman, also travelled home yesterday. The plane taking her from Bogota landed at Frankfurt airport. An airport spokesperson said the frontier police had collected her. They drove the only woman who had been held by the ELN (Colombian National Liberation Army) in the Sierra Nevada since September 12 to the town of Ganderkesee, where her parents live.


.... ... .

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Sanz Against the Ikurriña

Today at Berria:

Sanz wants mayors who fly Basque flag barred from office

The Government of Navarre will resort to the courts to ensure that town councils abide by the Law of Symbols

Editorial Staff – IRUNEA (Pamplona)

In an interview given yesterday on TVE1, the Spanish TV channel, the Navarrese President, Miguel Sanz, said he was planning to take action against the town councils that did not abide by the Law of Symbols; the aim is to penalise the councils who fly the “Ikurrina” or red, white and green Basque flag, and he will be asking the Navarre Government to have the mayors concerned barred from office.

To this end Sanz announced that they would be filing appeals and that it would be the courts which would compel the town council to remove the “Ikurrina”. He said: “We are going to resort to the courts so that they deliver a judgement and if the town council decides not to take any notice, we will be able to bar the mayor from office.” The Law of Symbols prohibits the flying of any flag which is neither the town’s one, the Spanish one nor the European one next to the flag of Navarre. “In fact the flag of the Basque citizens of Navarre is the flag of Navarre; and the “Ikurrina” is the flag of the Basque citizens of Gipuzkoa, Araba and Bizkaia,” as Sanz pointed out yesterday. Indeed, the preamble to the Law of Symbols passed in April makes it clear what this law is designed to achieve: “Previous legislation does not include the necessary legal tools to enable public powers to correct common irregularities effectively . Many town halls fly the flag of the Basque Autonomous Community [of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa], either alone or alongside other flags, when it is clear that Navarre is not a part of that autonomous community. This can lead to confusion with respect to the institutional sphere of the Charter Community of Navarre.”

The EAJ (Basque Nationalist Party), EA (Eusko Alkartasuna-Basque Solidarity Party) and Batasuna (left-wing Basque nationalist party) lost no time responding to the Navarrese Government’s announcement. Fermin Ziaurriz of the Navarrese wing of EA declared that this was “yet another example of the petty tyranny of Sanz’s Government and a further consequence of its inquisitorial behaviour.” EA claimed that the citizens of Navarre were “entitled to express their feelings”.
.... ... .

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Huegun is Free

Today at Berria:

Huegun: “I’m fine, extremely happy, I wanted to speak to my family”

Moments after his release by the ELN San Sebastian-born Asier Huegun emerged tired and thin, but well

Jakes Goikoetxea, Special Correspondent, Valledupar (Colombia)

Donostia (San Sebastian)-born Asier Huegun touched down at the Alfonso Lopez airport of Valledupar (in northern Colombia in the south-west of the Sierra Nevada mountains) at around 12.30 hours (20.30 hours Basque Country time). He had been taken hostage by the ELN (Colombian National Liberation Army) on September 12 along with another seven tourists in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and was released yesterday along with aGerman woman, Reinhilt Weigel. Asier Huegun was wearing a red T-shirt and green trousers. The moment the helicopter landed he started speaking on his mobile phone as he walked up and down beside the aircraft. Weigel did the same. All the people who had participated in their release waited outside the helicopter while it was being refuelled. At 13.00 hours Huegun put some things in his rucksack and got back into the helicopter half an hour after touching down at Valledupar. The aircraft then headed for Bogota military airport where the released hostages’ relatives and the Spanish and German ambassadors were waiting for them.

Asier Huegun and Reinhilt Weigel did not go near the airport building. According to the Efe news agency Huegun had told the people who had gone to meet them: “I’m fine, extremely happy, I just wanted to speak to my family.” In the evening Spanish public TV broadcast some of the declarations Asier Huegun made during that moment. “The first few days were very hard as we didn’t know who we were with, no one told us anything. (…) They told me the date of my release a month ago and I was all the time just waiting and waiting not knowing, thinking that maybe the next day would be the day of my release, some days were really hard.” Hector Fabio Henao, director of the Colombian Pastoral Social Services, and Dario Echeverri, the general secretary of the National Conciliation Committee, who collected the two hostages, also spoke to reporters. Echeverri said at the airport, “Huegun and Weigel are very happy and very well, both physically and mentally”.

.... ... .

Sunday, November 23, 2003

Language of Sound

Today at Berria:

A whole world in the language of sound

Players from Portugal, France and Ireland and many generations from different parts of the Basque Country performed at the 2nd International Diatonic Accordion Festival in Donostia yesterday. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Kursaal concert hall, which was full to bursting

Ainara Gorostitzu – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The diatonic accordion (the “Trikiti” in Basque) is international. That playful little instrument originated in Italy and Germany, spread to Ireland and Portugal and came to us like butterflies. It is the voice of international language and a fitting festival was held in the Kursaal Concert Hall of Donostia (San Sebastian) yesterday. Kike Amonarriz, accompanied by Joxepa Madariaga, did the presentation and said, “We wanted to bring the world to the Kursaal. This is because we are citizens of the world and because we find it easy to appreciate what a Portuguese, a French person or an Irish person feels when he or she hears this little sound.” By welcoming the whole world the small concert hall was bursting at the seams. A welcome for the little diatonic accordion, the “Trikiti”, also known as the bellows of hell.

The Astiasaran brothers, Epelarre and Etxeberritxo played mischievously alongside Juan Mari Beltran’s clarinet-like “dultzaina”. The tambourine players competed with each other to the rhythm of the sound to the delight of the audience. One with a blue rinse, the other bald, they played and played together like fighting rams with one of the Astiasarans hitting out with his head, feet and arms and Etxeberritxo responding with his elbows and playing with both his right and left hands. They teased each other and conspired with the audience. One tambourine player would start, the other would respond, they played in a dialogue, in a conversation, in an argument. The audience clapped and enjoyed their dancing and twirling around. Some of the people had to sit on the stairs, because the auditorium was full.

.... ... .

Saturday, November 22, 2003

PSOE to Ask EU to Ban Plan

Today at Berria:

Spanish Socialist Party to ask EU to issue declaration against plan

Zapatero says the proposal of Ibarretxe, the President of the Basque Autonomous Community, “signifies a break with the European Union”

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the General Secretary of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), said yesterday that he would be asking the Spanish Government and the governments of the other states of Europe to issue a formal declaration acknowledging that “the territories that break the current legal framework and take the initiative to go their own way are breaking with the European Union.” Zapatero made this request after condemning the proposal for a political statute of the Government of the BAC [Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa]. After making this request he suggested that the European Union should issue a declaration against the proposal.

When giving the reasons for the request he said that if the proposal were implemented, “the consequences would not only be for the Basque Autonomous Community, but also for Europe.” In the PSOE federal committee meeting yesterday Zapatero vehemently attacked Ibarretxe’s plan. He accused Juan Jose Ibarretxe, the Lehendakari or President of the BAC Government, of “wanting to cover up the fact that the Basque Autonomous Community would end up outside Europe if it broke the framework of Spain.” Afterwards he again called for a declaration that he regarded as necessary by the states and governments of Europe “against a political reality that is becoming clear”. Zapatero admitted that he fully agreed with the PP [the ruling Spanish Popular Party] in opposing Ibarretxe’s proposal, and that this guaranteed that the plan would have no chance whatsoever of becoming reality. Addressing Ibarretxe he recalled that the PSOE would never participate in the debate on the plan, “and the chance of this is even more remote while the violence of ETA [the armed, pro-Basque independence organisation] is going on.” On hearing the message Eduardo Zaplana, the Spanish Government spokesman, congratulated Zapatero, and said that he hoped that it would be an “errand” for Pasquall Maragall, the General Secretary of the PSC [the PSOE’s Catalan wing].


How sad can this be, an allegedly socialist politician siding with the backwards Spanish extreme right against the will and the right of an entire people to its self-determination.

.... ... .

Friday, November 14, 2003

Beyond Bounds of the Law

Today at Berria:

Madrid says “debate would go beyond the bounds of the law”

The appeal presented yesterday by the Spanish Government states that the Basque Autonomous Community Government has “deliberately” contravened the Constitution; and the Basque Autonomous Community Parliamentary Presiding Committee is aware of this and yet has broken the law by allowing the proposal to proceed

Eider Goenaga – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

In order to file an appeal with the Constitutional Court the Spanish Government has argued that the Government of the BAC (Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) has committed a “flagrant violation” of the Spanish Constitution by approving the proposal for a Political Statute (1). Consequently, it has stressed the fact that the debate opened on the proposal would go “beyond the bounds of the law.” Jose Maria Michavila, the Spanish Justice Minister, declared: “It is the response democracy is giving to a totalitarian plan.” The Spanish Government has asked the Court to regard as unconstitutional, annul and suspend the decisions adopted by the BAC Government and Parliament to get to proposal approved.

As announced, the State Lawyer representing the Spanish Government lodged the appeal against the Statute Proposal with the Constitutional Court yesterday. The Spanish Government is challenging two decisions in a single appeal: on the one hand the decision by the BAC Government to approve the statute proposal and refer it to the BAC Parliament and, on the other hand, the decision by the BAC Parliamentary Presiding Committee to allow the proposal to proceed. “Our aim is in no way to prohibit debate,” explained Michavila in a press conference relating to the appeal. “But Ibarretxe’s plan (1) unilaterally and deliberately breaks democratic rules and it is completely totalitarian, not only in its contents and in the two steps to allow it to proceed, but also with respect to its chosen bedfellows,” he added making a reference to “Sozialista Abertzaleak” (the parliamentary group of members of Batasuna, the outlawed left-wing Basque nationalist political party).

(1) “Proposal for a Political Statute of the Basque Autonomous Community” presented to the BAC Parliament on 26-09-03. Also referred to as the Plan of Ibarretxe, the current Lehendakari or President of the BAC Government. It describes itself as a new model of relationship with the Spanish State based on free association.
.... ... .

Follow the Rabbit!

My brother Aerik sent me this, go check it out!


.... ... .

Thursday, November 13, 2003

ELN Wants Observers

Today at Berria:

ELN and hostages request that a group of observers be sent

The ELN have threatened to execute the seven tourists if the Colombian Army attempts a rescue operation

Amagoia Iban – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The Colombian priest, Dario Echeverri, told BERRIA yesterday: “Before the week is up we hope to receive proof that all the hostages are alive.” The trail of the seven tourists was lost exactly two months ago yesterday, the very day that video images of the seven tourists “retained” by the ELN since September 12 were broadcast all over the world, thus keeping the promise made to the Committee of Mediators of the Catholic Church. In fact, Asier Huegun’s relatives consider the video to be the proof requested from the ELN, the Colombian National Liberation Army, and say they have also felt “relief.”

The images on the video in the jungle were recorded by the ELN members themselves and then handed over to Reuters news agency to be broadcast all over the world. Some parts of the video appear with the dates of October 20 and 29. Others with November 2. The tourists look thin and tired in the pictures, but they have not lost their smiles. Asier Huegun, the Basque citizen, Reinhilt Weigel, the German, and Mark Henderson, the Briton, speak in front of the camera as well. “It’s been a tough experience. From the start we’ve had to walk a lot, even in places I never imagined existed in Colombia. We’ve been cold and very hungry,” said the fully bearded Huegun against the backdrop of an ELN flag in one of the video sequences. “All this must have been because of the tremendous blockade the Sierra Nevada is enduring, because they were prevented from bringing food and things up here.” In this respect the Donostia-born hostage agreed with the denunciations made by the ELN guerrillas to a Reuters reporter in the Sierra Nevada: right-wing paramilitary groups are disrupting the food supply for the Sierra Nevada inhabitants.

.... ... .

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Colombian Church Helps Huegun

Today at Berria:

Colombian church intervenes for the ELN to release Asier Huegun

Colombian church mediators and the ELN have agreed that a committee be sent to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta next week

Amagoia Iban – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

It is two months to the day that the guerrillas kidnapped Huegun and six tourists, but the “deadlock” is about to be resolved. On September 12 the trail of Asier Huegun and another six tourists was lost in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia); they have been in the hands of the ELN ever since as instruments to make the human tragedy that is taking place in that region known to the whole world.

The six have been in the hands of the ELN, the Colombian National Liberation Army, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (in the Magdalena region of Colombia). Four Israelis, a Briton, a German and a Basque citizen, Asier Huegun Etxeberria, have been in this situation for the last two months.

While they were spending the night of September 12 in the Ciudad Perdida Natural Park in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta a group of fifteen were captured by armed people. Seven of the group were released immediately.

On September 14 the Colombian police announced that 8 tourists had been kidnapped and that news of them had been provided by local indigenous people. The names of the hostages were not revealed but the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, were accused of being behind the kidnapping. Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian president, deployed 1,500 soldiers, 9 helicopters and an aircraft carrier in a rescue operation. The following day the names of the tourists were disclosed. On September 16 the FARC issued a statement saying they were not involved.

On September 20 the Northern Block of the paramilitary group, the AUC, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, also denied they were holding the eight tourists. Four days later Asier Huegun’s father and sister arrived in Bogota together with Txema Urkijo, the Head of Human Rights of the Basque Autonomous Community Government. The Columbian army announced that one of the hostages, Matthew Scott, had turned up safe and sound.

On September 26 Alvaro Uribe said that the kidnappers were ELN members. Three days later the ELN issued a statement saying the tourists were being “detained”. They also called for international observers to be sent to the Sierra Nevada to see the “injustice” being committed by the “paramilitary groups and other state forces.” The Government asked the church to mediate and on September 30 the church agreed do so.

On October 2 the priests Dario Echeverri and Alberto Giraldo met with one of the ELN spokesmen being held in the prison of Itagui. Church representatives agreed to go to the Sierra Nevada. On October 8 one of the ELN spokesmen, Felipe Torres, was granted conditional release. The following day the priests Hector Fabio Henao and Dario Echeverri set off for Santa Marta on “a humanitarian mission”.

On October 20 the ELN said they were prepared to release Asier Huegun, if three members of the Basque Autonomous Community Parliament went to the Sierra Nevada to collect him. They regarded the offer as a gesture of “solidarity with the Basque Country”. President Uribe did not agree to this and on October 21 Asier Huegun-Etxeberria’s family requested that “no political conditions be imposed” on Asier’s liberation. The following day the ELN withdrew the offer accusing Uribe of “shortsightedness”.

Church representatives went to the Itagui prison on October 27. The ELN proposed that the seven tourists be released one by one starting with Asier Huegun. They requested the release of the detained spokesman, Francisco Galan, and discussed sending UN and church representatives to the region to see the “human tragedy” for themselves. The next day Uribe agreed to the ELN’s proposal. Two days later the guerrillas were asked to release all the tourists but the ELN did not agree to this.

On November 6 the priest Dario Echeverri, the former attorney Jaime Bernal, the former minister Maria Emma Mejia and the lecturer and political scientist Alejo Vargas spent nine hours speaking to Francisco Galan in the Itagui prison.
.... ... .

Saturday, November 08, 2003

Spain Wants to Stop Proposal

Today at Berria:

Spanish Government aims to stop Statute Proposal going through parliament

They will be resorting to article 161.2 of the Spanish Constitution to request that the proceedings be suspended with immediate effect

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The Spanish Government wants to stop the Statute Proposal of the Parliament of the BAC [Basque Autonomous Community of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa] from proceeding from the very first moment, and they will be filing an appeal for this purpose with the Constitutional Court next Thursday, according to the Justice Minister, Jose Maria Michavila. It was only yesterday that the Spanish Government indicated how it was planning to resort to the Constitutional Court, and Michavila pointed out that they would be blocking the text on the basis of article 161.2 of the Spanish Constitution, and this would lead to the “automatic suspension” of proceedings.

Despite the doubts existing until now, Michavila said that the fact that the BAC Government’s proposal was not a bill would not prevent an appeal being brought: “If it were a law, the Government would choose another option and would immediately file an appeal of unconstitutionality. It is not a law, so we have adopted another means provided for in the Constitution, the one which provides for the overruling of decisions of autonomous communities.”

The article in question refers to the possibility of bringing appeals against “provisions and decisions” with the Constitutional Court and states that this will lead to the blocking of the decisions. However, it does not specify whether the blocking is “automatic”, as Michavila has insisted. There were those who expressed doubts about this yesterday. Emilio Olabarrria, EAJ (Basque Nationalist Party) member of the BAC Parliament and former member of the General Council of the Judiciary, said the Constitutional Court could take two decisions: “One would be to allow the appeal to proceed without taking precautionary measures; the other would be to adopt precautionary measures and suspend the proceedings. But it is the Constitutional Court that has to take the decision”.

.... ... .