Udalbiltza Supports Egunkaria

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UDALBILTZA

Institutional statement .- 2003/02/20

BEFORE THE AGGRESSION TO THE NEWSPAPER IN BASQUE LANGUAGE EUSKALDUNON EGUNKARIA

1.- Basque press is a basic instrument for the survival and development of our people. What happened today, the imprisonment of the whole direction of the EGUNKARIA newspaper and the closing of its offices is a clear attack to a popular project of our people. An offence to the fundamental rights of Euskal Herria. We have to build open areas on the defence of the rights of our people, in order to work, and to be able to live as such. This is the main message we would like to spread today from here.

In Europe of XXIst century, in Euskal Herria there is a systematic violation of every right. Today, we can see that linguistic rights and freedom of expression have been denied by closing this newspaper in Basque language. The right to build a popular project has been denied. Therefore, international community has to open efficient instruments, and areas in the defence of the Peoples' Rights.

2.- Udalbiltza, the National Institution of Euskal Herria, having seen what happened today, makes the following statement:

We declare our concern about the arrested comrades. We also want to express our solidarity to their families and friends. Specially to our colleague of Udalbiltza, and friend, Xabier Alegria.

Basque press has been again the target of the attacks of the Spanish State. This is one of the basic instruments for the construction, development, self-organisation and survival of Euskal Herria as a People: Basque press and "Euskaldunon Egunkaria". They got their aim: this project has dissapeared.

Last years, we can see we are living in a permanent exceptional situation in this people of Europe: Euskal Herria. On the darkest periods of the Franco regime, the main projects of our people were born: the "Ikastola"-s (Basque schools), the "euskaltegi"-s,(Basque language academies), and the Basque press). All these projects are still alive due to the popular support, but without any protection nor guarantee. Basque society has opened the ways in the deffence of its people's rights, but we allways have had the obstacles and attacks from the state. What happened today is a clear example of it: today, the Basque women and men have no guarantee the right to give and receive information in Basque language.

Furthermore, the threaten of a stranger state is specially on projects based on our self sovereignty. Euskal Herria is willing to live in its language, and needs to face every challenge of the XXIst century. Basque people can afford it, and over all has the right to do it... It is time to put the effective instruments working to guarantee those rights.

3.- The attack we have suffered today, has to be faced efficiently. Udalbiltza can promote:

The construction of Euskal Herria starting from the Basque press. We call every Basque citizen to buy and read press in Basque. In order to Euskaldunon Egunkaria daily, we have to make a collective effort, quickly and effectively. We have to guarantee, Euskaldunon Egunkaria to be daily in the street over any further attack. Udalbiltza makes the commitment to be an active party in the areas and organisations that can be created with this aim. We also will support Basque press and the answers that will be organised from the Town Councils of the Basque Country, in order to face this attack to freedom of expression.

Udalbiltza also states that will join the demonstration called by the defenders of the Basque language for Saturday February the 22nd, and calls to every town councillor who joins Udalbiltza to answer as needed and support Basque Press. One of the basic columns of our country.

4.- Udalbiltza wants to make a step forward, opening working areas for the defence of the rights of Euskal Herria. Today's attack is a clear example of the need of these areas. We have to answer and act as a people.

A democratic process has to be opened urgently for the defence of the rights of the people. We make an urgent call in order to be able to join energies in this direction.

Euskal Herria is subject of rights. Therefore, it is time to put on seriously the instruments that will lead us to a National Agreement, in order to build democracy for our People, based on major consensus that will enable Euskal Herria to get the violated rights guaranteed.

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