Rallies Supporting Egunkaria

This article comes to us thank to the newly created Berria:

Remembering colleagues

‘EGUNKARIA’. Exactly six months to the day that the Basque-language newspaper was shut down former staff held rallies in Bilbo and Donostia to ask for the release of their imprisoned colleagues

A.I./A.O. – BILBO/DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Six months after the shutting down of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” former staff of the Basque-language daily held rallies yesterday to condemn the closing and to request the release of their colleagues who continue in prison. “Egunkaria” staff received the support of the street bands in Bilbo, and Joxe Joan Gonzalez de Txabarri, the Head of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, took part in the Donostia gathering.

At 12.30 hours the sun was blazing down on the square opposite the Arriaga theatre of Bilbo; an appetising smell wafted down from Areatza, where they were holding an omelette competition, and the buzz of activity from the “Txosnas” (*) could be heard. That was when the rally began.

About a hundred people supported the demand in favour of Egunkaria. Present were the newspaper’s former staff, including Martxelo Otamendi, the former editor of Egunkaria and now the editor of BERRIA, and Joan Mari Larrarte, member of the BERRIA Board of Directors. Numerous members of the Bilbo street bands also joined in the rally and among others there were members of the Hor Dago Abante, Lehoiak, Hau Pittu Hau, Kaskagorri, Askapeña, Txori Barrote, Satorrak, Txomin Barullo, Eguzkizaleak, Pa…Ya! and Hontzak street bands.

Other people also took part in the rally. German Kortabarria, the head of Communications of the trade union ELA; Txutxi Ariznabarreta of the trade union LAB; Andolin Eguzkitza, member of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language and writer; Jexux Mari Zalakain, the lecturer expelled from the EHU-University of the Basque Country; Koldo Rodriguez, the spokesperson for the Basque-language association EHE; Tasio Erkizia, well-known member of the Basque nationalist left; Iñigo Santxo, lawyer, and Martin Barriuso, spokesperson of the Kalamudia association, along with many other citizens. There were also photos of Iñaki Uria, Xabier Alegria and Xabier Oleaga, who all continue in prison in connection with the Egunkaria case.

(*) Txosnas: street refreshment stalls set up during the fiestas in towns and cities.

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