Massive Response

Today at Berria:

A massive response once again

In a superb response to Kontseilua’s call, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Donostia to denounce the latest attack on Basque cultural activity and to demand freedom for the detainees

Eider Goenaga – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

For the second time in eight months thousands of Basque citizens heeded the call made by Kontseilua and expressed their anger in the streets of Donostia (San Sebastian) in a fitting response to the attack. They filled the streets to bursting yesterday by joining together under the banner of “Gora Euskal Herrri euskalduna. Bai euskarari!” (Long live the Basque-speaking Basque Country. Yes, to Euskara, the Basque language!) and pledging their allegiance to Basque cultural activity. They condemned the assault carried out on the Martin Ugalde Kultur Parkea just as they did so eight months ago to denounce the closing of Egunkaria . A request to support the Basque language and the organisations involved in Basque cultural activity was expressed by one and all.

Lined up behind the banner were four of the people detained in the previous operation: Joan Mari Torrealdai, Txema Auzmendi, Martxelo Otamendi and Fermin Lazkano. They were accompanied by the representatives of Kontseilua: Xabier Mendiguren, its secretary-general; Imanol Lazkano of the Bertsozale Elkartea (Extempore Basque verse-making enthusiasts’ association); Joxe Leon Otano of AEK (adult Basque teaching organisation); Ttitto Velvedere of the Euskal Konfederazioa (association working for the standardisation of Basque in the Northern Basque Country –under French jurisdiction); Gabi Basanez of the EHE (association demanding the Basque language in the Basque Country); Joxean Lizarribar and Ane Agirregomezkorta of the board of directors of EKT (the company that runs BERRIA), among others. The father of Mikel Sorozabal, the former managing director of Egunkaria, also held the banner on behalf of the relatives of the detainees.

The detainees were the main protagonists of the demonstration along with the call in favour of the Basque language. Behind the first banner, workers from the Martin Ugalde Kultur Parkea companies carried a second one demanding the release of the detainees: “Atxilotuak askatu. Euskalgintza aurrera!” (Free the detainees. Come on Basque cultural activity!). Behind them photos were carried of the detained colleagues along with those of Inaki Uria, Xabier Oleaga and Xabier Alegria, the people being held in prison in the wake of the February 20th operation.

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