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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Holiday Humor

This is frigging funny, go check it out!

BKHoliday

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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